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Viewed: 467 -- Replies: 20 | ||||||||
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| Posted | Setting up new Malawi tank |
| 17-03-2007 18:01 by Tina Jones |
Hi everyone, would someone like to give me some advice on keeping haps. I have just ordered a tank size 72x30x24 LDW. 225 gallon and I am setting up a malawi tank with haps.
I have a tank with tropical which is 48x18x18 and I also have a Tyrannochromis Macrostoma in a 4foot tank on her own. I have been told that I will need a sump for the new tank even though it is going to be run by the Eheim 2076 professional 3e filter. If so which sump would be best and how do you set it up as I have never even seen one and know nothing about them. The fish that are going to go into the tank are as follow: Tyrannochromis macrostoma Labidochromis caeruleus Lepidiolamprologus elongatus Champsochromis spilorhynchus Protomelas taeniolatus Red Empress Copadichromis kadango As these are the only fish that can go with the tyrannochromis macrostoma which I have a female and she is now 6". does anyone know how many fish could be kept in the tank. would appreciate any help with this project |
| 17-03-2007 19:40 by jonie |
i dont think you will need a sump if you nhave a big enough filter mate, try to get a Eheim Bucket Filter,id say around 30-40 in a tank of that size mate, but im no expert so i may be wrong,ask keith t mate, he'll help ya |
| 17-03-2007 19:47 by Ray |
Hi,I cant see why you should have a sump filter,thats just a personal choice,I run a 6x2x2 with 2 externals and it is fine.Haps dont need the rocks that Mbuna do but as you have a Mbuna in your list provide a reef for them.Haps like sand substrate and tend to dig pits,so bear that in mind when putting rocks on top of each other.I use eggcrate to stop them causing rocks to fall.
Other fish that go well in a Hap tank are scienochromis fryeri(electric blue hap),aulonocara should be ok as would any of the nibochromis genus,cyrtocara moorii,dimidiochromis compressiceps is an excellent fish for a hap tank(my favourite),in fact there are loads.One thing I make the tank 187.5 gallons before displacement which could be crucial if you need to add meds. |
| 17-03-2007 21:59 by Tina Jones |
Thanks Ray I didnt know you could have haps and Mbuna together as I only got the list of fish that I could have with my fish, I didnt know one was a Mbuna as I am still learning which are which.
question for you What is eggcrate and what do you mean by making the tank into 187.5 gallons, do I need to seperarate the tank. I have just found out today the Eheim profession 3e is no good for tank but the eheim professional 3 non electronic is fine as it for tanks up to 1200L so I think I will only need one external |
| 17-03-2007 23:26 by Ste |
Hi tina . Here is a usefull little tool for calculating volume in your tank http://www.aquatics-warehouse.co.uk/extras/Info/Size_of_UV_filter.html this actually puts your tank at 180gallons which 818.28 litres. when deciding on a filter there is one simple rule to remember ,that is you can never have to much filtration ie the bigger the better . you dont say wether the tank is drilled or not
if it is then you might be able to use a sump, but it isnt essential as long as you cover the drill holes up with glass or perspex stuck on with silicone. if you want a reasonable cannister to run your tank, have a look at a aquamax 700pro . i have one of the running a tank with 10 big oscars in it and it hasnt let me down once . |
| 17-03-2007 23:29 by Ste |
Whoops Sorry almost forgot the aqua pro 700 come with all the media including sponge, bio balls,
ceramic tubes, and carbon , they can be a bit of a sod to prime but once they are going they run forever |
| 18-03-2007 00:09 by Ray |
testing |
| 18-03-2007 00:10 by Ray |
sorry I tried to answer you but got a no go wrong server message. |
| 18-03-2007 00:15 by Ray |
hi,egg crate is a plastic lattice that sits on the tank bottom,lfs stock it.Labidochromis is an Mbuna,lots of people mix Mbuna and Haps,I do and have never had a problem,I calculate gallons like this 6 x 2.5 x 2 x 6.25 = 187.5,this is tank size in feet x 6.25.I use Tetratec filters and find them good value filters |
| 18-03-2007 13:22 by Ste |
Its wierd how every time somebody puts a tank volume on here , it gets questioned ...Webbie can you put a tank volume calculator on the site so that we dont keep having these disagreements.
..........Also Ray check this out calculator out.http://www.aquatics-warehouse.co.uk/extras/Info/Size_of_UV_filter.html...... this is what i use and then mulitply the gallons by 4.546 which gives you the exact number of litres |
| 20-03-2007 02:28 by Caz |
Fossochromis Rostratus would be a good addition to your collection - I have a trio in my 6x2x2 along with Aulonocara, Venustus, Polystigma, Syno Multis, Red Empress, Taiwan Reef, Rhoadesii, Fryeri, Tropheus Dubosi and a Lithobates. Most of these are breeding regularly and usually get on well. |
| 22-03-2007 01:22 by Tina Jones |
Thanks everyone really grateful for your help
by the way seen eggcrate on ebay at 8.99 a sheet so will prob get lots ready. and will certainly look up them fish caz. how many fish do you keep in your tank as im wondering how many to put in I know in mbuna you have to over populate but not to sure on haps. just cant make mind up which to go with at moment |
| 22-03-2007 14:12 by Caz |
The fish I wrote down are all in together apart from the Fossies as a trio and a single male Lithobates (who's a bully) all the rest are breeding pairs (apart from the synos). |
| 22-03-2007 16:13 by wymcot |
Caz, I like the sound of your selection, with the exception of the Dubosi, do you have any pics? |
| 22-03-2007 16:35 by Alan |
The reason it is best to avoid mixing haps and mbuna is because haps are less aggressive and have different dietary requirements.
For ease of keeping Haps are definately the way to go and you don't need to over stock with haps as you do with mbuna as they are generally open water fish that are not overly territorial as they will only hold territories when spawning in the wild. Use a sand substrate and put a mesh bag with aragamax or something like that as the last stage in a canister filter. You won't need to use a sump and I would advise against it if you are new to this as it could end up being a real pain especially if the tank isn't drilled. opt for big reliable canister filters the eheim bucket filters are brilliant I use a 2250 on a 100 gallon tank and I have filled it with ehfi substrat cost a bit to fill it but 8 litres of ehfisubstrate gives bacteria a surface area of 3,600 square metres to live on that will break up a lot of waste. For decor I would use ocean rock and would suggest putting 2 mounds of rock in at the 1/3 marker point from each end this will enable the line of sight of the fish to be broken and will prevent much aggression and will also provide a gopod refuge for any young fish that will ultimately appear in your tank. I would recommend a shoal of crytocara morii they are stunning as adults try and get 4 females to 2 males it won't be easy to sex them its not a disaster if you don't manage 4 to 2 but they are stunning fish especially if you put a blue moon tube on the tank along with the normal lighting. Also I would recommned the fish often sold as Ahli it is not the true Ahli normally but it is equally stunning its true latin name is scienochromis fryeri both fish have very similar colouration the females are very drab but the males are absolutely stunning go for 3 females to one male. |
| 23-03-2007 01:41 by Caz |
Hi Wymcot, I only have a few shots that I took when I noticed the Fossies spawning:
 |
| 23-03-2007 01:44 by Caz |
a few more of the tank mates:
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| 23-03-2007 01:48 by Caz |
a few more, though our Protomelas Spinolotus Tanzania are now in another tank:
 |
| 23-03-2007 01:52 by Caz |
last one:
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| 23-03-2007 09:52 by wymcot |
Nice fish and what is also good is the way the tank appears to be setup for the respective fish, ie open water. Still think the Dubosi is out of place and maybe the Petricola will need somewhere to hide but good to see your fish, thanks |
| 23-03-2007 19:05 by Caz |
Thanks wymcot its a 6x2x2 tank and we have a 2ft rockpile up each end with the centre completely clear, the Dubosi are only in there as its the only tank space we have for them that is big enough for the female to get away from the male - they get on suprisingly well in with the Malawis & the Synos are Multipunctatus not Petricola. |
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