New 40 Gallon - Gonna go w/ Cichlids

[JimMelAddie]

I am in the process of fishless cycling a 40 gallon & am going to make it a Cichlid tank. This tank is sitting on my kitchen ledge above the counter and you have to look through it to see into the kitchen from the den & vise versa. I want them to be SPECTACULAR fish & my fiancée wants them to be/get rather large. Any suggestions on what types/how many as well as the environment?

 

[Orion]

Have you looked at any species to have an idea of what you are looking for?

You will not be able to have many large cichlids in such a small tank. Some of the male haps and peacocks from lake Malawi have stunning colors. The altolamprologines (calvus, comps) from lake Tanganyikia have interesting body shapes and come in several different varities.

IMO most of the larger cichlids from South and Central America are going to be too big for even a single fish in your tank. I think that those from africa would be a better choice. But it is your tank, so put into it what is going to please you.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Gosh any Lake Malawi fish would work. Well any of the 3 groups, maybe not ANY fish from there.

You've prob seen it before but....
My first suggestion is Africans:

Mbuna - Very colorful, lots of varieties, pretty common and at most LFS's, and can usually be packed in the tank. More in the tank (withen reason) = a less agressive tank towards certain fish. Which means fewer deaths. They spread the aggression out. They can get anywhere from 3"-6" each, fairly large. But with a good many a tank full of these is quite a display. My Mbuna are always swimming, showing colors, dominance stances....very cool tank to watch.

Peacocks - Males are very colorful and "regal". They like to show. Females tend to be less colorful, mostly silver (darkish grey) with hints of color, still to be seen in the tank nonetheless. These usually reach 5-6", females slightly smaller than males. Lots of color varities out there.

Haps - Like peacocks they are pretty bright/shiney Females being a bit more toned down than the males. These too grow pretty large, some up to 12"....which wouldn't be good for your tank. There are a few however that make for a stunning display. Haps are becoming a favorite of mine. You might look into Placidochromis electra (Deep Water Hap), Protomelas sp. "Steveni Taiwan" (Taiwanee Reef), and Protomelas taeniolatus (Red Empress).

 

[JimMelAddie]

Yeah, I was planning on African. A friend of mine has a 100 gal Cichlid tank. One of the fish that really caught my eye was, I believe, an electric blue. I would also like an electric yellow and then a few others. Would those two be compatible? Ooooo!!! Maybe a Red Devil!!! Just kidding!

Actually, maybe just some oscars. I dunno. I do REALLY like oscars too!

Also, A common pleco would be fine w/ cichlids, right? I gonna move him from my 10 gal when the 40 is ready.

 

[phOOey]

well oscars bet too big for a 40g, and so does a common pleco, but i guess a 40g is better than a 10g.

i dont really know much about africans so im not sure about the electric blue etc...

 

[Swordtail8]

I would do the mbuna cichlids. Mbunas are very colorful and dont get too large and stocking alot of them is a good thing. Oscars on the other hand grow very large, IMO not as colorful, and you need a very large tank JUST TO KEEP ONE FISH. I have no idea why the fish market promotes these guys because they give alot of beginners trouble when you can get much more outta african cichlids which are small, aggressive, colorful, and have personality.

Common pleco would be fine with cichlids. They will eventually outgrow a 40 gallon but since mine hasnt outgrown my 29 yet then there is probably a good period of time before he outgrows it. I notice pleco growth slows once they get about 4 to 5 inches

If I had a 40 gallon tank I would do mbuna or any of the other things cichlid man mentioned.

 

[JimMelAddie]

Okay! Mbnua it is! Should I provide them a sand substrate or gravel?

Ugh!!! I can't wait for the cycle to be complete! I started it on Sun. 3/20/05, so I've probably got a good nother week AT LEAST. Guess it works out well. That'll fall about the time I get my "extra" paycheck. I'll be able to spend a pretty penny on some nice Africans!!!

Patience is a virtue!

 

[Orion]

Use some filter media to seed the other tank. It will help speed up the cycle.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I'd go with sand for any african tank. You will really enjoy watching them "spittin an kickin"

 

[Swordtail8]

I second the use of sand.

Check this link out http://www.aquahobby.com/tanks/e_tank0408.php

There is an example of a mbuna tank and there are also many others on that website.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Nice tank there.

If you need any other ideas i suggest checking out these.. http://cichlid-forum.com/tanks/ You can pick Malawi Mbuna in the drop down list.

 

[Orion]

*ahem*

That size tank with some Calvus, julies and shell dwellers would be quite nice too.

(buncha Malawi freaks....)



I put a vote in for sand as well. Gives a more natural look, and easier to clean IMO.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Lol orion, agreed on the Tang setup. But when the words "Spectacular" are used to describe what kind of cichlid tank to go with Malawi gets my vote The colors wins

 

[Orion]

Bah. If color is all you are interested in go get you a box of crayons and toss them in a bowl of water.

IMHO, Spectacular is like the word beutiful. Its in the eye of the beholder. I would much rather see a brown or gray fish protecting its brood from preditors for months on end, and then allowing the young fish to join the colony and co-exist togeather than a colorfull fish spit out its brood just to be forgoten.

 

[JimMelAddie]

Ah!!! Orion GREAT point! I want BOTH damn it!!! *ALL* *twirlysmi

 

[Orion]

LMAO, dont we all?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

LOL true true orion. Ehh i guess Spectacular to me means "Showtank" lol. Something you can see from across the room and will catch your attention when you walk in. "Oh you're tank is Spectacular!"

You know i love my tangs though, and i wish i had tanks for more. They just to me, don't provide the...hmm....the "showtank" aspect. I consider tangs to be something more pesonal, that I can enjoy and not necesairaly (sp) "show" for others. Agreed they are very interesting behavioral wise, just hard to see from across a room......unless of course its some Fronts, or featherfins or something like that.

 

[Orion]

Thats a very good way to describe them. A more personal fish.

I don't prefer the right up in your face look with a fish tank. I much prefer to have everything balanced. The decor compliments the fish, and the fish compliments the decor, and so on. I like someone to walk up to a tank and say, Ohhh how nice, and then get to sit there for a 20 minute lecture on the breeding, feeding, rearing habbits and the natural habitat of my new julies.

Then most of the time they turn back to the tank and say , Wow.

 

[JimMelAddie]

Boy! You two sure aren't making the decision easy for me, are ya?

 

[Kuroshio]

my (only) two cents, go with the malawi, get 3 of several variety in 2-3 batches. one male to two females. I like the sand idea best as well, very attractive unless you are going for the goldfish bowl look. cichlids love rocks so take this into consideration when making your plans. If you don't plan on using a background (doesn't sound like you do), then make sure they have rocks/caves of sorts to hide in for security. Don't know what your water is like, but if you have low pH then may want to consider using a marine substrate. good luck!