[Bavarian3]

wow..that looks amazing. im currently planting my mbuna tank as well but its not going to look anywhere as nice as yours. I suggest adding some Haplochromic of Peacocks! Many have amazing colors and are carnivores rather than mbunas that are herbivores and more likely to chew up the plants.

 

[Bavarian3]

I am curious if u have any tricks that u do to keep the mbuna from eating the plants? I am in the process of setting up my tank and i sound just like u. I am just lightly planting it but as i find myself purchasing better lighting and about to do Co2 i have a feeling its going to be heavily planted. its going to be mostly carnivores (haps/peacocks) im just afraid of them shredding up the plants. heres what it looks like now..please gimme any suggestions for some hardy plants u think would be good for my setup.
http://www.wtfhost.com/userfiles/Bavarian3/tankOT2.jpg

 

[Bavarian3]

Bavarian - I keep mainly mbuna so I can't really tell you how haps or peacocks might react, although I know someone who is having good luck with peacocks and plants. My rules are: keep the smaller mbuna that don't have a proclivity for digging; keep your plants algae free (mbuna are algae grazers); and feed your fish well so they don't seek out alternative food sources. I can't really say what the secret is, but those three rules have worked for me

I see, thats one thing i was curious about cuz i know bigger mbuna would definetly have more chance of shredding the plants. Im seen some fairly large demasoni at the lfs though...
One question about keeping the plants algea free. My tank is new so it appears im gettting diatom algea. The plants get really dirty and if i shake them a big cloud of particles wil come off it. so how do u keep the tank algea free? Especially with that much light.

 

[Bavarian3]

Wow, thanks. You can't go wrong with L. caeruleus in a planted tank. I know your tank is fairly limited in the species you can keep but if you get a 55G or larger I would highly recommend trying Pseudotropheus demasoni. They have a reputation for aggression (rightly so) but kept in a larger tank this is much diminished and is, IME, strictly conspecific. They are (again IME) harmless to plants and don't get large enough to do any serious re-arranging of the aquascape. Also look into Labeotrophues fuelleborni. They are very docile and eat enough algae to put your SAE's to shame Hope to see some pics!

I would also love to hear your experience with the zebras in your planted tank. I've held off trying them as I've seen what they can do to a tank when they put their mind to it :razz:

I agree that demasonis aggression is very conspecific. Ive kept a single one in a mixed mbuna tank and it wasnt aggressive at all. Apparently they are best kept alone, or with many other demasoni.
Please dont get zebras!! they can be real nasty little buggers, no offense towards aries fish, i just dont like them.

BTW when could i expect some of that clover? i cant wait to try it out im just dyin to stuff more plants in my tank.

 

[Bavarian3]

i cant see the pics either.

not that i really like mbuna, but isnt that kind of a low pH to keep them? i mean, i know they can live through torture, but I dunno, that's not really emulating reality.

then again, who keeps biotopes? lol. nevermind!

Take a look at his fish and how much they breed and see ask again if PH is a problem

-Charles

 

[Bavarian3]

Amazing travis, ive always been shocked at the plants youve been able to keep under these conditions and with such health.

The mbuna must all be huge by now as well, im sure youve had to get rid of some of the stock to keep them in check?

Keep up the good work.

-Charles