Starting a Malawi tank build

[BCJC82]

I am going to be setting up a Malawi tank very soon currently have a wanted add up for a tank. i have 1m 2f Taiwan reef cichlids (looking for a 3rd female) that are going to be the center piece in the tank and am trying to decide what other cichlids to put in there with them. These fish are around 4-5 inches and are currently being housed in my 125 with another fish that has turned out to be much more aggressive than I had anticipated and they are needing to be moved within the next two weeks. So I am here seeking advice from you the ones that have been doing this much longer than I have. What other Malawi cichlids would fair well with these critters. I have read that these are compatible (p-acei-luwala) along with some other Mbunas are good tank mates. Also I would like the other cichids to be brightly colored and maybe have a somewhat smaller size than the Taiwans so they are more a background fish. Ok this has been long enough I eagerly await y'alls responces.

[NDsuperduty]

Starting a Malawi tank build

What size tank are the Malawi going in? Are you wanting the T reef's to breed or just look pretty?

[BCJC82]

The T-Reef's are already showing signs of breeding in the tank they are in and yes I would like them to eventually breed that was my main purpose in getting them. I am looking for a 90+ gallon aquarium but of course I want to hold out for a larger tank. I am looking at a 120 right now that I may purchase. I work off shore and I will not be home until the 1st of november and will start setting up as soon as I get home and get a tank in. I have plenty of media to quick cycle a tank along with current cycled water and what not. Plus my water is not to "chity". (see what i did there)

[BCJC82]

Also trying to figure out what type of substrate to use. filtration with be a wet dry.

[Crude]

IMO avoid the super fine Argonite. I had it in my last set up and it really blows around. Of course if you like the look of fresh snow, that might be a nice look. I switched to Pfs.

[mnemenoi]

For substrate I would suggest PFS or aragonite, I use the sugar grade in my tang tank and once it settles it looks nice.

For species, I am assuming you are trying to achieve a biotope specific tank (true Malawi fish found endemically in the lake) and there are quite a few oddballs that are occasionally imported and can be found with a little looking.
Synodontis Njasse (A catfish from the lake, Dave's Rare fish has WC ones currently)
Mastecembellus sp. Rosette & Shiranus are both from the lake and I have seen both offered occasionally. Try Aquabid or Daves and see if he can get them.

[BCJC82]

I have pretty much decided on using PFS and mixing some Argonite into it for it's buffering purposes my tap water is around 7-7.4 and i would like it to be around 7.6-8.4. Unless there are better buffering options out there that someone could point me towards. I am really open to all suggestions and any useful information is appreciated. I will also be posting pics when I get back home and start the set up. so every one that helps can walk with me through the process.

[sountfc]

I have always had good luck keeping copadichromis borleyi with Taiwan reefs. There are a few different varieties to choose from, and the borleyi and Taiwan reefs always seem to basically ignore each other.

[BCJC82]

So i am using Daves rare fish's price list to get an idea of the type of fish that live in the area and I came across the Pseudotropheus saulosi that is a dwarf cichlid found in the same area of the lake as the T-reefs I currently have. http://www.davesfish.com/images/Pseu...nee%20Reef.jpg that is a link to the picture of them. I was thinking of trying to get one male and a couple of females since they are both so drastically different in colors it would add a nice little something to the tank.

[mnemenoi]

daves rare fish is a great place and shipping is not bad at all

[tunedis95]

I put all kinds of cichlids together, and things go fine as long as you don't add one at a time. And keep about the same size.

[sountfc]

Saulosi should breed well for you, if you're interested in that.

[BCJC82]

yes I am interested in that. I trying to get a 120 gallon tank right now hard to work out a deal with people when I won't be home until next friday. I do not plan on putting a lot of fish in this tank at all maybe 9 max and only 3 males total. I want to try and make sure that each individual has plenty of room to establish a territory to bring down the total amount of aggresion in the tank so all species I put in feels comfortable enough to breed. Not really trying to breed the fish to sell and make money but my girlfriend loves fish having babies. So I have to try and accommodate that as well. I was thinking of trying to find an orange or redish color fish to go along with them to mix up the colors a little but am also trying to keep it smaller than the Taiwan fish and one that won't hybridize with them. I am doing a lot of reading on the internet which is always fun.

[sountfc]

Copadichromis borleyi Taiwanee reef would be perfect. They're almost orange, look them up on Dave's site. The males do get as big as the Taiwan reefs you want, but they don't bother each other and don't inter-breed.

[BCJC82]

I checked him out and he looks just a little to similar to the T-reefs I have. http://www.davesfish.com/images/Metr...nos%20Reef.jpg These are a couple I was thinking of adding in along with them and the Saulois