60G Setup

Rocketman

Rocketman

Detroit; proud of it.
Oct 24, 2002
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Detroit, MI
Real Name
Reid
I feel like I know a lot about Cichlids, but I've never really kept them - only in stores, so I don't know much about Africans/South Americans etc.

I was told I could but about 20 fish in a 60G, I just had a couple questions.

1) pH in the tank is about 8.0-7.6. Water is a little hard. Should I add any coral or other substrate?

2) I was thinking 2 females and 1 male of the following:
Electric Yellow
Electric Blue
Kenyi
Auratus
and was wondering if Parrots and Jewels would fit.

The cichlids I know most about are the Zebra's, Convicts (I breed them,) Jewels, Parrots, etc. I don't know much about the whole idea of keeping the smaller cichlids in what is apparently called a "Malawi Tank Setup."

Thanks
 
First off you could put in 20 cichlids in a 60g but i wouldn't recommend it.People usually recommend over stocking africans to curb their aggresion but i have found that most people also dont' understand that this means mroe work and doesn't always guarantee a peaceful tank. YOu could end up with twice as many cichlids that are fighting. I would stick closer to maybe around 12-15

You seem to have picked 2 of the most aggresive fish(kenyii, auratus) to go with 2 other species that are relatively "peaceful". When you say electric blue what fish are you exactly reffering to? Since you have never cared for mbuna before i would recommend the less aggresive species(yellow labs,Ps.saulosi, ruties,Ps.acei) or even moderately aggresive species woudl work out as long as you dont' mix in any haps or peacocks.

SO is you water ph of 8.0 or 7.6? ALso do yo uhave the GH and KH tests? My water is 7.8 and i keep africans just fine. Unless your water is relaly soft you dont' really need to mess with it much. YOu could add some crushed coral if you want.

I wouldnt' add a parrot or jewel to teh tank as even though the jewels are african they really shouldn't be mixed with rift lake species. I also feel the parrot would eventually be picked on by the hyper mbuna.
 
I've 'cared' for almost every cichlid at work. Full-grown Zebra's, Peacocks, etc.

12-15 would be fine. I couldn't remember what the exact number I was told was, but I plan on having plenty of caves and driftwood etc, and so I want enough fish that I'll still be able to see them, and hopefully some will breed so I'm interested in mouth breeders, primarily.

Electric Blue and Yellow haps. I don't really like most of the other hap's I've seen because I really like the more vibrant and colorful fish. I also don't really know my scientific names, sorry.

I have kH and GH tests but they're the Aquirium Pharmacuticals and kinda a pain in the neck. I just know it's rather hard because it comes out of the tap like that. I don't really have a firm grasp and water hardness and carbon hardness because I never really had to worry about it.
 
get a dipstick test. i hate those test tubes they are so hard to and take so much time vs a dipstick test.
 
IS the electric blue hap you are talking about this guy? http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/s_fryeri.php If so its best not to mix haps with mbuna as they have different dietary needs and different temperaments. There are a few mbuna that can work with haps though.

Dont' think i have heard of a yellow hap. usually electric yellow is used to describe Labidochromis cueruleus(sp?).

Check around on some african cichlids site and read their profiles and see which fish appeal to you. Then we can help better. Research haps, peacocks and mbuna. They all have different requirements and it should help you figure out how you want your tank. It is possible to mix haps and mbuna(i have both in my tank) but it takes careful planning on which species to chose.
 
No Sciaenochromis fryeri isn't it, I don't think (http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/s_fryeri.php). However, my vision of these Electric Blue are of the 2-3 inch ones we have at work. This still looks like a fish I would want though, here's the AC profile...http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0361&view_records=1.

This is where my weak knowledge of cichlids is hurting me...I know I'm talking about an Electric Yellow, maybe it isn't a hap though. What I need is some clear definition of all these sub groups, I can't seem to find it. Let me lay out what I'm thinking...

South Americans: ....?
Africans: Lake Malawi: Mbunas, Haps...?

For example, when you make a cichlid tank, you would pick either Africans or South Americans, then decide which lake you wanted them from (in the case of Africans,) and then (this is where I'm lost,) you have to decide whether you want them from the Mbuna or Hap or Peacock family? I have plenty of experience with fish, I've just never taken as much interest as I should in compatability and naming/origin issues...

Sorry I'm being such a clueless pain.
 
Lake Malawi cichlide are then divided into subcategories such as hap and mbuna. Haps tend to be larger and require a protein rich diet. I believe peacocks are another general group withiin the haps. Mbuna on the other hand are smaller vegetarian cichlids. The distinction is important because haps and mbuna have very different diets. Mbuna can get bloat from too much protein and die while haps need the protein to be healthy. Its confusing I know....I am just learning this stuff myself. Check out malawi mayhem its a lot of help. :D
 
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