135g Mbuna

[Rico04]

I use loaches to avoid left over food sitting in the bottom of the tank. They also stir up the fish waste and gives a chance to catch the current and into the filters. Running 8 tanks this way with no issues. I have several loaches in each tank.

[barrettsline]

To be honest the amount of rock you have in the tank is why you're having issues with waste and leftover food. It's going to get stuck in every crack and crevice. Yes you have a lot of flow, but it is disrupted by all of the rock. You will have a lot of time devoted to cleaning in between rock in your future.

As far as Mbuna being highly pron to Bloat, I have to say no. Yes the name is given to the fish because of where they come from but Mbuna can be abused to no end and be completely fine. I had 40-50 in a 150 that I neglected because i didn't feel like doing water changes for 1-2 months. (I did this for over 2 years, never lost a fish, and the would breed like rabbits) I would grab food by the hand full(Pellet, flake, livebrine, blood worms) and toss it in. I overfeed my fish to the point they should have gone into a food coma. No I am not saying that it isn't Bloat. But Mbuna cichlids can take a crazy amount of abuse for they show signs of ill treatment.

Another few things to consider with sick fish:

1. How long after the new scape did you put fish in?

2. Was all of your equipment cleaned before putting fish back in?

3. Did you thoroughly wash all of the rock before putting it in the tank?

4. Is this a new fish?

Far too complex for me, but I do like the scape. It looks beautiful.

[ptran]

Mbuna is very pron to Malawi bloat. They will eat themselves to dead. What is the main stable food that you feed them?

[agamberutti]

Actually I may be dealing with the beginning stage of bloat. I have an srt in hospital tank feeding metro. Keeping an eye on everyone else

[sountfc]

Tank looks nice! Lots of flow and the fish look healthy. I also love those big rocks.

[agamberutti]

Can try it when you swing by to get your food. I may start to feed every other day ad well

[Austy16414]

What kind of sponge would go over my intake? And what would the purpose be of that instead of letting them suck up the waste.

Just the little ones that slide over the intake, City Pets sells them for like 3 bucks a piece. I've got a few you can have. It just helps grab more waste, a larger surface area I suppose?

[ptran]

Dual jaebo 25

Jebao 25 rated for 530GPH to 1000GPH. I think you just need to point them more to the substrate to kick up the poo.

[agamberutti]

What kind of sponge would go over my intake? And what would the purpose be of that instead of letting them suck up the waste.

[agamberutti]

Short-term: Throw some filter floss in a water bottle and put it on a powerhead

Long-term: Use sponges over your intakes, and direct your Jebaos along the substrate to kick up all the poo into the filters

I have one jaebo on the front left side of the glass. The other on the back right side. Both pointing down and across. May not be setup right, I do have alot of rock work so I'm sure there are several dead spots.

[Austy16414]

Short-term: Throw some filter floss in a water bottle and put it on a powerhead

Long-term: Use sponges over your intakes, and direct your Jebaos along the substrate to kick up all the poo into the filters

[supadave]

Put some filter floss inside one or both of those filters. You will have to clean the filters more often but......the water will be super clear .

[agamberutti]

Dual jaebo 25

[ptran]

What is the flow rate on the powerhead?

I used to have an Odyssea EX550 Powerhead in my 100gallon. Very strong flow to break up the fish poop and the tank always stay clean.

[agamberutti]

Have dual jaebo so no go on the pre-filter.