Retiring Saltwater For Mbuna? Few Maintenance Questions

HI all,

Thinking about giving up my Saltwater 40B after a velvet outbreak and to be able to have more fish for my kids. 40B so prob dwarf species, penguin 350 biowheel and 2koralia 750s current w 200aqueon pro heater.

I’d love to have a colorful tank, even if it had a few fake plants.

So in SW, crabs and snails keep your glass/sand clean. Anything similar in FW?

How often do water changes happen and seems higher % over SW?

I’m open to other hardy fish for ease of maintenance. I’d prob clean my 6 mo old base rock that’s in my sw to re-use if possible.

View attachment 309552

 

Well firstly, how large is the tank? If you are really looking into mbuna then you won't be able to keep snails and such alive for too long. Mbuna are ruthless and will pick at the snails till they die.

47gals is a bit small for mbuna but it can certainly be done. Rocks and maybe some tall plants to break up the line of sight are all you'd need for decor. Mbuna means "rock dwelling" so you are best off having a rock pile on either end of the tank. Mbuna are probably the meanest group of Africans but they are also beautiful and prolific breeders.

Just a thought, have you looked into Lake Tanganyika species? There are species smaller than mbuna (shell dwellers) and then there's also cave spawners like bichardI that a bit easier to care for in terms of keeping aggression in check.

 

Tank in post 40B really more like 47 gallons.

 

HI all,

Thinking about giving up my Saltwater 40B after a velvet outbreak and to be able to have more fish for my kids. 40B so prob dwarf species, penguin 350 biowheel and 2koralia 750s current w 200aqueon pro heater.

I’d love to have a colorful tank, even if it had a few fake plants.

So in SW, crabs and snails keep your glass/sand clean. Anything similar in FW?

How often do water changes happen and seems higher % over SW?

I’m open to other hardy fish for ease of maintenance. I’d prob clean my 6 mo old base rock that’s in my sw to re-use if possible.

View attachment 309552

That's a really cool looking molly!

 

They blocked my tank pic, currently