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Although it
seems that I only keep really big tanks, I must confess that I
still own a small Mbuna tank. It's an aquarium with specific
measures that I ordered some years ago, as it had to fit in a
space near my fireplace. A special 3D background that we won
on a DIY club event is the main feature of this small, but
cosy setup. |
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A small selection of various Mbuna is doing very well in this
aquarium |
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I also used this tank for raising fry in the past. Notice the
3D background. |
| Especially the
fact that this is a 200L (or about 55G),which is an extremely
popular aquarium size, makes it very interesting to talk about.
This is also the minimum size for keeping small Mbuna within
acceptable agression levels. Of course everything depends on
the decoration of the tank. Lots of rockwork and caves are the
key to succes with these extremely territorial fish. Careful
stacking is a must! This can make the difference between a
dead or a living fish, as they love to explore every corner of
their habitat and might get stuck or trapped in a narrow cave
of a poor setup. Another well kept secret is the decoration
potential of a real hefty rock! Using such huge stones will
make the tank look larger than it actually is. Keep in mind
that you need a styrofoam board to protect the glass bottom
from breaking when using them. As substrate I use the one and
only material: sand! About 25Kg of ordinary construction sand
is thoroughly washed to prevent cloudiness. |
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A full view |
| So what keeps
these cichlids from harassing each other? None of them hangs
in a corner and is chased to death by the others. They don't
have one single scratch or damaged fins... I think it's mainly
because the sophisticated cave/rock constructions and the
equally strong top males. They can't see each other all the
time because of the large rock in the middle, what reduces the
need to chase their concurrents away. |
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Look at the Ps Msobo that I got from Francesco. They are
ruling the tank. The other blue Mbuna in the middle is a Ps.
saulosi. |
| The filter of
this tank is a very basic one. A glued in three compartment
mechanical/biological filter with sponges, synthetic wool and
ceramic pipes in the left side of the tank does the job quite
well. The heater is located out of sight in the first inlet
compartment. It can never burn, as this chamber always has the
same water level as the rest of the tank. By mounting the
outlet of the 1000L pump a little above the water level, the
surface is agitated very well, what provides enough gas
exchange thus supply of necessary oxygen. |
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A real Malawi shell in the right front corner of the aquarium. |
