African Cichlid Malawi/Mbuna Tank

My African Cichlid Tank

It has been running for 13 weeks now without any problems.

TANK: Aqua One AR620T 130L Tank & Aqua One Stand Dimensions 62 W x 72 H x 39 D cm

HEATING: Aqua One 300W Heater

LIGHTING: Standard 2 x 18W PL lamps

FILTRATION: Standard wet and dry trickle filtration system integrated into the hood however I have removed the ceramic noodles and carbon catridges and replaced with SeaChem Matrix, SeaChem Purigen, Stock sponge pads and poly filter wool.

SUBSTRATE: Natural gravel and White Cichlid Rock I bought for $3.00 kg.

I use SeaChem Prime to remove Chlorine, Chloramine & Amonnia from my tap water. I use Aquasonic Rift Lake Conditioner and Aquasonic Carbonate Hardness during water changes.

Water Parameteres:

pH: 8.0
GH: 322.2 ppm (18dKH)
KH: 214.8 ppm (12dKH)
Ammonia: 0 ppm
Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 5.0 ppm.
Water Temp: 25-26 deg celcius

In real life the tank actually looks much more clear...for some reason the lighting doesn't film well. Video doesn't really do it justice.

FISH

Labidochromis caeruleus (Electric Yellow)
Labidochromis "Hongi"
Metriaclima estherae (Red Zebra)
Pseudotropheus demasoni
Nimbochromis venustus
Astatotilapia latifasciata

Fish are all males.

I am probably going to add an Electric Blue and a Red Empress. In 6 months time I am going to be upgrading to a much bigger tank...probably a 4 foot tank so will be transfering them over to that tank.

This is my first video...please comment and let me know what you think!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• african
• cichlid
• cichlids
• aquarium
• fish
• mbuna
• malawi
• tank
• TANGANYIKAN
• victoria
• rift
• lake
• electric
• yellow
• hongi
• red
• zebra
• demasoni
• venustus
• latifasciata
• Labidochromis
• caeruleus
• aqua
• one
• aquaone
• 620t
• 620
• ar620t
• ar
• 130
• 130l
• tropical
• freshwater
• fresh
• water

[drunkanmaster]

Thnx for the reply i will subscibe to your chanel m8 so keep the videos coming. It Will be great if you get a video of you seting up the 4ft. I would turn your tank you have into a little peeco reef tank it would look awsome in there..That size is perfect & they look awsome. Keep up the good wrk.

[josephjmicallef]

@drunkanmaster No probs mate! Your tank looks pretty neat!

Thats's exactly what I'm planning to do with this tank...make it into a nano reef. I've already got all of the equipment to set it up.

I'll post a new video soon.

Cheers mate!

[drunkanmaster]

Hi there m8 i have just set up a 4ft mbuna tank. I only got 12 fish in there at the moment, have a look its called mbuna set up 2010 or have a look on my channel my 1st video as-well.:). I am getting some brown algae on my rocks & only been running for 2.5 weeks. Any ideas on how to get it off or i best just leave it and let the fish sort it as i kina like it but dont want to see too much of it..All the best. Leave me comment & i will get back intouch..Happy new year from the U.K

[josephjmicallef]

@drunkanmaster Hey mate! I also get the brown algae on the top surface of the rocks. It is quiet normal to get brown algae in a newly setup tank and will clear overtime so that may be what is happening in your case.

However it it doesn't go away with time, I am told that changing over to a more blue spectrum light should fix the problem or at least minmise it. I haven't bothered to change mine because I'm changing over to a 4foot tank myself in 5 months or so.

Happy New Year to you also!

[Brynhall1986]

that venustus cichlid will out grow ur tank in 1year. I hope you know this.

[josephjmicallef]

@Brynhall1986 yes mate I am aware of that. I am upgrading to a 4 foot (or bigger) in may.

[teekathepony]

Nice looking tank, and nice stock list too. Demasoni are my favourite. Great rock work in there.