henry Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 Hi everyone, Have been reading aboat setting up a Mbuna biotope type tank, prevailing thought seems to be that to avoid territorial aggression it is best to slightly overstock these tanks, and to add all (or as many as possible) tank inhabitants at once, and all the same size (ie juvenile). Obviously this poses problems for allowing the tank to cycle properly. Does anyone have any experience in establishing such a tank from scratch? Some possible solutions I though of were: 1. Add artifical amonia gradually to tank over a 30 day period, monitoring Amonia, Nitrites and Nitrates daily, to allow bacteria to cultivate prior to stocking. 2. Cycle tank with a hardy fish such as goldfish, then remove goldifsh and increase temp / alter water parameters prior to stocking with Mbuna. 3. Run filters on an established tank for a month or two, then run on new tank for a week or so prior to stocking. 4. Make no attempt to cycle tank artifically, but carefully monitor all parameters daily and conduct daily water changes to slow down / draw out the cycle process. If any one has succesfully carried out any of these methods, or has other thought, I would love to hear them. Keep warm and dry everyone , Cheers, Henry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoandWilly Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 you dont have to chuck them all in at once, they dont all need to be the same size either but that makes it easier, you can add them slowly but everytime you add some new fish take all the rocks out and re-arrange them to mix up the territories, so start off with the least aggresive ones, and build your tank up slowly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted August 8, 2006 Report Share Posted August 8, 2006 The goldfish won't need to be removed just cause the temp is going up. They'll love it and prolly start spawning for you. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 I did it like this... 1. Fill 4ft tank with rocks and water. Start filtration 2. Add 4 goldfish about 5 - 8cm each 3. Leave in tank 4 - 6 weeks. 4. Add heaterstat (previously checked to make sure it is set at correct temperature 5. Once water has reached correct temperature, remove goldfish (to outside pond in this case, as it was summer) 6. Add lots of juvenile cichlids (all were about 4 - 6cm) all together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry Posted August 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 Thanks for your input everyone... Only problem would be obtaining and getting rid of the goldies! Has anyone had any experience just hooking a filter onto an existing tank for a month or two before hooking onto new tank? Is this effective? How is everyones mbuna tanks's going anyway? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoandWilly Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 yeah we've done that but half fill the new tank with tank water from the other tanks aswell, then its like doing a 50% water change and leave it for a few days to settle, test everything and if it's fine chuck some fish in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 i recken that you should put your new filters on an old tank thats been running for a while and maybe even put some noodles or other bio media into the new filter from the existing filter. i dont think that adding old water helps that much, the bacteria that your after in your filters isnt a waterborn bacteria (it sits on things like gravel, filters and ornaments) therefore there wouldnt be jack all bacteria in the water, could be wrong tho someone else should know. what kind of filter are you going to be using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry Posted August 9, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 Plan would be to use either one or two high flow-rate external cannisters so hooking up to an existing tank or using media from existing filters is very possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keri Anne Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 What types of fish do you have in your other tanks?? You may find that you already have some fish which could be good for cycling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 i would recomened that you get some aqua one cf range of canisters. i have a cf500 and a cf700 on my 230l mbuna tank. the filters are really quite, easy to restart after water changes, have lot of room for media and are cheap to buy. my water is crystal clear too. heres a link to some for sale on trade me: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pe ... 513308.htm that ones 1000lph and is only $130 and they have the filter media in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 9, 2006 Report Share Posted August 9, 2006 I currently have an extra filter hanging off my lounge tank cycling it for someone who is having a new tank built. This way works well. Make sure the fish loads are similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damiana Posted August 19, 2006 Report Share Posted August 19, 2006 I just want to second the suggestion of moving rockwork around. I just got the last of my mbuna babies in, and wow did they have a rough reception. I hadn't realized just how staked out territory was until I saw the street brawl that went on last night. Today's project was a complete rework of the rocks, adding much more territory and breaking up line of sight. I had it easy for cycling, my mbuna tank is a reworked Amazon. Added some shell to my canister filter, pulled out the driftwood and kept the gravel bed and cycled filter floss. Just add fishies as soon as water parameters had changed sufficiently, which was virtually overnight. Good luck with your tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.