Made my decision

[willie32]

I've finally got my chance to set up my 300 litre, 4 foot tank after waiting for the building renovations to finish. No more delays, I'm excited to get going. Initially, I did consider a massive 1000 litre, 8 foot tank but the cost was too high for me to justify, especially with the 12-week build time - I'm fed up of waiting.

Now I'm all set on a Malawi Mbuna tank, my first proper venture into Rift Lake fish. I've done quite a bit of research and I'm trying to decide on a mix I'll enjoy. My shortlist is:

- Metriaclima Msobo Magunga - love the contrast of black/blue males and orange females
- Metriaclima Callainos or Pseudotropheus Socolofi - those neon powder blues on the males and females are stunning
- Labidochromis Caeruleus - Yellow Labs are so bright and cheerful
- Pseudotropheus Acei Itungi - the purple/indigo bodies with yellow fins are really eye-catching

I'm planning to start with groups of 7, but that might change depending on the cost. Some places offer discounts for bulk purchases, so I'll have to see what's available. Ultimately, I'll aim for groups of 5, with 1 male and 4 females.

I also want to add a group of Synodontis - maybe 9 or more, but I'll have to add them in stages as they're quite pricey. They'll be the first fish in the tank, likely added in groups of 3.

What do you think - am I onto a winner?

[happyone]

Not an expert on cichlids myself, but I'm stoked to hear you've finally nailed down a plan for your tank - that Malawi Mbuna setup sounds like it's gonna be a real showstopper.

[willie32]

I don't know a lot about cichlids, but I'm glad you've finally got a plan in place.

[happyone]

Lovely selection, really like the mix of colors and shapes you've got going on.

[fineman]

I've finally got my chance to set up my 300 litre, 4 foot tank after waiting for the building renovations to finish. No more delays, I'm excited to get going. Initially, I did consider a massive 1000 litre, 8 foot tank but the cost was too high for me to justify, especially with the 12-week build time - I'm fed up of waiting.

Now I'm all set on a Malawi Mbuna tank, my first proper venture into Rift Lake fish. I've done quite a bit of research and I'm trying to decide on a mix I'll enjoy. My shortlist is:

- Metriaclima Msobo Magunga - love the contrast of black/blue males and orange females
- Metriaclima Callainos or Pseudotropheus Socolofi - those neon powder blues on the males and females are stunning
- Labidochromis Caeruleus - Yellow Labs are so bright and cheerful
- Pseudotropheus Acei Itungi - the purple/indigo bodies with yellow fins are really eye-catching

I'm planning to start with groups of 7, but that might change depending on the cost. Some places offer discounts for bulk purchases, so I'll have to see what's available. Ultimately, I'll aim for groups of 5, with 1 male and 4 females.

I also want to add a group of Synodontis - maybe 9 or more, but I'll have to add them in stages as they're quite pricey. They'll be the first fish in the tank, likely added in groups of 3.

What do you think - am I onto a winner?

That could be a winning combination, but you know what would make it an actual winner? Entering The Tank of the Month Contest. The categories are pretty straightforward - August is for tanks 31 gallons and larger, September is for 16 gallons and smaller, October is for tanks between 17 and 30 gallons, and November is back to 31 gallons and larger.

[bettaMagenta]

Considering your species list, I was wondering if you're thinking of adding some dwarf petricola snails to the mix? I've been eyeing a trio of them for my own setup.

[coltin]

I'm a bit worried about the dynamics with all those females and just one male in each group, might lead to some serious aggression issues, bloodshed even.

[willie32]

Considering your species list, I was wondering if you're thinking of adding some dwarf petricola snails to the mix? I've been eyeing a trio of them for my own setup.

Yeah, hopefully - most Petricola species have been reclassified as Lucipinnis, which is pretty similar. Polli sp. white is also a favorite of mine, but they can be tricky to find. I've heard that keeping them in groups of five is the way to go.

coltin said it could be bloodshed with all the females and males.

That's a fair point - Malawi tanks do come with a high risk of aggression. To mitigate this, I've got a plan for some dividers that can be quickly slid in if needed. I've always thought that keeping Mbuna in sexed groups helps distract the males from each other? I'm limiting the number of males to four, so hopefully that'll help. The Msobo are definitely the most aggressive species in this mix, and the Socolofi can be a bit rough around the edges. The Labs and Acei, though, I'm not too worried about. I did consider an all-male Peacock tank at one point, but it's tough to find individual males from reputable breeders in the UK.

[graye]

I think you'll be alright with those choices, though I've got a soft spot for the yellow labs - they're a lot more laid-back than the rest of the crew. They might get a bit of a rough ride, though.

From what I've seen, the dividers and all that don't really make a difference. The thing with Mbuna is that when they start getting feisty, you just have to roll with it. You'll see some pretty wild behaviour - everyone gets nipped, chased, and bullied. The colours are incredible, but the personalities can be a handful. And these fish are tough, they thrive on that kind of lifestyle.

[willie32]

I think you'll be alright with those choices, though I've got a soft spot for the yellow labs - they're a lot more laid-back than the rest of the crew. They might get a bit of a rough ride, though.

From what I've seen, the dividers and all that don't really make a difference. The thing with Mbuna is that when they start getting feisty, you just have to roll with it. You'll see some pretty wild behaviour - everyone gets nipped, chased, and bullied. The colours are incredible, but the personalities can be a handful. And these fish are tough, they thrive on that kind of lifestyle.

Thanks Gary, looking forward to getting started. I know it's gonna be a bit rough and tumble, but I've had my fair share of those tanks in the past, so I'm somewhat prepared for it. The dividers are really a last resort for me, if I think things are getting too out of hand and fish death is a possibility, I can separate them for a bit and then rehome them to a local fish store when I can.