does my setup suit cichlids well
Re: does my setup suit cichlids well
Still looks a bit dicey to me, I've just been super cautious with my own setup. Don't want a rock to get dislodged and end up with a busted tank, that's just a nightmare.
Re: does my setup suit cichlids well
I'm thinking of getting more rocks, but what size would you guys recommend - 4 inches or bigger?
Also, I've been wondering about something. The guy at the fish store told me not to remove any fish until I'm ready to replace them, because of the bio load. I had 9 fish in the tank and he said it was stable, but if I remove some and don't replace them right away, it could cause issues. I did end up removing 4 rainbow fish, which I know is a change, and I replaced them with 18 feeders. Since I'm on vacation now, the gar is eating them, but slowly, so hopefully the bio load will stay stable until I get back.
Also, I've been wondering about something. The guy at the fish store told me not to remove any fish until I'm ready to replace them, because of the bio load. I had 9 fish in the tank and he said it was stable, but if I remove some and don't replace them right away, it could cause issues. I did end up removing 4 rainbow fish, which I know is a change, and I replaced them with 18 feeders. Since I'm on vacation now, the gar is eating them, but slowly, so hopefully the bio load will stay stable until I get back.
Re: does my setup suit cichlids well
I picked up rocks in all shapes and sizes, nothing too big that it'd overwhelm the tank, nor too small that it'd get lost. I've got rocks ranging from 3 inches all the way up to a foot in length.
Re: does my setup suit cichlids well
You're gonna need a bunch of rocks, and I mean a lot, to make this setup stable and suitable for your cichlids.
Re: does my setup suit cichlids well
I've got some thoughts on rock choices for mbuna tanks - personally, I think limestone, sandstone, and granite are the way to go. Slate just doesn't cut it, it's too flat and doesn't create natural-looking caves. I mean, you can try to make cave systems with slate, but they're always gonna be a bit... uniform. And to be honest, I just don't think slate looks great in mbuna tanks - it's better as an accent rock in tanks with more varied rock types.
As for plants, I'm not holding out hope - mbuna are notorious for annihilating anything green. I've heard there might be some exceptions, but I'm skeptical. Lava rock's another option, but it's sharp, ugly, and pricey in my area. Lace stone's also a popular choice, but same issues - sharp, ugly, and expensive.
I've gone with black granite for my 50-gallon tank, and I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out - here's a photo of the progress.
As for plants, I'm not holding out hope - mbuna are notorious for annihilating anything green. I've heard there might be some exceptions, but I'm skeptical. Lava rock's another option, but it's sharp, ugly, and pricey in my area. Lace stone's also a popular choice, but same issues - sharp, ugly, and expensive.
I've gone with black granite for my 50-gallon tank, and I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out - here's a photo of the progress.