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I recently bought a 55 gallon. I have it currently setup with sand and "Moon Rock" (big porous white rocks) and it has a Fluval 304 and AC500. I was originaly planning on making it a freshwater tank for Mbuna (it's already cycled) but now I'm thinking of buying a skimmer and some live rock and making it saltwater.
What is a better choice?
I'm having trouble coming to a decision on stocking Mbuna and I don't know what kind of fish I want for saltwater.
Oh, and I was plaaning on leaving the Moon Rock in the tank even if I make it saltwater, so that it would eventually become live rock (I know this is supposed to smell really bad but I don't mind).

I'd get a Picasso trigger, or 2 Green Spotted Puffers.

Kim

Personally I'd go with the Mbuna cichlids, but that is me...and it really is going to depend on who you ask as to what is suggested, as we each have our own favorites...so take these things into consideration when deciding:

1. Which do you know the most about?
2. Would you be willing to learn and research if you don't know?
3. How much money do you have to spend on this project?
4. Are you wanting more of an instant satisfaction? Or are you willing to go very slowly at doing the tank? (I'm not saying either is instant, but I know the mbuna would be faster than the saltwaterI think)

these are just a few things to think about before making the decision...good luck in you decision, and let us know what you decide to doheidi





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Nobody'd swim the Rio Grande
I wouldn't be an American
If it wasn't for Texas
Fort Worth would never cross my mind
There'd be no Austin City Limit sign
No lone star of any kind
If it wasn't for Texas
---George Straight, Texas
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"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

1. Which do you know the most about?

Well I've never had a saltwater tank, but I'm always lurking in the saltwater forums, and I do know quite a bit about it, I would be able to start a saltwater tank no problem, but I am experienced in freshwater (but I've never had Mbuna, but I also know alot about them).

2. Would you be willing to learn and research if you don't know?

Yes, any fish or equipment I am unsure about I would research.

3. How much money do you have to spend on this project?

I'm a kid living wiht his parents, but I have a job and I do have enough money for saltwater equipment.

4. Are you wanting more of an instant satisfaction? Or are you willing to go very slowly at doing the tank? (I'm not saying either is instant, but I know the mbuna would be faster than the saltwaterI think)

I am very patient and do not mind changing all the water with saltwater or waiting for the live rock to cycle. It would be fatser to do mbuna right now, as the tank is cycled.

Let's make a pro/con list:
Salt pro: -More rewarding (learning a new dimension of the hobby)
-Better colours
Salt con: -Expensive (higher long term expenses as well)
-Would take longer (don't mind this too much)
-Would have less fish than a mbuna tank
Any more pros or cons? For Mbuna it's just vice versa.

Stuff needed: Salt: -Salt (50$)
-Protein Skimmer (150$)
-Refractometer (75$)
-Some Live Rock (100$)
-And fish (100$)
TOTAL: (475$)????
Mbuna: -Just the fish
TOTAL: (100$)

OK, almost done now stocking. Waht could go ina 55 salt? I was thinking a moray (those black and white ones that stay small), but if that's too big, what about a Radiata Lionfish (I don't like the fuzzy dwarfs), and if that's too big I'll stick with some small reef safe fish (Clowns, etc) (Any ideas?).
And for Mbuna I was thinking 17 would be a good number and I wanted Yellow Labs, P. Acei and possibly some Red zebras (estherae?).

Any thoughts appreciated.

Last edited by nattereri at 13-Jul-2005 20:57

OK if you go with Mbuna, I'm willing to share what I knowas I've kept them; hold it edit that am back to having some of them 17 or so would be a good number just be sure of the sizes of what you have you don't want to be way overstocked with them, because that will work in reverse for you on the point of aggression

If you go with them make sure to add plenty fo stones, the moon rock is great, but make sure it is built in good hills and mountains to allow them to escape when aggression occurs, and that it isn't sharp or rough, as theese guys can be quite aggressive, and mine would tend to push one another into the rocks at times. Keep in mind that the mbuna (or the ones i had) are rock throwers for lack of a better description, meaning, they will pick up rocks from one place and move them to another to suit their decorating needs I really do love the [link=acei]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/acei.xml" style="COLOR: #FF1493[/link], and the [link=yellow labs]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/electricyellow.xml" style="COLOR: #FF1493[/link], I don't know a lot about the [link=red zebras]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/estheraezebra.xml" style="COLOR: #FF1493[/link], but really enjoyed my [link=rusties]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/rusty.xml" style="COLOR: #FF1493[/link], and [link=cobalts]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/cobaltblue.xml[/links]. Of them the Pseudotropheus Acei and Rusties were my favorites, but the yellow labs were up there as well. I would suggest not getting [href=kenyii]www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/lombardoi.xml" style="COLOR: #FF1493[/link] as they can be quite tricky for beginners, mainly because of their aggression, and the males are often yellow, while the females are blue...but the males tend to look like females till they are sexually mature, and you shouldn't have more than 1 for every 75-100 gallons...

Ok enough with my ramblings, I really vote for the mbunas I love them lots, and would hold off on saltwater till you can have a bigger tank, say 100+ gallon tank roughly, ok Also consider the fact that the Mbunas can be very bright and colorful, almost as pretty as the saltwater. And since kiddo you are still living at home ask your parents which one they would like...I know, I know, it's my tank, but ask them...you might even get them to help some money wise

Happy choosing, heidi





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nobody'd swim the Rio Grande; I wouldn't be an American
If it wasn't for Texas; Fort Worth would never cross my mind
There'd be no Austin City Limit sign; No lone star of any kind
If it wasn't for Texas
---George Straight, Texas
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

great posts so far.

I vote for Mbunas


Yay for 'bunas!

Saltwater is very exy and complex and that is a scary thought to me. BUT some people love the technical aspects and are a lot more confident than I am with the hardware stuff. If you are that sort then go for it.

But a mbuna tank can be pretty spectacular. Your white rock is some of the way there to being a spectacular tank (I wish I had that stuff).

People think my mbuna tank is a saltwater because it is so colourful. I know that wont be enough for hobbyingst who REALLY know their stuff but a mbuna is a colourful and beautiful tank for sure.

Good luck and let us know what you decide (pics too if poss)



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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Sorry to dissapoint you guys but it seems I've chosen to go saltwater... It will make a hole in ym wallet but I think it will be reawrding.
Don't worry I'll take pics and psot them later, so keep an eye out... Thanks for your opinions.

Good for you Natteri! Hope it is a really smooth transition with spectacular results. Hope to see the pics soon.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

I thoguh I'd keep my promise a revive this old thread.
Here are some pics for you guys: http://community.webshots.com/album/512635489YpSZSz
No fish yet, jsut a cleanup crew. Fish coming soon (ordered them).
Further pictues will be in Photo Booth...

What fish are you getting? Are you eventually going to make it a reef tank, or just leave it as a FOWLR?
Good Luck
Shaun

Last edited by shaun64326 at 07-Dec-2005 19:09

Looking so great already. Very exciting! /:'

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~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Eventually, it will be a reef tank, bt only lower light corals... no SPS.
For fish, I'm getting 2 Banggai Cardinals, 1 Purple Firefish, 1 Hi Fin Red Banded Goby (with Pistol Shrimp), 1 Royal Gramma and possibly a Flame Angel...