trying out malawi cichlids

[gigafish]

hi, I'm going to sell my south american cichlids tomorrow, from my 75g. I'm going to change the tank into a malawi cichlid tank. I have 6 yellow labs growing in a 10g right now. how should I set the 75g tank??? I bought a bag of dolomite so far. Should I just use silica sand from home depot?? or should I use dolomite. How else should I set the tank???

[Overawed]

Depends on the Malawis you decide to keep. Those Labs love having rocks and caves to swim around. Do a forum search on "sand" or "substrates" there have been many posts on these subjects.

IME: I find that swimming pool filter sand is easier on the filters. It does not look as nice though, but it is still natural looking.

Lace rocks make great for dramatic landscaping, look for rocks with holes in them.

Be careful not to use very sharp edged rocks which will cause injuries. Sure you know that.

BTW: Welcome to the forums gigafish!!

[gigafish]

thanks overawed!!! the 75g is currently running by aquaclear 500 and a 404 fluval and a big sponge filter. there will be some of the original occupants in there too. 1 raphael, 2 plecos, 2 clown loaches and 1 upside down cat. i don't think it is an upside down cat though. it looks nothing like the upside down cat i have ever seen. are all these fish fine in this set up??? thanks again!!

[Mbuniac]

The only problem I see (and I'm always harping on this) is that the south/central americans and the africans water chemistry requirements are completely different. Lake Malawi has a pH of around 8.2 and the new world cichlids prefer a pH much closer to neutral. I have all Malawi's except for my stupid pleco. But he's going away as soon as I find a home for him. I installed my UV Sterilizer today and won't need him anymore. Anyway, LOL and welcome.
Sam

[Overawed]

Yes Sam is right about water conditions, but my New World Cichlids have been flourishing in ph 8.0 for years now. I guess they have just learned to deal with it.

Be sure not to use Aquarisol in that tank with the spotted Rafie, it will kill them, I found that out the hard way :(

[gigafish]

i see. but i have seen many, many setup with non malawi fish in it and heard they were fine. well, should i sell these off as well then??? the 10g's ph is about 7.6. I have separated the pink convict kids from the 10g today. I placed them in the 75g for them to grow out . the 6 labs are still in the 10g with only a few cons( I couldn't catch them all). there are about 80-100 cons in the 75g now. once they reach 1 1/2 inches, I will trade them off for some more malawis. I don't want to overstock this time, so what is the max for 4-5 inches fish in a 75g?

Isaw a pair of peacocks at the FS where I sold my fish to. he told me that he would sell me the pair for 50 bucks. is that good price? are they compatible??

I want to mix dolomite with the swimming pool sand, what do you think?

Thanks alot!!! this is a great forum!!!
steve

[Mbuniac]

If your purpose for using dolomite is strictly to raise your pH, then you might consider using crushed coral in your filters. IMHO the sand would look better by itself. As far as mixing fish from different locations.......My son has fish from south/central America, Malawi and Tanganyika, and they seem to be doing okay. I guess I'm anal so I have to do it "by the book". LOL
Sam

[gigafish]

yes that's why I use dolomite. I bought a 25(i think) pound bag. I already used some in the 10g already. the ph in phila is about 7.4 kh 3 gh 12. how much crush corals should I use and what do I do whith the left over dolomite? the crush corals here comes in like a 25 pound bag also.

so I guess I'll keep the clean up crew then. So how about that pair of peacocks?

also I heard some bad things about the crush corals. is this true?
steve

[Overawed]

Peacocks are always a good choice IMO. What kind are you thinking of?

I've heard that the fish can injure their mouths on coral, but I have not experienced it per say. Other than that, I think crushed coral is a nice substrate.

[Mbuniac]

I wasn't recommending the crushed coral as a substrate, just as a pH control. I don't know what the consistency of your dolomite is, but if it's not too fine you should be able to use it in your filter(s) the same as the coral. I had planned on using dolomite in my filters until I found out that my tap water was 8.2.
Anyone ever use it?

[gigafish]

the peacock has a blue face and yellow coloring on the body. (whole fish is blue with yellow on body scale). i hope that came out right..... is it called jacob something??? i can't spell too good sorry.
couple guys from my fish club told me to put a layer of 1/2 in. in the tank. (dolomite). i haven't done it yet. i just took out most of the gravel from my 75g and placed it in a bucket. just waiting to find more info on it.
how about additives such as malawi buffers and cichlid salt? do i really need them?? i have been using the malawi buffer in the 10g. i also added some to the 75g when i did the water changes today. i do 30-40% water changes once a week. is that too much or too little?? for the 10g i try to do around 50% everyday. i do like 3 day straight and maybe skip a day or two.
i feed the labs freezed dried bloodworms and brine shrimp and tetra bits and flakes. oh also algae tabs. 4 are about an inch and 2 are about 1/2 in. one is not yellow though. since i move the cons they are little shy now.
i went ot home depot today and i just saw the playing sand and not the other kind. i was also looking for slates. they have a whole skid fold and was only selling for a skidful for $198. i guess thats cheap, but i have nop use for all those slates.thanks
steve