It Begins... 40B African Cichlid Tank

[Dom90]

So I grabbed this last night in the nick of time, Petco was closing in 5 minutes!

 

[LeoDiaz]

Lol last min shopping.

 

[Dom90]

Haha yea... had to get the job done whatever means possible. Doing some Amazon shopping to get filter, heater, and cichlid sand.

 

[LeoDiaz]

Haha yea... had to get the job done whatever means possible. Doing some Amazon shopping to get filter, heater, and cichlid sand.

You going to spend the extra money for "cichlid sand"?

 

[Dom90]

Might as well go for broke, I'm spending all this money, a few more bucks won't break the bank

 

[Geoff]

Go big or go home.

 

[LeoDiaz]

Might as well go for broke, I'm spending all this money, a few more bucks won't break the bank

Lol go big or go home. I just don't find a point of having to pay $20 or so for each 20pound bag when you can just get one 50 pound bag of PFS or black diamond.

 

[Dom90]

Well, all I need is 40 pounds of sand so that's why I bought that on Amazon.

 

[LeoDiaz]

Well, all I need is 40 pounds of sand so that's why I bought that on Amazon.

You might even use less depending if use rockwork or not.

 

[Dom90]

Yea I'll probably have to get some rocks as well. Just getting the basics in first. I decided to go with Fluval 106 canister + Aqueon Quietflow 20 for aeration.

 

[LeoDiaz]

Yea I'll probably have to get some rocks as well. Just getting the basics in first. I decided to go with Fluval 106 canister + Aqueon Quietflow 20 for aeration.

Nice you choose to get a canister instead hob.

 

[Dom90]

Yea I have a Fluval 406 on the 75 gallon so I stick by Fluval, real good brand and products. I was just gonna get the 206 but I had this HOB lying around, might as well make use of it.

 

[LeoDiaz]

Yea I have a Fluval 406 on the 75 gallon so I stick by Fluval, real good brand and products. I was just gonna get the 206 but I had this HOB lying around, might as well make use of it.

Have you got the stand or your making your own?

 

[Dom90]

DIY from Lowes lol...

 

[LeoDiaz]

Is that the cichlid sand you got?

 

[Dom90]

Yes. For the stand, I plan to stack the 40B and 29 on different shelves, that way water changes are easy. I don't have to drag the hose to two different places.

 

[Anders247]

Congrats on the new tank!

 

[LeoDiaz]

Yes. For the stand, I plan to stack the 40B and 29 on different shelves, that way water changes are easy. I don't have to drag the hose to two different places.

I said crushed coral wasn't as good as sand for a tank. Nvm you do what you want is your tank.

 

[Dom90]

!!! I gotta cancel my order then lol. Luckily, the order on Amazon hasnt shipped yet, so I was able to cancel the order.

I was pretty sure the description said "Cichlid sand", I made the order at 6 in the morning lol.

 

[LeoDiaz]

!!! I gotta cancel my order then lol.

I was pretty sure the description said "Cichlid sand", I made the order at 6 in the morning lol.

Crushed coral is more like gravel then sand. A sand look nicer an more natural I though when u said cichlid sand u meant something like this.

 

[Dom90]

Yep that's what i'm looking for, but on Amazon, I have Prime so free 2-day shipping.

 

[MtnTiger]

Love me some Amazon Prime free shipping!

Congrats on your new tank.

 

[Dom90]

What about this?

 

[LeoDiaz]

Here it is the same one u link but in different colors in amazon.com

 

[Dom90]

Not bad, but I am wondering if this is cheaper

 

[LeoDiaz]

Not bad, but I am wondering if this is cheaper

Is like crushed coral. Not good. Just go with pool filter sand mbuna love and ur wife will love that u just spend $10 on sand instead of $40.

 

[Dom90]

Yea you're probably right in that sense lol

 

[LeoDiaz]

Yea you're probably right in that sense lol

Yea the cheapest and best option lol.

 

[Dom90]

So looks like I'll be going back to Lowes to get pool filter sand



Do they make the sand in any other color than white?

 

[LeoDiaz]

So looks like I'll be going back to Lowes to get pool filter sand



Do they make the sand in any other color than white?

Is either white or tan. But usually white, if you want black you will need black diamond sand.

 

[Dom90]

Yea tan would be ok.

 

[LeoDiaz]

Yea tan would be ok.

But finding tan is going to be hard, most store carry normal whiteish sand. This was my 55mbunas tank with PFS

 

[Dom90]

You can have Lowes look up inventory of other stores in the area to see which store carries it

 

[LeoDiaz]

You can have Lowes look up inventory of other stores in the area to see which store carries it

The issues is that u can't look up tan pool filter sand you just can find fool filter sand and you get what comes in the bag. I personally like black sand because it makes the fish look brighter.

 

[Dom90]

Yea I might just drive 30 miles out to get black diamond sand...

 

[LeoDiaz]

My nearest tractor supply is 15miles away u just have to drive twice as far. Lol

 

[Dom90]

Well, that's one way though, 60-70 miles round trip.

 

[LeoDiaz]

Well, that's one way though, 60-70 miles round trip.

Something you have to get used to I sometimes have to go 50miles away one way just to buy some fish.

 

[Geoff]

I drove 65 mI one way to my favorite "L"FS the last two Saturdays.

 

[Dom90]

Lol... I'm hoping my search for mbunas doesn't take me that far

 

[LeoDiaz]

Lol... I'm hoping my search for mbunas doesn't take me that far

Well u got save all money u can cause some mbunas cost around $10-12 or more and you need a bunch. In a 40G breeder you can 10-12 dwarf mbunas 1male to a bunch of females. Lucky guy,lol.

 

[Dom90]

Lol... I'm hoping to do a 1:5 ratio at the most.

 

[LeoDiaz]

Lol... I'm hoping to do a 1:5 ratio at the most.

If you do that you can get some synodontis catfish. I like the synodontis lucipinnis

 

[Dom90]

I'd rather not have to kill any fry that way.

 

[LeoDiaz]

I'd rather not have to kill any fry that way.

Kill them how? Runnig out of room? Cause ur going to need some 10gallons around as many as u have females lol.

 

[Dom90]

Dont the synodontis catfishes eat cichlid fry? lol

 

[LeoDiaz]

Dont the synodontis catfishes eat cichlid fry? lol

Yes but you remove the female before she lets her fry go there mouthbrooders.

 

[Dom90]

Yes I know they're mouthbrooders, but what does this have to do with synodontis? I'm confused.

 

[LeoDiaz]

Yes I know they're mouthbrooders, but what does this have to do with synodontis? I'm confused.

Ok let me explain, the syno can eat cichlid fry but how is he going to eat them if there inside the mom mouth? Then you take the mom out and put her in another tank where she can spit(let go her fry).

 

[Dom90]

Ok I see.. but why would I need to get a synodontis in the first place? is what I am confused about.