I think the smallest mbuna tank should be about 50 gallons, anything less will make them even more aggressive. You could do the smaller victoria lake species in a 30gallon, but not mbuna.
I always like to have a filter that filters 10x the gallons. So on a 30g I would find a filter that does 300gph (gallons per hour.)
But once again I wouldn't put mbuna in a 30g.
I agree. If I were to start a mbuna tank, I wouldn't want it in anything smaller than 75g. A standard 55g is big enough volume wise, but is very narrow front to back which really limits the amount of rockwork you could have in the tank. You *might* be able to do a small group in something like a 40g breeder, though.
You could definitely do a tank with some of the smaller Lake Tanganyika cichlids in a 30g. Maybe some Julidochromis marlieri or Neolamprologus leleupi along with maybe some small shelldwellers like Neolamprologus multifasciatus.
Dawnki, you are a smart person. Mbuna are the coolest fish. A 75 gallon 48x18 is ideal, but a 30 Gallon 36x18 can still make a great mbuna tank. Good rock work is the key. Start with 3 yellow labs. Add 3 P. Acei or P. Demonsoni whatever. If they are not getting along, 1st feed them, turn off light, cover tank with clothes or somthing until you can rearange rocks or remove fish if you have to. I have a 35 gallon 36x15x16 tank in my bedroom with 3 Red Zebras, 1 Yellow lab, 1 M. Auratus, 1 P. Demonsoni, 1 Lavendur mbuna.
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