Made my decision

[bettaMagenta]

I recall a mate who had a massive tank, chock-full of various Africans, and he'd always be tinkering with the layout. He'd rearrange these limestone slabs every week during water changes, just to keep things from boiling over.

[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.

I'm having a bit of a dilemma with the rock setup. I bought some fake rocks a while back and I'm quite happy with the layout, plus they're really light which is a bonus. However, I've always been a fan of using natural materials and some of the ones I've got are a bit rough around the edges. I'm thinking it might be better to go with something smoother, even if it's heavier, just seems a more responsible choice.

[graye]

My rule for tank setup was simple: one cave per fish, with three extra empty spots for good measure. I was lucky to have access to slate back in the day, which I'd just pick up off the ground whenever I needed it. Rearranging the tank was a regular occurrence, especially whenever I added or removed fish - it was crucial for keeping the peace. Those thin slate slabs were super handy for this.

I recall a friend who had great success with breeding Malawi fish, but he took a completely different approach. He didn't use any decorations at all, so no fish could claim any territory. It was effective for his purposes, but to be honest, the tank looked a bit bare to me.

It's funny, I was out walking in the woods recently and I saw a rockfall - the winter ice had seeped into a slate cliff face and broken off dozens of perfect little pieces. I don't need them anymore, but I guess old habits die hard - I still find myself thinking about creating the perfect cave for my Mbuna.

[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.

I'm keen on incorporating some aquascaping elements into this tank, but I know I need to strike a balance – it's all about the fish, after all. I'm not a fan of those super structured, square designs I've seen in some tanks. I've been browsing online for landscaping companies that sell decent-sized chunks of black limestone – it would be perfect for this setup – but so far, I've only found places that sell it in massive quantities, which isn't exactly what I'm looking for. This weekend, I'm planning to visit a few garden centres to see if I can find something that fits the bill.

[bettaMagenta]

I came across black limestone, and I have to admit I've never seen it before. Our usual stuff is always cream or tan-colored. But I learned something new today - black limestone is a natural stone from South India, with a really interesting texture from being hand-split. Apparently, it's got a charcoal grey tone when it's dry, but it turns pure black when it's wet.