newarcher Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 right folks I have kept Malawi cichlids for the last 25yrs ,now I want to set up a 3ft community tank for the living room .I would like this to be planted so any suggestions for plants that are easy to grow ,since keeping malawis I have not kept up with the planted side of the hobby I do have a nice piece of bog wood for a centre piece so lets go from there thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 You will need a decent substrate and to aid root growth possibly the use of an under soil heating cable. You can also set up a Co2 system, that's starting from the bottom, then to top it off the lighting. A liquid fertiliser will also help. Plant growth min mine is extremely strong, if I don't thin out I won't see any fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northeastshooter Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Depending on your tank size but a good fertilizer, lighting t5 or LEDS (just made my own Leds for my 6x2x2 marine tank cheaper than t5s), co2 works well you can make your own with old pop bottles, water, sugar, yeast and airline (plenty of videos on YouTube) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Elodea Densa you will be giving it away it grows that well. Cambomba Anubias is nice and comes in a variety of sizes. If you go down your local LFS a lot of them stock plants from Tropica. They have lots of tips on their website. http://tropica.com/en Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirty Harry Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 I had a de denerle c02 system on mine. It made a massive difference and I ended up selling plants back to the shop. I might still have the system stored somewhere if your thinking of getting one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 (edited) I had a 6' x 2' x 2' Dennerle based set up. Start with a substrate warming cable, a proper plant growing subsoil under sand or fine gravel. You can then think about CO2 install, One important factor, if going for plant growth and using CO2 you dont want too much turbulence in the water. The intensity of lighting is probably as critical as the time the lighting is on. For my co2 i had an old fire extinguisher converted and filled with CO2 ( did you know theres 'recycled CO2 and Food Grade apparently) I might still have this somewhere in the shed as the Dennerle ones used to be megabucks to buy new. PS Java Fern grows with very low light levels. Edited September 19, 2014 by TaxiDriver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 I had java fern grown on bog wood and this grows well without any extra stuff needed. It does tend to overgrow the tank if not cut back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dorianbuilders Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 I have a LAC R 362 aquarium with all the gear that was my dads that I'm wanting to sell if anyone's interested? It's silver on a silver cabinet. Pm me for details. Adrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newarcher Posted September 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 thanks for all the replies guys its a juwel 3ft tank with t5 lighting I will be using the juwel filter in the tank.i will be using deponit for the growing media and I think sand on the top ,never thought about under heating cable I will read up on that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newarcher Posted September 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 I had a de denerle c02 system on mine. It made a massive difference and I ended up selling plants back to the shop. I might still have the system stored somewhere if your thinking of getting one.you have pm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Be careful if you're thinking of stocking shrimps, treatments for any ailments will be greatly restricted, and catching them can be a nightmare,, lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooksy789 Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Am i correct in thinking with my very little Malawi experience that these fish can be quite distructive by nature? I know they are territorial and that a move around of funishings is always advised so they have to keep finding new territorys to help prevent them bullying other fish. Someone please correct me if im wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Am i correct in thinking with my very little Malawi experience that these fish can be quite distructive by nature? I know they are territorial and that a move around of funishings is always advised so they have to keep finding new territorys to help prevent them bullying other fish. Someone please correct me if im wrong. Yes and you have to be careful what you put in together. Some of the most aggressive cichlids out. They also need a water pH of 8 or higher. Saying that amazing colours, the nearest you will get to Marine colours without going to a marine set up. Best set up is a good rock pile with a lot of caves nooks and crannies. Almost like a live rock set up for marines. Just need to be careful the rocks are OK and don't lower the pH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooksy789 Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 A good friend of mine had a huge corner tank that was a specialist Malawi tank set up. Exactly as you described, lots of white coral style rock with plenty of nooks and crannies. Agreed, the best fish you can buy for colour other than marines. Only problem is it's tends to only be the males that carry the bright colours, females tend to be brown and dull, but too many males causes territorial fights! Yes and you have to be careful what you put in together. Some of the most aggressive cichlids out. They also need a water pH of 8 or higher. Saying that amazing colours, the nearest you will get to Marine colours without going to a marine set up. Best set up is a good rock pile with a lot of caves nooks and crannies. Almost like a live rock set up for marines. Just need to be careful the rocks are OK and don't lower the pH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Used to be some nice fish at Bardills Garden Centre in Nottingham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brooksy789 Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Never really bought too much from there but a friend had a few bad fish that didnt last long. Got most of ours from Wharf Aquatics in Pinxton Used to be some nice fish at Bardills Garden Centre in Nottingham. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 I like Wharf. I got my Male False map turtle from there. LND exotics nearer the centre of Mansfield has started to get a few nice fish in too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 Yes and you have to be careful what you put in together. Some of the most aggressive cichlids out. They also need a water pH of 8 or higher. Saying that amazing colours, the nearest you will get to Marine colours without going to a marine set up. Best set up is a good rock pile with a lot of caves nooks and crannies. Almost like a live rock set up for marines. Just need to be careful the rocks are OK and don't lower the pH. Loads of white coral rock keeps the pH up enough. We've found it better to overstock to keep aggression down, but we are still keeping mainly Haps/Peacocks which need more free water swimming than the Mbuna. Auloracana (spelling) are pretty easy going species for first time cichlid owners. The Mbuna tend to be the real aggressive ones, but you can run a few in a Hap tank, provided they are on the calmer side of the spectrum and you have individuals (one male of different species) rather than breeding pairs. With overstocking, an external filter is recommended rather than an in-tank one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newarcher Posted September 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 malawis are great fish to keep my son as now taken over the ones I had,the aquarium they are in is 4x2x2 and stocked with mbuna there are 40 fish in it ,I have kept Malawi fish for over 25ys and the trick Is overcrowding to minimise aggression and if possible 2females to 1 male and pile in rocks until you run out of rocks or nerve, these fish think of 3 things only, fighting, feeding and the other.and are not bothered in which order all my fish came from aquaflight in matlock run by anton cass, who imported most of the fish from stuart grant in Malawi alas anton no longer no longer trades ,which h is a great pity, this guy was the daddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
double10 Posted September 20, 2014 Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 easiest plants would be anubias (likes to be tied to bogwood), java fern/moss, moss balls, vallisneria,crypts any ideas for stocking yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newarcher Posted September 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2014 well I think its just going to be a community tank, so when its ready ,I will start off cardinal tetras,and as the weeks go by some cory sterbai ,bit undecided about shrimps,i have never kept those before so would welcome any advice that way thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
double10 Posted October 12, 2014 Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 shrimps are harder, requiring somewhat specific and stable conditions, and are easy prey for any predatory fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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