Hi everyone...Im looking for some advice for my new tank. I am getting a 180 gallon tank soon and I am trying to get some ideas on what to have in it. I would like some active fish and I really like the Cichlid's. My wife wants the fish to be colorful. Any one have any suggestions for what to stock the tank with...I want the fish to be colorful and active? any help would be appreciated.
What Cichlid's should I get
- Thread starter kvulcan
- Start date
Lake Malawi cichlids hands down.
here is a price list from this site but you can see some names of them.
http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/cichlids_african/african_cichlids_table.htm#top2
A lot of the time Local Pet Stores call them Mixed africans and they are pretty much the same to these. If you were to go to a store those "mixed Africans" will do great too. Many also call these Mbuna Cichlids.
12 mbunas require at least 50 gal. so....you could get tons with a 180.
Peacock Cichlids are great.
You have a big enough tank to get some Frontosas if you can find them.
But go to your Local store and look around and see what they have. But i think your best bet is going with some of these listed above.
BE SURE TO POST PICS WHEN YOU GET IT SET UP.
here is a price list from this site but you can see some names of them.
http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/cichlids_african/african_cichlids_table.htm#top2
A lot of the time Local Pet Stores call them Mixed africans and they are pretty much the same to these. If you were to go to a store those "mixed Africans" will do great too. Many also call these Mbuna Cichlids.
12 mbunas require at least 50 gal. so....you could get tons with a 180.
Peacock Cichlids are great.
You have a big enough tank to get some Frontosas if you can find them.
But go to your Local store and look around and see what they have. But i think your best bet is going with some of these listed above.
BE SURE TO POST PICS WHEN YOU GET IT SET UP.
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mbunas are very colorful and active...and 130gal for them would make a wonderful tank
they need alot of rocks/caves and harder more alkaline water
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/malmbuna.htm
--liz
they need alot of rocks/caves and harder more alkaline water
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/malmbuna.htm
--liz
I love both of those fish. The mbunas are awesome looking. That page has a ton of info too. The Malawi cichlids are great too. I do have another question though. I have a common pleco that I would really like to move from a 100 galon tank to the new 180. Will he get along with the mbunas and the Malawi cichlids or do I need to leave him where he is. He is about 10" long right now.
Well they vary in size depending on species. Different mbuna can be anywhere from like 3 - 6" full grown.
Peacocks are all about 5 - 6" I would say, but haps vary quite a bit, some species like nimbochromis venestus growing to like 11"
You've got the tank to add any malawian you want (well, any that I've ever heard of). Once again, http://www.cichlid-forum.com has great articles that any serious cichlid keeper should read . Read those, and do some searching through the forums, then you can start making your own educated guesses on how to stock it and care for them. After that, it doesn't hurt to run your stock list by people like soulfish or darthv here, or any of the guys on the malawi essage board there. Darthv posts pretty regularly at that other forum, he would be a great resource.
Peacocks are all about 5 - 6" I would say, but haps vary quite a bit, some species like nimbochromis venestus growing to like 11"
You've got the tank to add any malawian you want (well, any that I've ever heard of). Once again, http://www.cichlid-forum.com has great articles that any serious cichlid keeper should read . Read those, and do some searching through the forums, then you can start making your own educated guesses on how to stock it and care for them. After that, it doesn't hurt to run your stock list by people like soulfish or darthv here, or any of the guys on the malawi essage board there. Darthv posts pretty regularly at that other forum, he would be a great resource.
cichlids
i am also going to say something else.I love the "dwarf" african cichlids from the congo river basin. fish like nanochromis nudiceps and the like. they dont need such a high ph level as mbunas and they dont get nearly as large.also there are other dwarf africans that can be conditoned to like the lower ph levels as well, just be careful if you do this.and if you like i would recommened some congo tetras to go with these as well. the congos can hang with these less agrressive cichlids and they are very pretty with their long flowing fins and brillant flashes of color.they are a bit pricey though $15 a peice here in columbus. good luck hope i gave you a new idea.
i am also going to say something else.I love the "dwarf" african cichlids from the congo river basin. fish like nanochromis nudiceps and the like. they dont need such a high ph level as mbunas and they dont get nearly as large.also there are other dwarf africans that can be conditoned to like the lower ph levels as well, just be careful if you do this.and if you like i would recommened some congo tetras to go with these as well. the congos can hang with these less agrressive cichlids and they are very pretty with their long flowing fins and brillant flashes of color.they are a bit pricey though $15 a peice here in columbus. good luck hope i gave you a new idea.
You sure did give me another idea. I'm now overflowing with all these ideas from you guys. This is great. I guess the best way for me to decide is just to read up on them and start hanging out at the LFS till I decide. The "dwarf" african cichlids from the congo river basin are great looking fish. I never even thought of them till now. Thanks for your input...anyone else want to nominate their favorite cichlid?