Moving A 30 Gallon Rift Tank Into A 125

[mattison187]

As far as adding fish to the existing stock, be sure to quarantine them ofcorse prior to introduction. But the more you add at a time, the better the outcome will be. In my past mbuna tanks, anything under 6 or 8 fish added would almost always end with them beeing picked off one by one. The fact that you stated your stock is still small is def. to your advantage. I think with fairly frequent waterchanges, your tank should be fine cycling wise due to the fact that you added all the cycled media to the tank.

 

[mattison187]

You may want to consider using a sand substrate rather than gravel as the fish tend to mouth it and move it around the tank a bit. Pool filter sand is a popular option and tends to be either tan or off white in color depending on where you live. It is also very inexpensive to buy compared to gravel.

Another option if you want something more colorful is to use a product usually used for swimming pools coating though availability may be limited depending on where you live. I use Estes Permacolor Quartz Trowel Rite size in a combination of black, tan, and white to look more natural.

Another extremely cheap substrate option is sandblast media. The "black beauty" blast is inert and can be purchased though tractor supply and similar stores for around 7$ a 50# bag

 

[markstrimaran]

Welcome, I did about the same thing, from a 30 gallon long, into stacked 75, for 150 gallons.
Having an extra quarantine, holding, fry, hospital, and a jail tank I is priceless.

 

[CichlidKeeper01]

Ok, thanks for all the replies! We are using play sand, the gravel is just from the old tank. So, 6-8 would be a good number? How long would I have to wait between additions? Would a week or two be ok?

 

[markstrimaran]

I mostly grew my own, and would add a batch of 3/4" fry into the mix. As they are fast and always flee from the other fish, avoiding any territorial disputes.

I have had to evacuate a few adults, mostly when number 2 gets in a brawl with number 1 over a female. I now have a all male psedo trophus elongatus, and keep my extra males. Down stairs in my 75 gallon holding tank.

I started with questionable quality fish, looking back, I would have started with non related F2s. So the offspring would be sound. I got into cichlid because they were what I could afford at the time.

I find fish auctions, the best place to soure fish. I have yellow labs, elongatus blues, red rusties, 3 different types of dragons bloods, fire fish, some Acie x dragons blood crosses, and synod cats, and a pleco.

 

[CichlidKeeper01]

I was wondering if anybody has suggestions on haps to avoid with an mbuna/hap tank? Also, could I add some Lake Victoria cichlids into the mix?