setting up a mbuna cichlids tank in a 270 litre environment

[lintel]

So some of you know, Minnnt and I swapped tanks last Sunday. He took my Juwel Rio 180 and I got his Aquatlantis evasion horizon 110 (270lts). Big day, right?

Minnnt arrived at my place around 10 am and we got started. Aquatlantis evasion horizon 110 out of my car, Juwel Rio 180 out of his, and into our respective cars. Quick setup and we're all set.

Next, we caught the fish and put them in buckets. Few hours later, Minnnt was off and heading home.

Tank: Aquatlantis evasion horizon 110

Filtration: Tetratec 1200EX and hydor prime 30

Substrate: 42.5kg Unipac limpopo

Hard Scape: Weathered Line Stone (loads of it, lol) and some egg crate

Fish: 10 saulosi, 11 Socolofi, 8 Yellow Labs, 5 Cobalt Blues, 8 Aulonocara

Here's a short video: http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9CZo4D4AXk

Now, in reverse order, the photos. Someone asked for a long exposure shot, so I call this one 'ghost Mbuna'.








And here are some of the inhabitants

[Bolton]

Cracking tank, and the fish pics are even better. Well done.

[reefwalker]

Looks like a great swap, loving the new setup.

[kalevi]

Brilliant mate, loving the new setup, Aquatlantis evasion horizon 110 is a real head-turner, and the fish are looking fantastic, nice one.

[bolt9x]

Cheers mate, your new setup looks brilliant. I'm loving the fish pics, they're top-notch. That sand is so much nicer than mine, gotta say. Still feeling the after effects of Sunday, though.

[lintel]

Cheers guys, thanks for the kind words. Minnnt, I'm feeling the strain as well - my back's still recovering from the big swap on Sunday.

[Bolton]

Substrate is 42.5kg Unipac limpopo, mate.

[lintel]

Cracking tank, and the fish pics are even better. Well done.

It's Unipac Limpopo, a mix of sand grains, about 1mm in size, slate gray in color, looks the part in the tank.

[jazzydude]

Looks fantastic, gorgeous fish. That weathered limestone - love it. Got any idea where I can get my hands on some? Is it inert or does it mess with the gH? And egg crate - what's the story with that, is it just for stability or does it serve another purpose?

[lintel]

Looks fantastic, gorgeous fish. That weathered limestone - love it. Got any idea where I can get my hands on some? Is it inert or does it mess with the gH? And egg crate - what's the story with that, is it just for stability or does it serve another purpose?

I reckon it's old, used stone I got from bolt9x. Hopefully, it'll harden my water, that's the plan anyway. Egg crate's just filter grills for ponds, it's plastic. Lines the bottom of the tank so the rock doesn't scratch the glass, and helps spread the weight of the rocks.