Re-entering the hobby

[ishar]

Well after about a year out of the hobby due to an accident with a fat cat, I am looking to get back into the saddle. This time I was hoping to begin my journey into the African cichlid world.

I'm looking at a 50-55 gallon tank, and have read up on water chem, substrate choice, deco etc etc. I also know that there are different lakes that are unique.

What I am wondering is some guidance on fish choice. Looking on google and different fish sites, there are a gazillion choices it seems, and I was hoping for some help in narrowing the field.

-I am looking for a decent sized community, so the fish need to stay at or about 4" adult size.
-Breeding is a possibility in the future but for now I think it best to avoid it.
-I plan to use landscaping rocks to make a rock scape, with a black sand or crushed coral (likely the sand) substrate.
-I don't know if I was to go tang or malawi as I don't really understand what difference that would make in the fish.
-A colourful tank would be very good, and so would personality (both of which I feel are pretty much par for the course with African cichlids)

Any help would be much appreciated. If I need to give more info or if this is an impossible question to help with that's fine . I'll figure it out eventually.

 

[FroggyFox]

hey stranger I had a tank of tanganyikan cichlids for awhile and they weren't overly colorful, but crazy cool fish...I really liked them. Unfortunately most of them perished in a freak heater accident I would like to do a species tank of n. brichardi they were probably my favorites.

 

[Lotus]

N. Brichardi are awesome, but breed like rabbits.

 

[FroggyFox]

Yeah, and they have a cool 'family dynamic'...so it wasn't fun for the other inhabitants of the tank, which is why I would like to do a species tank with them.

 

[Fishman1995]

Tanganiya also has the awesome Shelldwellers which are some of the smallest cichlids in the world, read up on them, but they will breed, but in a 55 gallon 2 pairs could breed and you keep the fry . However,i also enjoy malawi's intense colors such as the Peacock's and Bumblee bee cichlids

 

[marvin]

maby i can help one question at a time. i have been breeding cichlids 40 years but as rodnie dangerfield says cant get no respect.. i will be starting 2 or 3 african tanks soon have made most of my decisions. one inch = i gal. of water. in a 55 you are kind of limited. be sure and have a 10 gal hospital tank to quarrannine new fish. 55's take a lot of meds ,go slow bottom structure is important.

 

[ishar]

Thanks for all the info guys

I am thinking of going for some small Mbunas after reading all of this and after looking at my lfs... and noticing a large price difference between Malawis and Tangs .

I am looking at getting some smaller Mbunas, ones that reach a max of 3 or so inches- this way I can keep more in my 50G and not overstock.

I have play sand in the bottom, with several larger rocks stacked up. There aren't a TON of caves and such but there are a decent number. Because of this I think I am looking for fish that inhabits the rocky areas of Lake Malawi but not rely on them so heavily... this sounds ridiculous as I read it. So specific .

Well I bought a book and have found a few species... now heres to hoping in 8 weeks my LFS has some

 

[Fishman1995]

Thought id add in a lil advice here, id decide on a temperment if i was you to. Dont pick the most agressive species in the lake to go with the lease agressive LOL, might have issues there just tryin to help

 

[big54bob]

The only species you would looking at is P.Polit, P.Salosi, and P. Demasoni for Malawi and Shelldwellers, Julies, and Lemon Cichlids, and Brichardi for Tangs for that size preference.

I Personaly would go with some Acies, C.Afra, Polits, and Lace catfish

 

[marvin]

Altolamprologus calvus take a look beautiful many colors i will have one tank just for them

 

[tom91970]

Hey! Welcome back!

I've got about a dozen Africans in a 55g tank. Took these out of a 180g that was getting too crowded.

Have you decided what kind you're getting?

 

[ishar]

Well no, not yet. My girlfriend convinced me to get back into the planted end of things, but thus far I have been careful with my choices of plants: jungle val, two sp. of hygro, java fern and some X-mas moss. I have read these all fair well in a cichlid tank. As for fish I currently have 12 gold tetras- very cheap and I could care less if I throw cichlids in there and they become a snack

I really have no idea. I guess i am basically now looking for smaller cichlids that don't depend much on rock caverns and are decently non-aggressive. Slim pickings as far as I can tell. I always hate the disconnect between the fish I would love to have, and the availability of fish at my LFS lol

 

[Fishman1995]

If its big enough and you wanna go for a nice sized yet still kinda small cichlid go for a Convict Pair or maybe a Firemouth or 2?

 

[nanu156]

Hey so good choice on the Africans

I would reccomend Malowi it's easier to find them If you can find the following it's how i would stock a 55G. Remember they are aggressive, some WILL likely die on you as you are establishing this tank and building it up over time. So if you stocked with say 20 in a year you would have around 12 or so decent sized fish left in a year, of the 20 I would guess 2-3 will just up and die on you, 2-3 will be beaten to death, and a few may go from disease. That being said your initial stocking should be price based. Craigs list is a good place to find breeders and cheap fish 2-5ea, LFS tend to sell them in the 8-20 range and well I just don't think a new tank is worth 8-20 dollar fish. (thats just me)

I would reccomend the following;

1 bumble bee if you get more then one be prepared for a possible war
3-5 Acei
3 (harem 2f 1m) Trewavasse (if you can find them they are my FAVE)
3-4 peacocks (they will be pricy if they are colored up males, I would grab some juviniles and wait and see what they turn into
5 electric yellows (these guys can be skiddish and you will likely lose a few)
2-3 aratus/chipoke
5 or so Zebras these come in colors and are not typically striped as their name suggests, I would suggest some red (they are actually orange) and blue maybe some OB (orange blue) calico type (various names for color choices ie blueberry etc)
1 BUSHY nosed NOT a common pleco (add him after the swimming fish as they don't tolerate meds and for the next 8 weeks you are at pretty high risk for ick)

other fun fish to maybe try are the jewels (only get 1 they are mean!) Hongi, kenyi (also pretty damn mean) living stoni (giraffe happ) venestus, I mean your options are open. In the end there is no RIGHT stocking order for a new tank, honestly fish you buy today may or may not survive the winter... People like to preach and scare people about how big these fish "could get" but we are not talking abotu new world cichlids here they are going to grow pretty slow, and you will lose many a long the way.

When you add the cichlids crank the heat for about 8 weeks (I like to turn it up to around 82-84), Ick and other fish diseases don't do well in warmer water and it will improve the health of your overall tank, after the 8 weeks turn the tank back down.

I would add a power head (aquaclear makes the best ones) as well as make sure you are running an aquaclear 70 or an aquaclear 110 filter. You will find differing opinions on the filtration but here is what i like about powerhead + aquaclear 110

-power head keeps water highly oxygenated, and water moving (if you can hook it to an undergravel filter all the better)
-the aquaclear 70 or 110 is a hang on the back unit that has a sponge as well as a biological agent, these do not need to be changed (eventually in 2-5yrs you will need a new sponge but they are like 7-10 dollars) you won't be messing with carbon cartriges that can cause mini cycles when changed
-they are reliable
-they are VERY quiet
-they move the water really well

well thats my 2 cents

 

[Fishman1995]

EXCELLENT ADVICE!!!! +1 to Nanu i agree totally, i love Malawi's and there awesome and if you like Albino's they have Albino Peacocks and also they have a Turquoise Jewel Cichlid which is an awesome color morph but me careful they are MEAN!

 

[ishar]

Wow! Thanks for all the info......

unfortunately I read all of it after I came home from the fish store... with a pair of cichlids....

Apistos....

lol I have been enjoying the plants a lot and am looking forward to getting back into the salad side of things, and the double red cockatoos were to tantalizing looking a fish to pass up last night.

I will bookmark this thread though if I ever decide to set up a Malawi tank in the future..... and I do Sorry I didn't go the African route after getting everyone's great advice and info. I do appreciate it none the less

 

[nanu156]

Well those are SA, they would pair nicely with Rams of any kind.

I might get my head bitten off for suggesting mixing SA/CA cichlids here but you could probably also get away with some electric yellows with those guys too Don't kill me guys, I know the deal with mixing SA/CA but I have found E-yellows to be slow growers and very passive. If mixed with moderately aggressive standard (tetras barbs etc) tropical fish they do ok in regular aquariums and rarely grow into bullies.

Fishman thanks for giving me a thumbs up. I was actually prepared for my head to get bitten off because I suggested a pretty heavy stock. Glad to see I'm not the only fish realist (this guy can get to 5".... bla bla bla... so you should only get 5 for your 55 gallon tank....) When in reality when the fish get that big you have had enough fish death to thin the heard to an acceptable level. I also find I have MUCH less fighting If I keep a heavily stocked.

 

[Orion]

Hey ishar! lol, wish I had the time to setup a tank agian.

I think apistos are a fine choice to go with a planted tank. I was keeping a 75 planted with a mix of SA and it was working out great when I tore it down. You dont want a cichlid that digs to much, or gets real big and might thrash around.

Rams could work, but IMO it can be difficult to find good stock. Festivums and angels might work. I would be careful with apistos and angels, neither is known to be really tolorant.

 

[nanu156]

Good advice Orion

I always advise people new to the hobby to comb craigslist for breeders. Cichlids in particular are fairly easy to breed and there are some crazy wacky breeders out there who have far more stock then any pet store i have ever been in.

Just throw cichlid into craigslist and see what comes up, what i have learned about fish people are the following things
-the tend to be a little different so be prepared
-they love newbies
-they love to talk about their fish
-they will sell you just about anything in their house (including non fish items lol)

my fish lady is fantastic, I didn't look to see where you are but if you are with in a few hours drive to detroit i can hook you up big time (I also buy the best/cheapest fish food from her

Have a great new year!