Official 75g mbuna build

[jwh0818]

That's more personal choice I don't keep any but the guys that do say it keep the poop from settling down

Do they like more water circulation/flow?

 

[xwing]

That's the idea to keep the water flowing therefore preventing poop from settling at the bottom or around the rocks. Never tried it myself I just remove all the rocks as I clean my tank once a week

 

[jwh0818]

That's the idea to keep the water flowing therefore preventing poop from settling at the bottom or around the rocks. Never tried it myself I just remove all the rocks as I clean my tank once a week

Yeah I think ill go for 1-2 circulation pumps. As much rock as I'm gonna put, I won't wanna take it out like that

 

[Seryiouz]

I am on the under 8 ph side. Usually about 7.8 maybe 7.6. I agree stable is more important. I used a 20 ln bag of aragonite (has same crushed coral effect) and the rest is pfs and it works great. Each weekly wc I add cichlid salt, small amount of cichlid buffer, and prime. I more so add the buffer because I always have and don't want ph to waver. Not sure what would happen if I stopped using it but I don't wanna risk it.

...any particular reason why you go w/that ph or is it just preference?

 

[erikmoseley]

...any particular reason why you go w/that ph or is it just preference?

Nope. Just the way it worked out. I don't wanna mess with it as all has been great. When I first set it up I kinda winged it and was using strips till I got the API kit and when I did that's what it read as and it worked so I started the same routine to keep it where it is. Those kits are so hard to read it could be 8.0 for all I know but no matter!

Plus as far as the salt, yes it replicates their environment and supposedly helps their health but more importantly I did it because the store I bought from uses it in their African tanks. And I have spent hundreds of dollars stocking from their store.

 

[Malawi MaD]

Try not to rely on the coral sand to much fishrfriends. Limestone, coral sand, shells etc...are calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is virtually insoluble in water, which means it has basically no buffering capacity what so ever. If it did, then it would dissolve then coral sand/ocean rock wouldn't exist in the first place as it would melt away. With a pH much above 7 you are more than likely to have calcium carbonate precipitating out of your water (as lime-scale) rather than it dissolving into your water. Ideally you need to aiming for a PH of 7.8/8.2 so the high 7's which is when the coral sand and rock has no purpose and not doing what so many people say it does do. If you do need to buffer at all, buy epsom salts/bicarb and/or seachem lake salts, trace elements as these are ways/methods to use to maintain the right parameters for these fish.

 

[jwh0818]

So salt it is and I will just rely on ny tap water since its in the 7.8-8.0 range and just acclimate them to it

 

[Malawi MaD]

So salt it is and I will just rely on ny tap water since its in the 7.8-8.0 range and just acclimate them to it

Good to know you have a high ph from the tap, try and test the GH and KH too, if these are in the 10's+ you should get away with adding nothing at alll.

 

[jwh0818]

Good to know you have a high ph from the tap, try and test the GH and KH too, if these are in the 10's+ you should get away with adding nothing at alll.

I don't have a test kit for those right now. I'll add that to my list of "hunny I need this too or the fish will die" so she HAS to get it what size heater should I go for on this?

 

[Malawi MaD]

I don't have a test kit for those right now. I'll add that to my list of "hunny I need this too or the fish will die" so she HAS to get it what size heater should I go for on this?

haha good idea

It depends, i usually recommend having 2 incase 1 fails, but a single 250-300w will be more than enough for a 75G. The Hydor inline heaters are great to but it's all down to personal choice, there is a lot of brands to choose from.

 

[jwh0818]

haha good idea

It depends, i usually recommend having 2 incase 1 fails, but a single 250-300w will be more than enough for a 75G. The Hydor inline heaters are great to but it's all down to personal choice, there is a lot of brands to choose from.

Well I will be using x2 AC-110s but what's a good gph circulation link I should get? Should I get 2 or just 1

 

[Malawi MaD]

What gph should you be aiming for you mean? Ideally a 5 times turnover of your aquarium volume per hour, especially if you are overstocked. I would go for 2 heaters, its always good to be safe

 

[jwh0818]

What gph should you be aiming for you mean? Ideally a 5 times turnover of your aquarium volume per hour, especially if you are overstocked. I would go for 2 heaters, its always good to be safe

Okay so the ac-110 is 428gph x2 but I think I'm gonna get 1 circulation pump for less dead space. I'm looking at the koralia nano 425

 

[Malawi MaD]

Plenty of filtration with the two AC's. I've not had first hand experience with the koralia nano 425, but going by reviews and posts in the past, they seem to be good.

 

[jwh0818]

Plenty of filtration with the two AC's. I've not had first hand experience with the koralia nano 425, but going by reviews and posts in the past, they seem to be good.

Yes and its only 25.99 cost so far is this

x2 AC-110 - 159.98
Eheim jager heater 300w- 32.99
Koralia nano 425- 25.99
Master test kit & kh/gh- 25.98

If yall know cheaper places please do tell me. Everything is from marinedepot.com

 

[Malawi MaD]

Yes and its only 25.99 cost so far is this

x2 AC-110 - 159.98
Eheim jager heater 300w- 32.99
Koralia nano 425- 25.99
Master test kit & kh/gh- 25.98

If yall know cheaper places please do tell me. Everything is from marinedepot.com

The price for everything is not to bad huh Now to sweet talk you're other half!

 

[jwh0818]

The price for everything is not to bad huh Now to sweet talk you're other half!

Hahaha that's funny. She just txted me as I read what you wrote and said " Umm cheap to you and cheap to me are completely different" yet she thinks that 300$ coach purse is cheap Haha wow

I'll just add x2 fx6s to this and remove the aqua clears and see what she says and then ill say or "ill just get the cheap stuff this time" and quote it without the fx6s!

Edit* what do you think, should I cut the cost by 100 bucks and just get the aqueon 50/75s? They are only 29.99 and the AC110s are 79.99 a piece

 

[erikmoseley]

IMO the ac's are worth it. I'm never own any other hob brand. I had the emperor 400 before and its no contest.

 

[jwh0818]

IMO the ac's are worth it. I'm never own any other hob brand. I had the emperor 400 before and its no contest.

I've owned both AC and the same exact aqueon filters and with the right media in the aqueon it held up its side of the deal pretty good. Its just a lot of money when your on a budget and cheaper is way better but yes AC is the best hob

 

[CichlidLady0312]

I just got my 75 set up and added a powerhead wave maker OMG my cichlids love it. I definitely recommend getting one! Its a fun ride for them

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