Deep Sand Bed

Toro Driver

Toro Driver

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May 9, 2003
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Here is a thought...

I just recieved a forty five gallon tank from the neighbor. My plan was a salt water tank. In doing my research everyone seems to go for a deep sand bed with salt water.

Would a deep sand bed work with a ciclid tank with the same results.

Just a thought, I still have thoughts of starting a ciclid tank. If I used the the forty five for ciclid, how many would it hold?
 
well well well, where to begin, it all depends on what kind of cichlids you were thinking of keeping. Africans, south american, central american? let us know what your thinking and we can help you out.
 
Since my tap water conditions seem to favor Africans and the blue peacock is my first choice, im leaning towards those. I want a tank that is less maintanance than my planted angle tank.
 
The premise of the deep sand bed is to form an anaerobic zone to reduce nitrates and reduce the need for expensive water changes in a saltwater tank.

Any cichlid that digs, quite a few, would disrupt the sand bed and foil the nitrate reduction area. On other hand it is cool to see a group of jurupari sifting the sand. So unless you are after some specific behavior or replicating an environment, I would skip the deep sand bed.

JoeHox makes the best point-there are all kinds of cichlids-from dwarfs on up-we cannot tell you until you tell us what you are interested in. Do you want peaceful ones, color, etc?
 
I still like the look of the sand and rocks, well see about the sand. I am looking at Malawai Lakes of central Africa. In particular the blue peacock-kenyi-yellow labs. My estimation is six and I will put them in all at the same time. After my fishless cycle. I hate killing fish.
 
Not a DSB response, but be careful about putting yellow labs and kennyi in the same tank. The male kennyi (who are yellow) will pick off the yellow labs in an attempt to be the dominant fish. If you can be sure you only have female kennyi (who remain blue, like the juveniles) you may be OK.

Jim

P.S. And good for you for doing a fishless cycle!
 
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