african cichlids with inverts

[cfasulo]

I have a few african cichlids in a 55 gal tank. With some rocks and decorations. Substrate is sand. I just wanted to know if you guys had any advice on food, treats and how to raise or lower the ph level and alkalinity or the water. I have the testers with the ph up or down but it doesnt really tell you how much to add to make it lower or higher.

Also i have a few snails and a clam. The snails doesnt seem to be able to move along the sand it digs itself into it. Is this normal or should i keep in on a rock. I dont know if the clam is dead how can you tell?

I have a frontosa and a dubiosi with a pleco and a few assorted african cichlids. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[liv2padl]

doesnt really tell you how much to add to make it lower or higher

how do you know it 'needs' to be higher or lower? what is your gH, kH and pH right now?

I have a frontosa and a dubiosi

you cannot keep one frontosa and one duboisi. they're going to slowly die. both these fish need to be maintained in large groups in a tank of at least 75 gallons, with high pH and hardness.

 

[cfasulo]

I bought them from liveaquaria.com and they didnt say anything about keeping them in pairs and they said they would be ok in a tank of at least 50 gallons. Should i buy one more each? The ph was about 8 last night. This was just a general question i had. i dont know gh is. i am assuming kh is alkalinity?

 

[FreddytheFish]

Don't get a FW clam, it'll bury itself in the substrate, and you won't ever see it. Then, when it dies, it will rot and put massive ammounts of ammonia into the water.

Not for the average fishkeeper.

 

[cfasulo]

so pretty much just get rid of the clam.. I also have a few snails and a singapore flower shrimp. I know they said the cichlids might eat it but i figured i would try it anyway. I had to put the snail on a lava rock cause it wasnt able to move in the sand. it actually locked like it was burying itself was that a good thing to do or is it suppose to bury itself.
do you have any advice on the frontosa and or duboisi. I have other assorted african cichlids as well to go with those guys but those are the most expensive fish i have.

 

[number1sixerfan]

you cannot keep one frontosa and one duboisi. they're going to slowly die. both these fish need to be maintained in large groups in a tank of at least 75 gallons, with high pH and hardness.

I've read that with the duboisi you can either keep one or keep many because they are very aggressive against their own species. Therefore, one should work. This is just based off what I have researched from here and cichlid forums.

 

[cfasulo]

Thanks. i really appreciate it.