Malawi tank for my better half...

Hi Tasa

I just got 200l tank from barry ( tasa member ) so i gave it to my girlfriend she had tanks in the past.
So she wants to do malawi tank but i have no experience with them and will like some input from the tasa members that had or have malawi tanks. the tank has build in sump. water is around 187L ex the water in the sump will load photo's of the system to give u guys more idea of whats going on.

So any info will be a big help to see if i can make a successful malawi tank. sorry if i ask any dumb questions with this project.

Some of the equipment i have so far:

Heater: 150w eheim
pump: 1200LPH
black gravel come with tank.

 

Photo was taken over the weekend i have removed the background and cleaned it a bit, second picture is of the over flow hope its not to small. will get few more pictures tonight

 

Thinking of putting heater in first chamber, media and sponge in second with only pump in last chamber

 

no that's the outlet

 

Thanks, yes i see there is a few options on going about this but i will see what info i get here and doing some reading..

 

Some tips:

Peacocks and the so-called haps prefer nice open water with limited rockwork, while the mbuna prefer quite complex environments. The caves and crevices play a big part in defining territories and providing hiding spots for more submissive fish.

The more the merrier: in small groups, it's easier for dominant fish to focus attention on weaker fish. Big groups allow for dispersal of this aggression, plus providing many potential mating partners to be distracted by.

Lots of rocks are good, but this does create dead spots where flow can be zero. These gather old food and dead fish, and can be deadly. Invest in wave makers to get flow into these spots.

Mbuna appreciate greens in the diet. A green, algae based food is good for a staple, but don't be afraid to throw in some veggies too. Try keep away from too many floating foods, as this isn't a natural feeding mode for them.

It can pay off to introduce everyone more or less at once. This allows the fish to establish territories at once, rather than one group establishing and keeping the new guys out of prime real estate. This will require you to have an established, well cycled tank first. Alternatively, with each new group introduced, rearrange the rockwork.

I'm at work now so that's all I can offer off the dome, but dig into your research. A well put together Malawi tank is a sight to behold.

 

Few questions to get started: on this size tank what will be good balance stock level, will 150w eheim heater do the job and the 1200lph pump do the trick. what lights will be recommended here aswell. sorry but just want to get idea of where more is needed.

 

Heater is an must in the first chamber.

 

I would really consider some nice tangs some tropheus and some caudopunctatus even julies would do well.

 

Did speak to her and she don't mind going the tang route aswell

 

oh okey thanks, sorry small buffer?

 

oh okey understand what u mean thanks