Who Gives A Fish Forums

Afternoon everyone,

Just a quick hello before I start bombarding you all with questions. I've recently upgraded from a 200l tropical setup to a 450l Malawi setup, and I'm excited to learn from you all.

My tank's currently set up with a Coflake sand base and plenty of ocean rock. I've got two external filters running - a Fluval 305 and 405. I'm wondering, is this enough filtration for an overstocked Malawi setup? I've been reading through the "Mbuna basics" thread, and I wish I'd done my research sooner.

A friend gave me some babies to help cycle the tank before I add my main stock. However, it turns out they're all on the "avoid these fish at all costs" list - Melanochromis auratus, Melanochromis chipokae, and Metriaclima lombardoi. My friend seems to get away with keeping them in his overstocked tank, but I'm guessing that's due to the sheer mass of large fish he has.

I'm a bit concerned about what the future holds for these fish. They're currently doing fine, but they're only 2 inches long at the moment. I'm guessing I might be in for a world of trouble when they grow. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Lew

You'll be alright with those Mbuna, just introduce more at a time, say 6-10, and you'll be fine. Adding peacocks might not be the best idea though, they'll likely get bullied. Your filtration setup should be okay, just make sure to stay on top of water changes, probably 50% each week once the tank's fully stocked and the fish have grown. Good luck, Mbuna can be a handful but they're great fun.