Rob2904

Hi, I was wondering if you guys could shed some light on a question I have? I am setting up my first SW system comming to the "Darkside" from FW. I have gone with a FOWLR system untill I get my head around keping good water quality.My system will be about 500L including the sump I understand that my live rock is my bio filter so more is better, but my question is....... If I was going to stock lightly would I need the whole 50Kg my LFS is telling me I need? I have a smidge over 20kg so far would this get me started with a couple of fish after I let it cycle? Any advice would be great. My system will be... Tank, 430L with a sump of between 70-100L, Red sea protein skimmer 20 odd kg of rock, T5 lights approx 200w. Would it do me any good to throw bio balls in the sump or will that just raise nitrates?

I am very new to Marine, as in I am only at the study up stage......I am in no hurry to get my tank cycled and am just shutting it down from FW. I was wondering if could pick everyones brains? Q1. As I dont mind waiting 3-4 even 5-6 months cycling my tank (gives more time to get more money for better gear) is it better to go with slightly cheaper dry rock apossed to live rock as I wont be adding stock for a long while? Q2. I have a 430L tank and a 50L sump, do I really need 48kg of rock even if it will be lightly stocked, could I add small amounts of rock as go after cycling about 25-30kg? understanding the rock in itself when added will spike ammonia so would add smaller amounts at a time. Q3. Is there anywhere in Auckland, Hamilton or Rotorua that are reliable and trustworthy places to get good rock, without being sold base rock at high prices?

1200x600x600. I contacted Hollywoods yesterday and asked about he Deltec MC500 Protein skimmer, it is an internal skimmer suited for 550L has anyone got one or know anything about them? I dont want to spend $500+ on any old crap They also said I would be ok using my canister filter with sponge and to get dead rock and cycle it. Any thoughts?

Hi everyone I have a 430L freshwater tank set up with good lighting and a canister filter. I was wondering if I would be able to convert over to a Salt water fish and either live rock or even dead rock with the equipment I have already? Or would I need to get the tank drilled and make up a wet and dry sump with a protein skimmer? I would be looking a fair way down the track to start keeping corals too but not for a year or two. Any help or advice would be great. Also, do any of you have a simalar size tank and if so how much does it cost to run a month as it would be a waste of time if I cant afford to run it? Cheers :thup:

I have a kind of backing of home made rocks that are made with clay and cement, the cement shoots the ph right up. I used the same in the last tank they were in and at first it is up the 8.8 to 9 range but after a couple of weeks settles down at a steady 8.4. Its between the rocks that needs backing. http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m521/Rob2904/Phone2012051.jpg The rocks with algae are home made ones from the last tank so hope that algae will cover like that on the rest. I use home made rocks because I make the hollow or have the full of polystirine to reduce weight.

They are in the same spot in my fishroom, but no backing on the tank yet so there is alot more light.

I have just set up a new bigger tank for my mbuna and they all seem to be having a fat sulk, water seems ok, Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite are 0 the only diference is the Ph is a little higher than the last tank at about 8.8 or 9 from 8.4. All the fish seem to be very sulky, not getting crazy cichlid frenzy when I lift the lid to feed and just hiding out in the rocks. They has only been 2 days in their new home, is this normal? They are eating but the food has time to hit the bottom not like before.

Are there any peacocks with a red colour? do the Aulonocara stuartgranti Maleri red have a good red colour when adult? the pics I have seen they look quite yellow. Has anyone got any or seen any and can shed light on it for me? I have enough yellow in my tank with the labs, and alot of blue with my afra and Dems and orange with the Rusties and hope some purple later on too. So would like to add a little Red. Any ideas?

Some adult and quite a few fry 3-10mm. Are there any peacocks that would suit?

Its 1200x450x500.

I have just rehomed my mbuna into a bigger tank and am now thinking that the top levels of the tank are looking very bare. What Hap Cichlids would go well in with my Demasoni, Yellow Lab, Rusty and Afra's? And wouldn't eat the smaller fry of all of the above? if there ar any?

Mate I did for 2 weeks, I figure a holding female goes alot longer than that, plus all the algae that grows kept them more than happy. I hope your next venture in fish keeping goes well, and if you need a tank sitter in future mate I would be happy to help.

Bugger man,,,, I went away for two weeks and my fish just starved lol but they are all sweet.

Hey guys My Demasoni female is holding again and my tank is to full so was going to let her spit them into the main tank and let natural selection do its thing. She has been holding for 29 days as of today and is looking very thin on it. Will she kill herself by holding and not eating or will she just spit out the fry once hunger is to much? I will strip her if I have to but its a major mission taking the tank down to catch her so would rather her do it herself. Cheers

Only the usual...Yellow Labs, Demasoni, Dogtooth, and Rusties. I have been feeding them on JBL Rift sticks and some JBL vegie stuff, With the odd sprilina tabs I give for my Whiptail and once and a while some blood worms and a little live mosquito lave, But most of the time they eat the algae I have grown for them on all the rocks. I put the same amount of ferts in my african tank as I do my planted :slfg: they love it. Was thinking of getting some NLS next time I buy food for them.

What do people feed their African mbuna to help keep them healthy and bring out their colour?

The tank is 430L

Hi I have a heavily planted tank and have had an outbreak of small ramshorn snails. I dont want to nuke the tank with chemicals and was thinking of adding some loaches as a natural remedy. What loaches eat snails, dont grow to big and like a heavily planted tank? any thoughts are welcomed.

http://i1130.photobucket.com/albums/m521/Rob2904/Sept2011077.jpg/IMG Not a Cichlid but he shares the tank with some :gigl:There are Apisto Agassizi in the planted tank :thup:

Hi there I have a Fire Eeel and have had him/her for about 2 years now, It is in a hevily planted tank and has had both silica sand and small rounded gravel substraight and have had no problems with either. It digs out a hole under some driftwood for its house and is happy as larry there. I have had one problem with the heater burning it so had to make up a heater gard for it as it got quite badly burnt but has healed up well. They have skin no scales so sharp stones are some thing to watch out for. Mine is a real pet and comes out for food, eats out of my hand and lets me pat him. I have only on Eel in the tank but he is in with alot of diferent fish including Whiptails, SAE, Apistos, Neons and Minnow!!! lol but they may one night end up a snack but hey thats life as a fish aye. He is in a 430L tank that is chocka full of plants and is very happy in there now all I need is 5 Discus to go in with him and I think my tank will be done.

Why do mbuna not crossbred in the wild? or do they?

lol Bugger! Once again Ryan Cheers for your input.

Hi, I have done a little bit of reading on the net about crossbreding between diferent mbuna. I have some Demasoni in with Cynotilapia Afra, Labidochromis caeruleus and Iodotropheus sprengerae. They are all quite young right now but they are all just starting to show off and do the mating dance they do. So far only with their own species but I am worried they may jump over and have a crack with other species. And the last thing I want is a tank full of hybrids!! Anyone know anything about this?

I use to watch 15ish convicts baby about 1.5cm get eaten alive.... quite fun to watch actually.. :sml1:

Cheers Ryan