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-   -   6 Foot Malawi Tank Setup (http://www.arofanatics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=531518)

freddie 05-04-2015 02:42 AM

6 Foot Malawi Tank Setup
 
After what seemed like an eternity of waiting, the new tank arrived.

6x2x2 Cabinet tank with sump.

Tank was delivered and installed before lunch. Leaving me the rest of the day to work on the setup.

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...pszwobppvf.jpg



It's my first time using a sump filter but I've been doing plenty of research over the past few weeks to see how it all works and in which order the media should be arranged.

Decided to start off with bioballs in section 1. Seachem Matrix in section 2 and Crushed coral in section 3. In a few weeks the plan is to move the bioballs up into the overflow box and put K1 in section 1.

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psgbqhrrie.jpg



First job of the day was to cover the base in egg crate to distribute out the weight of the rocks which would be added and to protect the glass from scratches.

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...pstbpmyxjv.jpg



Spent a couple of hours washing the crushed coral substrate before adding it and the 3 largest rocks into the tank.

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psyyd7cz2u.jpg


Filled up the tank using my DIY water changer. Nothing too complicated, a filter intake and enough hose to reach to the tap :D

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psu4ozildm.jpg


Left the tank to run for 2 days with a couple of fish in there to test the water.

Then siphoned out all of the crushed coral substrate from my 4 foot tank and moved it to the 6 foot. (Had to do a 50% water change after that to clear up the water a bit. Next time I would make sure all the sand is in the new tank before adding any water).

Added the rest of the rocks to complete the hardscape.

Moved everything from the FX5 filter (media, sponges, polishing pads) I was using on the 4 foot tank into the new sump.

Final step was to net and move over the fish.

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...pstu0ievzy.jpg


A couple of new Haps added to the mix.

Fossorochromis Rostratus

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psbjfj6yhx.jpg


Buccochromis Lepturus

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psrfxftu0a.jpg

Have a few more new fish ordered and scheduled to arrive in 2 weeks. Will post some photos then.

The fun never ends :D !!

Thanks for reading.

trueblue82 05-04-2015 04:49 AM

wow, it is very inspiring not to mention $$$$$.

May i ask how much for this setup?


very nice :)

CCT 05-04-2015 09:58 AM

Brian, finally your wishes comes true

Fronts and Alto Tank: 4ft x 1.5 x 1.5 (Burundi, Moba, M.Blue and Comps)
Trophs Tank: 4ft x 1.5 x 1.5 ( Trophs Canary Cheek, Ikola, Bemba, moliro, duboisi and Tretos)
African Malawi Mixed Tank: 3ft x 1.5 x 1.5 (Assorted African Cichlids Zebra Tilapia, Red Jewel and Assorted Malawi Cichlids Bubblebee, Peacock etc)

johannes 05-04-2015 03:48 PM

Nice Malawi tank indeed!
Selection of fishes are also interesting
Sweeeee! ;)

freddie 05-04-2015 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueblue82 (Post 9839499)
wow, it is very inspiring not to mention $$$$$.

May i ask how much for this setup?

very nice :)

sent you a pm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCT (Post 9839518)
Brian, finally your wishes comes true

yes bro. worth the wait :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by johannes (Post 9839653)
Nice Malawi tank indeed!
Selection of fishes are also interesting
Sweeeee! ;)

thanks bro. similar layout to my previous setup in the 4 foot but more open swimming space in the middle. still needs some time for the new tank look to go off. will need to keep a close eye on the water params for the next few weeks to be on the safe side.

also plan to add a few different haps to change it up a bit later.

CCT 05-04-2015 07:18 PM

Brian amaze me again

Fronts and Alto Tank: 4ft x 1.5 x 1.5 (Burundi, Moba, M.Blue and Comps)
Trophs Tank: 4ft x 1.5 x 1.5 ( Trophs Canary Cheek, Ikola, Bemba, moliro, duboisi and Tretos)
African Malawi Mixed Tank: 3ft x 1.5 x 1.5 (Assorted African Cichlids Zebra Tilapia, Red Jewel and Assorted Malawi Cichlids Bubblebee, Peacock etc)

johannes 05-04-2015 09:50 PM

Mark showed me how swee "star sapphire" is
Damn tempting haha

terence84 05-04-2015 10:49 PM

Very nice relaxing. Thumb up

Wind 05-04-2015 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johannes (Post 9839753)
Mark showed me how swee "star sapphire" is
Damn tempting haha

Haha Master i think the poison sink in to you already :rolleyes::D:p

red5 06-04-2015 01:08 AM

How do u prevent the sand from being suck into the sump thru?😄

freddie 06-04-2015 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red5 (Post 9839833)
How do u prevent the sand from being suck into the sump thru?😄

The under flow is a bit higher up than usual to allow for the sand bed. And I use grade 3 crushed coral which is not as fine as sand.

So far no issue.

zonkkie 06-04-2015 09:37 AM

Beautiful setup!

Brichardi 06-04-2015 10:21 AM

You seem to know what you're doing bud! Very nicely set up and transference of fishes. Fishes will be so happy in the new space. Thanks for sharing. :)

jack_dempsey 06-04-2015 11:28 AM

Awesome set up, bro!
But was wondering why the fan was located near the over/under flow & not on the opposite side?

Brichardi 06-04-2015 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jack_dempsey (Post 9839911)
Awesome set up, bro!
But was wondering why the fan was located near the over/under flow & not on the opposite side?

I think that's a wavemaker bud, rightfully in that position. :)

freddie 06-04-2015 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brichardi (Post 9839931)
I think that's a wavemaker bud, rightfully in that position. :)

Yeah it's a WP40 wavemaker. Only switch it on for about 30 mins a day. Does a fantastic job of lifting all the crap off the bottom so it can be sucked into the overflow.

jack_dempsey 06-04-2015 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brichardi (Post 9839931)
I think that's a wavemaker bud, rightfully in that position. :)

Hahaa... yeah wavemaker. My bad :o

BigW 06-04-2015 08:43 PM

Beautiful setup! like real Malawi!

freddie 06-04-2015 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigW (Post 9840139)
Beautiful setup! like real Malawi!

Thanks bro :)

red5 07-04-2015 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddie (Post 9839851)
The under flow is a bit higher up than usual to allow for the sand bed. And I use grade 3 crushed coral which is not as fine as sand.

So far no issue.

Thx bro, u got a nice tank

Young Man 07-04-2015 10:36 AM

beautiful new setup :) nicely done and im sure your malawis will benefit from the new scape and size. thanks for sharing :)

freddie 16-04-2015 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red5 (Post 9840242)
Thx bro, u got a nice tank

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young Man (Post 9840348)
beautiful new setup :) nicely done and im sure your malawis will benefit from the new scape and size. thanks for sharing :)

thanks bros. appreciate it!

have a few new haps coming in on saturday, which includes a couple of female rostratus to entertain the big male.

will upload some more photos once they settle in.

Young Man 16-04-2015 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddie (Post 9844146)
thanks bros. appreciate it!

have a few new haps coming in on saturday, which includes a couple of female rostratus to entertain the big male.

will upload some more photos once they settle in.

nice :) the joy of a new and bigger tank. shopping!

freddie 18-04-2015 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young Man (Post 9844372)
nice :) the joy of a new and bigger tank. shopping!

So true :D


And on the subject of shopping. here are my latest additions....

Buccochromis Rhoadesii. Much bigger than I was expecting and starting to colour up.

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psnghouscs.jpg



3 Female Fossorochromis Rostratus to keep the big male i already have occupied.

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psn0erekcz.jpg



And last but not least. A beautiful fish that has been top of my wish list for over a year. Protomelas Spilonotus Tanzania

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psget5gyjb.jpg

Slowly getting there :)

Young Man 18-04-2015 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by freddie (Post 9845255)
So true :D


And on the subject of shopping. here are my latest additions....

Buccochromis Rhoadesii. Much bigger than I was expecting and starting to colour up.


And last but not least. A beautiful fish that has been top of my wish list for over a year. Protomelas Spilonotus Tanzania


Slowly getting there :)

these two looks good :) potential pieces!
slowly but surely. with your new tank and grooming, will await your updates :D

CCT 20-04-2015 04:06 PM

Brian finally u get some female in haha, nice pieces you got. The colors really super. Sometimes i really wonder why the fish will drop colour when it comes to out tank.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

freddie 20-04-2015 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCT (Post 9845967)
Brian finally u get some female in haha, nice pieces you got. The colors really super. Sometimes i really wonder why the fish will drop colour when it comes to out tank.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks bro. Yeah decided to add a few females. They look quite different so hopefully the other males won't target them.

So far going ok.

westwood 21-04-2015 09:43 PM

Wow!! Awesome tank bro! Congrats

freddie 21-04-2015 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by westwood (Post 9846448)
Wow!! Awesome tank bro! Congrats

Thanks buddy. Lookin forward to seeing photos of your malawi tanks up here soon ;)

freddie 26-04-2015 01:36 AM

Here's some photos of today's additions.

Champsochromis Spilorhynchus

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psqitwa6fd.jpg


Champsochromis Caeruleus (currently in a grow out tank)

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...pssxp8c5ca.jpg


Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psoufnoyyc.jpg


Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi Albino

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...pstunhj989.jpg

Enough fish added for the moment. Time to let the tank settle down again :)

.

trueblue82 26-04-2015 02:21 AM

cichlid poison OVERDOSE........................:o:o:o

swee~

CCT 26-04-2015 04:21 PM

Brian show us your new full tank look


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

patclay 26-04-2015 09:13 PM

Very nice pieces.

freddie 26-04-2015 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueblue82 (Post 9848269)
cichlid poison OVERDOSE........................:o:o:o

swee~


Quote:

Originally Posted by patclay (Post 9848501)
Very nice pieces.

Thanks for the comments :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCT (Post 9848374)
Brian show us your new full tank look

A few photos of the tank with the new stock.

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psegrwawo2.jpg

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psz4a3cgjg.jpg

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psytruv5sa.jpg

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psdnfbjmxr.jpg

freddie 26-04-2015 10:33 PM

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...pskzseldvq.jpg

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4tvvhnyc.jpg

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0rq7810w.jpg

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...psoli3tait.jpg

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...pssc1gnsio.jpg

http://i1382.photobucket.com/albums/...pskocuy1cz.jpg

Young Man 26-04-2015 11:23 PM

nice :) i like how you are systematically adding and selecting your specimens. so the previous tank became a growout tank?

CCT 26-04-2015 11:46 PM

Wow brian, if i nv go into tangan sure inspire by you into peacock and hap. So nice. YM i think brian sold the previous 4ft.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

freddie 27-04-2015 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young Man (Post 9848552)
nice :) i like how you are systematically adding and selecting your specimens. so the previous tank became a growout tank?

Yeah i find it much easier to add them in groups. There will be chaos for a while but the aggression is distributed rather than targeted at one individual fish.

unfortunately the previous tank was sold once the 6 foot was setup, could have done with that as a proper grow out tank. but i still have a 2 foot tropical tank. a nice safe place for the rocket to grow out a bit before he goes in with the big boys.

I think my stock level is about there now. maybe room for 1 or 2 more pieces. but have not made my mind up yet on what else to add.

freddie 27-04-2015 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CCT (Post 9848568)
Wow brian, if i nv go into tangan sure inspire by you into peacock and hap. So nice. YM i think brian sold the previous 4ft.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thanks bro. i've tried a lot of different types of setups and ended up settling with malawi's. i like tangan's as well though.

Wind 27-04-2015 12:32 AM

Very impressive set up bro. Really love your selection of fishes! Looking forward for more updates


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