New to Cichlids, is this a good set up?

[belladee]

I am setting up a low tech 35G planted dwarf cichlid tank. I am about to purchase the plants and I just want to make sure that everything i picked out is going to work.

Ok, I picked Labidochromis yellow, kribensis, jewel, firemouth and a peacock chichlid. Im thinking I should only put 4 or 5 fish so i need to pick from these. these are what is at LFS. These are all dwarf right? I read they only get 4-6 in so i figured that was dwarf.

I need to have a planted tank because I love them. since the tank is low tech these are the plants i picked.. do these go with thoes fish? Nuphar japonica, Petite Anubias Nana,Cryptocoryne wendtii red, Anubias coffefolia, and Vallisneria corkscrew. I may add some ground cover later.

I read that the fish needed caves so instead of drift wood i put in some big coral rocks they raised the PH so that is good. I dont love them, i wanted big black rocks but this is what i had. here is a picture. do you think that this will work with the plants and the fish?

Im also not thrilled about the big gravel but this is a budget tank so i need to work with some things that i already had.

I need some input. i have been mulling over this tank for a long time. I did these rocks as a rock wall, then i cut up slate and made something with that, now im back to the rocks!

 

[MOsborne05]

The plants sound good if you are going for a low-light low-tech tank, but your fish choices aren't good because they come from different locations. I'm no expert on this, but I believe you should do some more research on those particular fish first. The Labidochromis are a mbuna from Lake Malawi, and they like tanks with lots of rocks. Your tank right now would be excellent for some Labidochromis and another type of mbuna. Mbuna don't really like plants though, and will normally shred them. And I believe the kribensis are from the Amazon and prefer plants in their tank. They would do good in a planted tank with just a few rocks, lots of plants, and some compatable fish like tetras.

I suggest you go over to http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/index.php, register over there and start doing lots of research! I scoured the profiles on that website and eventually came up with a stocking mix that I absolutely love. I have Pseudotropheus sp. Flamebacks in my tank, and Cynotilapia Afra Hai Reefs. I wouldn't recommend the Flamebacks in anything smaller than a 55 gallon though, because they are very territorial. I think the Hai Reefs would work great in your tank though, and the males are gorgeous!

Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide

 

[belladee]

Thanks morgan. that is really helpful information. from wht i read in my cichlid book "cichlids" like caves. they didnt go into all that.

I really want plants in the tank so from my list (that is what the LFS has) which ones like plants? just the one you mentioned? i thought most of the fish i looked up were from the phillipnes(sp?)

 

[skratikans]

a pair of kribs would work well with plants..i doubt it would for the others..i agree, you need to do more research

 

[MOsborne05]

Another option would be German Blue Rams or Apistos. Both are very pretty, interesting fish and they breed pretty easily. If you want to do a amazon type tank, get a pair of rams or apistos, some zebra loaches and some red pencilfish.