Mbuna Story through its color

Months ago, I bought more than a dozen colorful cichlids.

Months later, they have grown a fair bit and a new baby was found hidden behind a rock cave.

These fishes are easy to keep, just maintain a regular clean water and they eat anything that is thrown in.  I fed my fish heavily before heading to work in the morning, and than feed them again after returning from work. The fish are mild and won't jump out of my open aquarium. They have "completely" stopped chasing each other tail too, and I believe it was due to the quantity of them inside my tank.   With varied colors, they are a real pleasure to watch when the lights are on.

Foods I fed my cichlids

Ocean Nutrition - sinking pellet (my dubosi favourite food and also loved by other cichlids as snacks)
Dynmax - floating pellet (loved by all my cichlids)

Betta Tank - hydroponics system

I received a free hydroponic system betta tank during my visit to Aquarama 2015. This gift, more than compensated for the entrance fee I paid at the event. Personally, I felt this year Aquarama was themed "Marine fish" and less focused on tropical aquarium. Thus, for avid fans of tropical fishes & plants, Aquarma2015 is a non-event so-to-speak.

Anyway, here is a pretty gift, courtesy of Qian Hu, which makes my visit to Aquarama 2015 "less regretable"...

It came with cut-sponge for the plants, has led lights, base plates to hold cyrstal-like pebbles, dividers (optional - to separate male/female betta), two water holder compartments - top container to provide water nutrients for the plants, bottom containter to clear off extra waste water,

A pail of Lucky Bamboo (extras from CNY purchase) ready for the hydroponic set up.

No regret receiving this as "reward" for attending the Aquarama 2015.

Fluval C3 HOF

I wasn't a fan of HOF. When I first started a journey in aquarium, a couple of my HOFs flooded my home. After acquired my first external filter, Eden 501, I have never looked back to own another piece of HOF or OHF.

However, under friend's recommendation  and watching a few positive reviews from Youtubers about their experience with Fluval C3, I've decided to purchase one for my Cichlid tank. Another reason was because I am going to use my existing Eden 501 for an upcoming Vivarium  project and thus run short of filter for my existing aquarium.

Initially, I was a little hesitant because this HOF is not cheap and Amazon buyers, who bought similar products, have left rather negative reviews - mostly about its noise level. 

This product is very easy to install, it has no suction cups nor messy tubes. Give it a good rinse, pour in the media as according to their visual instruction guide and you are ready to plug-n-play this HOF.  As for noise level, it is SILENT!!!  Yes, I emphasize the noise level is hardly audible with the exception of water flowing sound.  If you hate water-fall, than this filter or any other HOFs is not your cup of tea.

The outflow current is quite strong and my water was cloudy before it became cyrstal clear after the 3rd day.  I am quite confident this HOF can quietly deal with all the poo-n-pee of my cichlids.  Highly recommended!

Eden 316

Initially, I thought of getting a wave maker for my cichlid tank which I created recently. While browsing for the product, I came across Eden 316 at an extremely attractive price (relative to many simple HOF we see in the market). What captivated me is not just the affordable price, this well designed internal canister has several compartments for maximum filteration and like Eden 501, it is silent.  Here are the photos...

I pulled out 2 of the 3 compartments which look like a pill box,  one has white soft sponge (final filteration stage) and another empty compartment for the media (for Beneifit bacterial). In fact, the "pill box" compartment can be used for other type of media too.

I filled in the media (with ssome leftover for future use) and slot them back in.
I then pulled out the 3rd compartment with the blue sponge. This is the first channel where water will be drawn into.

It is silent, easy to operate and doesn't take up space as seen here. Not only it created undercurrent "wave maker", my cichlid aquarium now has double filteration system - Eden501 and Eden 316, both working together as brothers.

Lake of Africa - in my aquarium

Every project has its story, bear with my chattering (or ranting) again.....

Two months ago while my home was undergoing messy renovations, during which I have no proper place to rest comfortably, I spend several sleepless nights on internet, doing some research (mostly marvelled at other people huge cichlids aquarium).    It was also because I missed having a piece of nature at home. 

Having made my confession heard, my patient wanting an aquarium broke on Labour Day when I drooled upon Qian Hu's cichlid show aquarium, see photo here..

 
Without a 2nd thought, on a rainy day with limited supply of cab on the road, I managed to lug home an 18 gallon tank -measuring 60cm L x 45cm H x 30cm W. 

Given my extreme tight budget while trying not to compromise the concept of  Lake Africa and wanting my new scape to have several basic features too and still able to blend the work into my Zen home....blah blah blah.... (that was a lot of consideration to make).

I made several trips to different LFS - tapping my cash card incessantly on local bus meter - checking on items price list, suitability of rocks types and substrate to use.  I also kept my eyes opened on economy accessories, especially lightings, external canister too (can only wish) and a new Ikea stand which I was already familiar with. 

Fortunately, I was able to grab my first purchases at good bargain, last 5 available Tufa Rocks weighing a total of 6kgs.  Seashells were an accidental finds, during my other grocery trips, adding an aesthetic touch to my project. 

Since this was my first attempt on rocky aquarium, I let my instinct took control in the shuffling, stacking and several hyper frantic wall-knocking incidents, when the rocks fell off my grasp. The end result, luckily with no glass crack lines, was a "stunning" looking cloudy mountain .....

Then, I mobilised my loyal Eden 501 canister, as I said I would in my previous post, things started to look better. Crystal clear solution was added for immediate water visibility to aid seashells placement, few were deliberately cracked to create a sense of imperfection and caves creation. 

Plants were optional, but I chose crypto for added privacy among the hiding places. The mini clay pot, is pure imaginative touch of native african dropping their pot while fishing in Lake Tanganyika, Victoria, Malawi or whatever.   

The process of water aging has started before they became fit for the livings. Now, the next question remains, what kind of cichlids should I put in there?  That will be another story for another day

Anyway, here is the finished piece of my cheap & humble work. Should I name it "HAHA" tank? The giant cockle clams look like they were laughing at each other.   

Thanks for reading.  Signing off 7 May 2015.

Update:  14 May 2015

My acquired Mbuna/Duboisi and Demasoni

MY FRESHWATER REEF AQUARIUM COMPLETED WITH "FLYING COLORS".

Updated 22 July 2015