20 Gallon Neolamprologus Multifasciatus Tank

[Nicnet]

Hello All! So I just converted my 20 gallon planted tank that had some guppies, kuhli loaches, and giant ghost shrimp striped things (they are still a mystery!) into a cichlid tank. I completely took out everything, and my brother and I have been working hard. The hardest task honestly was getting the soil out, because we wanted to still use the sand I had. I had soil on the bottom, then white sand, and black sand on top. Now I have this completely awesome black and white sand mixture and no soil, yay! I have my drift wood in there again, but other than that a bunch of rocks and shells and that's it! My brother had 3 Multis that now call my tank home, and we are really hoping to breed them. We have the right amount of salt per the cichlid salt bottle (I believe it was like 3 tsp for my 20g?) & a heater set up to about 78 degrees, but I'm not sure what else I should do! Currently we are feeding them some sinking pellets which they seem to be taking well, and I have some frozen blood worms and brine shrimp to give them too. Our biggest concern is that they never bred in my brothers tank, but we aren't sure if his salinity was never that right. Or his temperature that high. His other cichlids had bred (I forget which type now, some rock dwellers in another tank) but not these guys!

I guess this is the question of the hour... Do you think we have all the same sex? Or is it possible that the lack of a higher salinity and a higher temperature just didn't get them breeding?

My brother said they are already acting much more active. & I have to say they look pretty stinking awesome in my tank. I'm really hoping that they get it on, I would love to get a nice thriving community!

Also, any suggestions and input in general would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Nicnet]

It's a screen shot of a iPhone video, but here it is after we put it up! Sorry the picture quality isn't super, and the water quality isn't that great yet either lol. It looks so much better now, but I haven't had a chance to get another picture yet!

 

[ocean]

No need to add salt, multies like a high pH 8+, lots of shells, 3-4 for each fish. Males are larger than females. I had my multies for over a year before they started breeding.

 

[mikem691]

I keep my tank at 80 and have about 5 shells for each multi and sand thats it. It seems like they start to breed right after a water change or some treats like frozen blood worms. My ph is 8.2 and I keep the trAtes under 10. But I didnt try to get them to breed they just did. No salt nothing special.

 

[Nicnet]

Alright, thanks you guys. =) looks like I'll increase the temp a bit and check the ph. I think mine is about 8, but I'll have to be sure. Thanks again for the input!

 

[mikem691]

Funny thing I just checked the tank with them and there is another batch!