New tank
- Thread starter UP UP AND GUPPY
- Start date
I like this site for a jumping-off point for stocking ideas http://www.timstropicals.com/Compatibility/NameResults.asp
Looks like it could be a pretty interesting tank.
What was the cause of death of your other centerpiece fish?
(Are you positive you don't want to move your fantail over to the 20, maybe with a few white clouds or rosy red minnows, maybe something from here http://www.goldfishparadise.com/info/tankmate.php for added interest?)
As for salt, not any fish I can think of (with the possible exception of livebearers) needs aquarium salt. So no worries about thant.
Looks like it could be a pretty interesting tank.
What was the cause of death of your other centerpiece fish?
(Are you positive you don't want to move your fantail over to the 20, maybe with a few white clouds or rosy red minnows, maybe something from here http://www.goldfishparadise.com/info/tankmate.php for added interest?)
As for salt, not any fish I can think of (with the possible exception of livebearers) needs aquarium salt. So no worries about thant.
Well for positive the goldfish is staying in the 10g because thats part of my brothers birthday gift. On the death it might have been that the parameters were off a little, everything was fine then when I added a few albino cherry barbs I guess thats what happened. Here are the parameters recently:
pH-7.6-7.8
Ammonia-.25 ppm
Nitrate-0 ppm
Nitrite-2.0 ppm
So I did an early water change instead of my weekly water change and I am going to see what happens there.
On the fish I want to see in there are some very bright cichlids, I might want to do an African Cichlid Tank. So any thoughts?
pH-7.6-7.8
Ammonia-.25 ppm
Nitrate-0 ppm
Nitrite-2.0 ppm
So I did an early water change instead of my weekly water change and I am going to see what happens there.
On the fish I want to see in there are some very bright cichlids, I might want to do an African Cichlid Tank. So any thoughts?
What tank are these parameters on? Is it the 10 with the goldie? Or is the 20 already set up with fish in it?
Either way, your tank is cycling right now, even if it has already cycled, it is doing it right now.
Did you do a 50% water change, and did you test your nitrite after the change? Anytime your nitrite is above 1.0, you have to get it down to avoid fish illness.
And, for goodness' sake, don't add any fish until your ammonia and nitrite sit steady at zero.
Either way, your tank is cycling right now, even if it has already cycled, it is doing it right now.
Did you do a 50% water change, and did you test your nitrite after the change? Anytime your nitrite is above 1.0, you have to get it down to avoid fish illness.
And, for goodness' sake, don't add any fish until your ammonia and nitrite sit steady at zero.
Couldn't be truer. The main problem with mixing Africans and fish from other continents is reuirements of the water's chemisty.
Quite generally:
South American = soft water
African = hard
Since what most people think of when they hear "African cichlid" are those of the alkaline rift lakes this would make sense. This absolutely does not apply to many of the non-rift lake species. Like kribs. Which come from soft water rivers in West Africa. In a larger tank rams and kribs could certainly get along.
But the tank being stocked does not have the capacity to hold more than one breeding pair of such fish.
If you want a colorful community you'll have to realize that larger fish are out of the question. The bigger they get the less you can keep and I'd say 5" should be the maximum adult size of a fish you decide to keep in there. A pair of kribs or a pair of rams would fit nicely in there as would a pair of one of the more popular Apistogramma like A. cacatuoides, A. macmasteri or A. agasizzii. Another soft-water loving dwarf African cichlid that would do nicely is Anomalochromis thomasi and for South American again is Nannacara anomala. The charming Laetacara curviceps or dorsigera might be worth looking into as well.
Any of these, only as adults (possibly 3 for A. cacatuoides) along with a nice school of smaller tetras and possibly a small group of bottomdwellers like khuli loaches or smaller Corydoras catfish (like C. panda) would max pleasantly max out a 20gal tank.
If you'd like to opt for a pair only tank (2 breeding fish, no tankmates) look into the fairy cichlids of Lake Tanganyika.
Neolamprologus brichardi, pulcher, helianthus, gracilis, marunguesnsis.
They are becoming much more popular and a perfect pair inhabitant of Neolamprologus brichardi are actually not too hard to find now-a-days. Why only a pair? They get to a considerable size (4-6") and are very aggressive. But they are absolutely stunning.
Quite generally:
South American = soft water
African = hard
Since what most people think of when they hear "African cichlid" are those of the alkaline rift lakes this would make sense. This absolutely does not apply to many of the non-rift lake species. Like kribs. Which come from soft water rivers in West Africa. In a larger tank rams and kribs could certainly get along.
But the tank being stocked does not have the capacity to hold more than one breeding pair of such fish.
If you want a colorful community you'll have to realize that larger fish are out of the question. The bigger they get the less you can keep and I'd say 5" should be the maximum adult size of a fish you decide to keep in there. A pair of kribs or a pair of rams would fit nicely in there as would a pair of one of the more popular Apistogramma like A. cacatuoides, A. macmasteri or A. agasizzii. Another soft-water loving dwarf African cichlid that would do nicely is Anomalochromis thomasi and for South American again is Nannacara anomala. The charming Laetacara curviceps or dorsigera might be worth looking into as well.
Any of these, only as adults (possibly 3 for A. cacatuoides) along with a nice school of smaller tetras and possibly a small group of bottomdwellers like khuli loaches or smaller Corydoras catfish (like C. panda) would max pleasantly max out a 20gal tank.
If you'd like to opt for a pair only tank (2 breeding fish, no tankmates) look into the fairy cichlids of Lake Tanganyika.
Neolamprologus brichardi, pulcher, helianthus, gracilis, marunguesnsis.
They are becoming much more popular and a perfect pair inhabitant of Neolamprologus brichardi are actually not too hard to find now-a-days. Why only a pair? They get to a considerable size (4-6") and are very aggressive. But they are absolutely stunning.
Last edited:
I had something else to add to my last post, but the computer ate my words. I don't remember what it was
In my 20 I had 2 pairs of breeding convicts (not a good idea)...they weren't even half grown yet. You could get away with just a pair of convicts in a 20 if you're feeling lucky (almost had to quote Clint Eastwood there )
In my 20 I had 2 pairs of breeding convicts (not a good idea)...they weren't even half grown yet. You could get away with just a pair of convicts in a 20 if you're feeling lucky (almost had to quote Clint Eastwood there
)