Cichlid Tank

[Henry22]

I'm new to Cichild keeping, not fish keeping but was hoping to start a cichlid tank in my twenty tall. My friend is taking the current four occupants for his tank so i was wondering what would be some cool fish. I have some lace rock in there now and hope to get some plants and more lace. I have large round gravel now but was hoping to remove an inch and put down a layer of sand. Just wondering what would be some good begineer cichlids. My water is pretty 'hard' due to the limestone around here and I'm gonna get a test kit to make sure my Ph is above 7.0 to see if this is even possible.My older brother has kept cichilds for a few years now so i can get some help from.
Thanks any comments welcomed!

 

[straitjacket]

You could start yourself with some juvies (6-8) of a single species of the genus Neolamprologus or Julidochromis. Let a pair form and sell the rest or turn them over to your lfs for store credit.
You could do a cichlid of the brichardi complex - Neo. brichardi, pulcher, gracilis, marunguesnsis, helianthus, or splendens.
You could try a different Neo such as Neo. cylindricus or leleupi or try a Julidochromis species such as J. dickfeli, J. ornatus, J. transcriptus, or J. sp. "Gombi".
If you wanted to keep more than two fish (3-4 fish) in your 20high you could try a marginal shelldweller such as Altolamprologus compressiceps "Sumbu" or "Sumbu Dwarf", Telmatochromis vittatus, T. bifrenatus, T. brichardi, Lamprologus calliurus (males dwell primarily among rocks), or Lamp. caudopunctatus. You'd need shells along with your rock and a sand subtrate is best as it's easier to move around.
True shelldwellers are another option and there are many to choose from. You could stick with a small group of smaller shellies and stock the upper levels of the tank with some attractive and active dither to fill it out.
I suggest you take a look through www.shelldwellers.com to get some ideas.

 

[wayne]

Good recs above. Just to emphasize your tank is pretty much too small for almost all mbuna

 

[Orion]

Again, good recomendations.

Just to add, except for the true shell dwellers, you are going to only be able to have a species tank from the Neolamps or Julies. I wouldn't even try to add anything else with them.

 

[Henry22]

Ok, I havnt really heard of any of those fish, all latin names?
But the julies and the Neos i can only have of that one species 3-5 and then i could do shell dwellers. Ok i think i got it. Should i break into cichlids or wait till i have a larger tank and just stay in the reg tropical freshwater fish. Also wondering if i got the "true" shell dwellers what would could i get to fill out the top of the tank since its taller than a reg 20gal.
I am thinking of using eggcrates to buildup a rock wall on the back of the tank.
I saw some of the Neos on the fish profile but was wondering if someone could point me to some exact fish on the profiles that would do well in my tank. I really dont want just a species tank. Wondering if i could do a mix of shellies and other cichlids or just diffrent cichlids that wont hide all the time.
Thanks

 

[Orion]

In a tank that small you shoudn't put any two species of cichlids togeather. You can either do the rock dwellers (Neolamp's or Julies) OR Shell dwellers. Not both.

Yes, all those are latin names. The fish from Lake Tanganyika are so many in number, that it's pointless to try and give them all common names. Don't let Latin scare you if you can't pronounce it.

I know the Neolamprologus brichardi are on our profiles section. You can google for some of the others. The profiles section on Cichlid-forum has tons of info on these fish.

Really for just about any of the Rift Lake cichlids you are going to have to go with a species tank.

 

[Henry22]

So, from your personal prefrence what you go with as a begineer cichlid tank. Rift lake and if so shell dwellers or rock dwellers(which are more fun, hardier...ect). Also wondering what straitjacket meant by real shell dwellers? Also wondering if there was a bottom feader that would do well with this fish(catfish)?
Thanks
P.s. Im in latin 2 now so i can kinda pronounce it although we dont speak it, we just write it.
By the way, where are you located in kentucky Orion?

 

[karma_llama]

I know this is probably really obvious but what about something from the pelvicachromis bunch - in other words Kribensis! They are really colourful and very entertaining fish, i bred a pair in a 20 gallon tall. Highly recommended.

Also dont forget your apistogrammas and rams - never underestimate the dwarf cichlid!

Mind you saying that i'm in the process of converting to a tanganyikan-o-holic, so i suggest looking on google and deciding which you like the look of and can accommodate best.

 

[Orion]

Some fish will only use shells if they have no other cover, or if its handy to dive into if they get startled or only live in them part of the time. While others exclusivley use them as shelter. The later are whats commonly refered to as the true shell dwellers.

As for the best begining cichlid, that's really up to you. Either the rock dwellers or shell dwellers would be great to start off with, each one has unique behaviours and breeding habits.

I live in a small cave in the southeastern part of the state.

 

[Henry22]

Are you serious, in a cave. Thats pretty cool. I think im gonna go with rock dwellers.
Are Julie. Transcriptus. a good fish and would it have to be a species tank. If this is a bad choice or there are any other rock dwellers that could go wish this or for a species tanks then please mention it. Im not really sure if i like the looks of the Julie. Trascriptus. I really also like the kribs and rams and dwarf cichlids more because there a better community cichlid, what you recommend for tank decor and substrate and plants?
Thanks

 

[Orion]

Neo. brichardi are very prolific, easy to take care of, and are very active. I've kept them in a species tank for over a year, started with 2 adult fish and the counts over 20 now...

J. Transcriptus would be a good one to start with. I've not kept them, but they are some of the smaller julies, and have a reputation as being mild-mannered compared to some of the other julies.

You don't really seem to be set on any particular cichlid. What is your pH? This can help you narrow down what you should keep. Rift Lake cichlids need a higher pH, were the kribs, rams, and dwarves from SA need a lower pH.

All of these cichlids are going to need teritories and caves. As for the rest of it, that is going to depend some on what fish you're going for.

I don't really live in a cave. I live in a bottom appartment, so at times it seems like a cave. I'm in London.

 

[Henry22]

Ohh haha, im in leaxington
well i dont have a test kit and planning on getting one. Since this is the only tank i can have and i dont want to see just one species of fish i want the SA cichlids more, although i would love to have some rock and shell dwellers.

 

[Orion]

A species tank isn't always boreing.

Check out Animal House on Richmond Rd. (Beside Kroger's, across the street from Incredipet and Liquor Barn). They have some of the best looking stock I have seen in a long time, and a good selection to boot. They had several Tanganyikan's last time I was there, as well as some other less commonly seen fish.

Incredipet always seems to have some Rams and kribs in. Then again I may just go there on the right days.

I would see what the pH of your water before you buy fish, so you can plan your tank stock accordingly.

 

[Henry22]

I just check teh pH of my tank with my brothers very veryd old test kit and it was between 7.8 and 8.0. This test kit is for cichlid adn SW tanks(for higher ph's) and was wondering if this or the old age of the kit affected it. Its one were you add drops to a tube with tank water and match the color. The fish i have are in my signature and was wondering if they can even survive this?
After all this i might go with a SW tank, i have always wanted to but never had the funds and now might be able to. Im not totally sure on anything im gonna do with the tank. Thanks though for you advise and comments. I have been in Animal house once and never really took a good look at the fish, i was just browsing by. I live by Henry Clay highschool so im pretty close to incridipet and animal house although im getting a run of the mill fish(tetra, mollie ect.) i just go to meijer. But if im going to need something special i go to Regency Pets.
Thanks for everything though

 

[Orion]

If the test kits are old, then I wouldn't trust them much. Best to get a fresh kit when you can to test the water.

7.8 is not too low IMO to keep the fish we have been talking about.

Regency Pets? I've heard of it, but I don't think I've ever been there.

 

[Henry22]

Yeah, way back in the day when i first began with a ten gallon and neon tetras i would go to landsdowne pets but htey eventually closed.