My wife has finally approved a third tank! I've decided to go with a 75 gallon Mbuna species cichlid tank. Comments and encouragement/constructive criticisms are welcome. This is my first experience with cichlids, so it's going to be interesting. First, my water source is municipal (I have a water softener), pH ranges from 8.2-8.4, Ammonia 0-0.25 ppm(not quite pure yellow, but not quite yellow-green), nitrites and nitrates 0 from the tap. I talked with the guys at the water treatment plant, and they acknowledged they use chloramine to treat the water, which is why the api kit shows it. How detrimental is the water softener to cichlids?
Next:
The tank itself:
75 gal glass, 2 24" daylight LED's with moon function, 2-AC 110 HOB filters, 300W heater, 75 lbs river gravel, 20 lbs black slate for caves, 15 lbs holey rock, 1 large (6lb) interesting mopani drift wood chunk with lots of holes/hiding spaces too(currently soaking to remove tannins-I'm ok with some left over tannins). Several medium sized (under 3 lbs) rocks I've collected from Lake Michigan and near Yellowstone Nat'l Park-not from inside the park, which is illegal, but rather near big sky, Montana. Planning to take one of the big sponges from an existing 110 on my 55 to jumpstart the cycle.
The stand is a diy constructed of 2x4 and 2x6's with a shelf built into the floor for storage of supplies. I'll try to attach pictures shortly.
Stocking:
Here's where I need the most advice from those who've been down this road.
Like I said, I and my wife definitely want Mbuna species, so:
5x Yellow Lab
5x Maingano
5x Cobalt Blue Zebra
Above are for sure, I want to do 10 more of the following, probably 5 ea of 2 of the following 4 species:
Acei (Pseudotrophus acei)
Demasoni (Pseudotrophus demasoni)
Bumblebees
Auratus
I'm leaning to acei and demasoni, although my wife thinks the demasoni looks too much like the maingano, and would rather do the auratus.
Input is welcome.
The location of this new tank is going to be in my bedroom at the foot of my bed.
Next:
The tank itself:
75 gal glass, 2 24" daylight LED's with moon function, 2-AC 110 HOB filters, 300W heater, 75 lbs river gravel, 20 lbs black slate for caves, 15 lbs holey rock, 1 large (6lb) interesting mopani drift wood chunk with lots of holes/hiding spaces too(currently soaking to remove tannins-I'm ok with some left over tannins). Several medium sized (under 3 lbs) rocks I've collected from Lake Michigan and near Yellowstone Nat'l Park-not from inside the park, which is illegal, but rather near big sky, Montana. Planning to take one of the big sponges from an existing 110 on my 55 to jumpstart the cycle.
The stand is a diy constructed of 2x4 and 2x6's with a shelf built into the floor for storage of supplies. I'll try to attach pictures shortly.
Stocking:
Here's where I need the most advice from those who've been down this road.
Like I said, I and my wife definitely want Mbuna species, so:
5x Yellow Lab
5x Maingano
5x Cobalt Blue Zebra
Above are for sure, I want to do 10 more of the following, probably 5 ea of 2 of the following 4 species:
Acei (Pseudotrophus acei)
Demasoni (Pseudotrophus demasoni)
Bumblebees
Auratus
I'm leaning to acei and demasoni, although my wife thinks the demasoni looks too much like the maingano, and would rather do the auratus.
Input is welcome.
The location of this new tank is going to be in my bedroom at the foot of my bed.
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