HardeepTheLondoner

Hey everyone! This thread will map out my steps towards one of my African Cichlid tank builds. I will go into as much detail as I can and I hope this helps push some of you to get into Cichlid-keeping, especially Africans. In my opinion, they really are the pinnacle of the freshwater hobby.😉 So the tank in question! The tank was my birthday present, to myself😂 Mum and Dad gave me the money, you can guess where I spent it😉. Here we are talking about a shallow 120x40x30 tank, holding 144L with some bespoke features. I opted for a custom build, mainly because of the dimensions and I wanted optiwhite glass. I’m not sure what it’s called in the US, but it’s basically the clearest glass on the market across the pond. This tank features a braced top, allowing for glass sheet lids which can be individually removed. Since African Cichlids are such pigs, I went for a feeding hole on each sheet to help get food around the tank. I opted for black silicone, just to keep a bit of variety between my tanks. This tank is essentially a 40G LowBoy, which doesn't sound like enough water volume for Mbuna's, but the focus of the tank is the footprint, which I would guess competes with 75G's? Sorry we don't use gallons across the pond so I have no clue!😂 Filtration will be a modded Fluval 307, allowing for plenty of mechanical, biological and chemical filtration. My favourite thing about canister filters is the mechanical filtration you can do with them. Yes I could run just sponge filters and the fish would be fine, but for display tanks I always want clarity. Sponges are great for biological filtration, not so great for mechanical. The 307 is set up as so- 2x foams supplied by Fluval Basket 1: Fluval Prefilter rings, Fluval BioFoam + (Supplied) and 1x Fluval Quick Clear Pad. I expect the foams to miss quite a bit of gunk and so I'd like the large particles to get trapped as low as possible, in what I'd consider secondary settlement. Then, I've gone for the supplied foams to trap what's left before the single quick clear pad traps the finer particles. This finishes the mechanical filtration in the canister filter. Basket 2: Seachem Matrix-2L total. I'm not really expecting to cultivate a lot of denitrifying bacteria, but I don't think I'm too bothered. I'll have to do water changes regardless anyway, so a full cycle will just be a bonus!😂 Basket 3: Seachem Matrix, 1x Fluval Quick Clear Pad and 100ml Seachem Purigen The idea behind placing filter floss at the final stage of filtration is it forces water through the pad and then straight to the Purigen, allowing minimal bypass. Chemical filtration is unnecessary, but again I like to opt for it in displays. Other equipment which will be used in this tank- 1x 200W Heater 2x SunSun JVP-1102 Wavemakers (Depending on whether the sand can tolerate 2) 1x 120CM Nicrew Planted LED 1x Digital Light Timer Eggcrates & hardscape Now the fun bit, the stocking! Given it will be a tight fit, I've opted for relatively docile species and dwarf ones where I could. Iodotropheus Sprengerae Makokola Reef Pseudtropheus Cyaneorhabdos Maingano F2 Labidochromis Caeruleus Nkhata Bay F2 Chindongo Saulosi Taiwan Reef F2 I should add, do as I say not as I do!😂 This isn't a setup I wouldn't recommend the average fishkeeper does, as aggression levels are usually difficult to maintain in African Cichlid tanks and maintenance in general is higher. As I will be using tap water, water changes can be as large and as frequent as they need to be. The fish will bought as young juveniles and given the chance to establish the hierarchy early on, to save problems later on. I hope to grow out and maintain a 1:4 ratio. Backup tanks are always a must too. Tap water parameters, on average- 7.4PH 11dKH 16dGH 0.5 ppm Ammonia (Max) 20-40ppm Nitrate (Varies year round) Now I need to get on with building the stand! 🙂

ADFs probably also wouldn’t get a chance during feeding time. At least this gives you a reason to set a nano ADF tank up😉

Looks like a regular Nana to me. I’d recommend going for different types of Anubias to really get a good contrast against all the different plants. Anubias Pangolino is a great foreground plant, it stays real small and has a nice dark green colour. Just behind it you could put an Anubias Coffeefolia, it grows larger leaves at a slower rate but also has a great dark green colour. Anubias Nana Gold has bright green leaves which in my experience grow outwards, not upwards. That could really fill a spot or two in after you give it some time. Anubias Heterophylla (I think that’s the spelling) is a great background plant as it shoots upwards. These plants could be a great foundation to your scape 🙂

Thank you! I was really into aquascaping and planted tanks last year, but I felt like I needed a change. Not to mention bigger tanks require a lot more time to scape!

I’m not sure if did he say Neons in a 10, but I’ve watched too many videos of his to be able to remember it all!😂 If this is your first fish tank, well firstly congratulations! You’ve made a great decision getting into the hobby, just don’t look at your spendings😉 If I was doing it as a newbie, I’d probably start with 8, then bring that up to 10 if it’s a species only. You can do more, but I wouldn’t want to overwhelm myself if I was just starting out. Alternatively, you could do Green Neon Tetras. Excellent colour and they are a little smaller, so you could squeeze a few more in.

Apistogramma in general have pretty similar care requirements. Like others said, that cave you have will greatly encourage them to spawn and will also provide a nice shelter away, should they want it. If you’re interested in breeding them and you’d like to raise the fry, once the eggs are laid make it so that only the female is big enough to fit in the cave. This should increase your numbers. Also, chuck them some bloodworms at night. They love them and will happily gorge as a treat if you give them some after hours, more of the bloodworms should reach the bottom this way. Good luck, and pictures please! 🙂

Now that is something I didn’t know😉 Honestly, I feel like the more I think about it the more I think we’re only in a title race this season because of the nature of this season. Either way I’m happy! I’ll be off my nut if Utd take the league this year😂 I feel Diallo is a solid signing. He scored against the Liverpool U23s a few days ago so that’s always a good feeling for the United faithful😉 Sad to see Rojo go however...Always liked him.

I wouldn’t go straight to adding females, it’s likely the males will start chasing them too. Does the tank have lots of cover? Is the line of sight broken up? Are they doing it all to each other or is one being targeted? Any other tank mates? Tank size? Answer these and hopefully we can narrow it down 🙂

She looks gravid to me, White Clouds typically are very prolific spawners. I’d be surprised if you had a sick white cloud, they are bulletproof in my experience.

It’s likely they are 2 weaker fish than the rest of the batch. That’s pretty much why we quarantine-Survival of the fittest. Finish your quarantine as planned and move the others in, keep these 2 in quarantine and see how they do.

You likely will have enough oxygen just from a HOB, I can’t imagine any feasible scenarios where you would need extra oxygen. Not unless you were chucking an Oscar or something similar in a 10G, which is a no-no. 1 HOB is plenty.

Why do you think those 2 aren’t in best shape? Is there visual clues? Moving the others out of quarantine all depends on what could be wrong. If it’s something like ich, I’d keep everyone in quarantine. If you think they are too skinny/lethargic, I’d be ok moving the rest out.

Gunner? Nooo! I’m a Manc, through and through😉 My favourites are probably Bruno & De Gea. Oo I’m sure you weren’t happy with Messi’s contract leak yesterday-Massive wages😳 I went to the Camp Nou not long ago, sadly my bad luck meant Messi was injured for the game! It was Barcelona vs Valencia, great game 🙂

Ah fair enough, I hope someone chimes in to help with the pipe work!

I’ve not had to treat internal parasites but I would not recommend preemptively treating the CPD tank, wait until you see something come up. This way, you can avoid the possibility of parasites being resistant to the medication you just used, which would leave you back at square 1. I would recommend having different equipment for each tank, it can save any future outbreaks spreading😉

I feel it is possible, but I feel if they are being fed enough they should leave them alone. I would use this round of spawning as an experience into assessing hatch rate and whether you notice the snails eating any eggs. You will be well versed for the next round of spawning and can adjust your environment accordingly.

Sorry I’m terrible at plumbing so I won’t advise you on PVC! I’m curious to know why you’d like to opt for a sump? I feel if it’s a planted tank, you could get away with a lot less considering the water volume.

I can’t recommend a specific light, but I can tell you’ll get be able to get away with pretty much any aquarium light. You’ll find the typical epiphytes can probably get enough light from a standard RBG LED. I wouldn’t suggest spending too much for those plants! Spend the extra money on the plants😉

My spare times revolves around a few things- Football (It’s not called soccer!🙄) Pre-Covid I enjoyed travelling around Europe to watch my favourite players in some iconic stadiums. This is the second hobby where my money goes😂 Drumming- I’m drum infrequently nowadays, maybe 2/3 times a month but I’m self taught! I used to play a lot more in my teens. Pool-I’ve been playing 8 Ball Pool for as long as I can remember, we have a table in the man cave!

I wouldn’t worry it’s anything below 24 hours. Just keep the bags wrapped/dark so they aren’t too startled/moved around and hopefully the bags can maintain some heat. Just in case things go pear-shaped (breakdown etc), take a bucket with you and the USB air Pump. Also a bottle of Prime if you have it. Then you’ll be fine for a week!😂😂

Buy a new tank and do a fishless cycle with with the fish food😉 Now you’ve gotten rid of the food and you’ve cycled a nice new tank!😂

Just keep your usual routine up. Spot feed if necessary and perform your water changes as usual. Don’t preemptively medicate unless you can see a decline in health or a physical difference. If possible, dim the light for a day or so just to let her gently become comfortable in her surroundings again.

Buy a bottle of Prime and do water changes in a small quarantine tank. That will be a temporary home for them so it shouldn’t be too bad, provided you can test and change water accordingly. How big is the tank? Common Plecos get huge and poop a lot too😜

The smell I find is quite normal with new wood. It should go with time, I wouldn’t worry.

Thank you! I hope they come in handy 🙂