New tank lots of questions

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polocrosseplyer

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Apr 21, 2006
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Right now I have a 10, and i've been reading alot! so i have a few questions about cichlids

what kind of gravel do they need? substrate? or should i use sand.. and how would i clean the sand.. wouldnt a normal vacuum suck up the sand? or something else?are they diggers and should i really stick with fake plants?

water types, do they need the salt? i always see everyone say fw fish do better without salt, but cichlids are diff. than tetras.
dorkfish recommened rift lake cichlids b/c they are much more colorful, anyone have any comments on them for a slight newbie.
how many can be happy in a 55? male/female ratio i need to consider?
and can gouramis go in with them or will these end up a species only tank?

can i start the cycle of a 55 gallon with the filter from my 10fw? and can i use prime as my water dechlorinator for this tank?

thanks guys!!! I love this place and really appreciate all the information that everyone is so helpful about giving out, it is a much easier place to learn about fish than reading a book.. though i should start reading more.
 
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You can cycle the 55 with some filter media (sponge) or stocking full of gravel from the 10 gallon. Just be sure to "feed" the bacteria during the time when there are no fish in the tank.

You first need to decide what type of cichlids to get, because they all require different tank setups, different water chemistry, and often different diet.

Depending on the type of cichlid, you may or may not be able to keep gouramis with them. Usually NOT. Definately not with african rift lake cichlids.

I agree that african Malawi or Tangynika cichlids would be good for that tank. Malawi mbuna would make a colorful display.

Gravel or sand depends on which cichlid you want, but malawi mbuna would prefer sand. You wouldn't have to vaccum it... just suck the debris off the top. Fake plants are good for malawi cichlids not only cus they dig them up but because many species also eat them. Some live plants can be kept with them though. They also like TONS of rockwork.

You dont need to add salt (remember its not table salt... its special cichlid salts) depending on how hard your water is already. Many people prefer to use it... I just use crushed coral and baking soda. This is also depending on what type of cichlids you are getting.

I would aim for around 10 mbuna in the 55.... maybe two different species... 1 male 3-4 females of each.

Try having a look at:

http://www.malawimayhem.com

;)
-Diana
 
thanks diana!!! the information is very helpful and it sounds like a great idea.

depending on what i compromise with the boyfriend i will try and stick with one species, i read all those articles on that site and it was really helpful. I think now the only question would be... is how do i build rockwork without it falling over if they like to move stuff? can i glue stuff together? or is there premade caves i can buy that will suit these little guys?
 
I doubt they would get strong enough to move stacked rocks. If you have doubts you can use aquarium sealant to glue them together. I have a decent amount of stacked rocks and mine havnt budged since I placed them. Check my tank pics in my signature.

In a 55 I would go for 10-12 fish, peacocks or zebras, not both. I have gravel substrate but I have crushed coral in my filter to raise the ph, If I were you I would just use crushed coral sutbrate or mix it with sand/rocks. I have plenty of fake plants and they dont mess with them at all. My plants are all glued to slate pieces so they wont budge.
 
are there any kind of cichlids that you can mix, or should i just stick with mbunas, or are there certain mbunas that dont go together also?

and dont get mad at this question... can redtail sharks go in there or would that be overstocking/agression issues/they need to be in a school?
 
I have a mix of mbunas and peacocks, both from Lake Malawi. Most people will agree not to mix zebras with peacocks but my lab and pseudo(both mbuna) do fine with the peacocks. Those are the only 2 mbuna I would add though. This is all assuming you want Malawi cichlids, you can still do a South American cichlid tank or a Lake Tanganyika tank.

I dont know about the red-tailed shark. They require different water parameters since they are from thailand. They dont get much bigger than 5 inches which would be about the right size for your tank. If it trys to establish any type of territory(very likely) the cichlids(mbuna or peacock) wont allow it and that could lead to some aggression. I read someone had luck with a red-tail in a 125 african cichlid tank but that has much more area than a 55. If you can't part with the shark right away test it out and if you see them fighting trade the shark in.
 
If it were me, I'd stick with the same type. When you start mixing cichlids from different parts of the world, you run into all kinds of problems. Differences in diet, water requirements, temp, rockwork, substrate, etc.

And yes, there are some mbuna you don't want to mix with others. Aggressions issues, crossbreeding, etc.

This should answer your question regarding the sharks, as they are not an African cichlid, nor do they come from Lake Malawi.

Again, this is just my opinion.
 
no no i agree, its just nice to have people who know to tell me.. so i can tell him and it wont sound like i'm just trying to nag about certain fish.. but i still havent gotten him out of the habit of saying "well if they are fresh water they'll be fine!!!... grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.. hahaha. ok so a lot more research and i'm going to look through all the malawi mayhem species profiles.... once i figure it out which ones we would like, i'll post before stick them all together.. thanks for you guy's help.. in about a month i should have pictures!!! yeahhhhhh!!!!
 
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