Cichlids For Small Tank, High ph, Hard Water?

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Ken

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Jan 24, 2004
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My water is high ph (8.2 and higher).

I would like to add a tank of cichlids, but I would like to keep it at 30 gallons or under.

Are there varieties suited to these conditions?
 
a 30g is small for most malawis. You may be able to put a trio of yellow labs, rusties(iodotropeus sprengerae) or Ps. saulosi in that tank.What are the dimensions?

You could make a shell dweller colony in a 30g. That would make for a cool tank. There is probably soem other tangs that would work but i'll let someone who knows more about tangs explain that.
 
The tank I am looking at is the 29gal "Regent" model that WalMart carries.

I believe it is about 36" long, but I could be off a little.

I had thought about trying to breed a pair of convicts, but after reading about sell-dwellers, I think I'll do a little more research.

Are they easy to raise?

Can you reccomend a good online store?
 
The 29 gallon has the same footprint of the 20 gallon, so this limits your bottom space for shell dwellers. It can be done but they do require territory.

Convicts are American cichlids (I think I am right there) and like softer water, though I am sure they will do fine in any water.

You will probably want some sort of mid to upper level fish with shell dwellers in to keep things more exciting in a tall tank. Fish like mollies would be a good choice. They like hard water and also the shellies would probably help keep the mollie population low (mmm babies).
 
Ok, I'm still thinking:

I found an online source which ships Malwi "dogtooth" (cynotilapia afra).

My research so far on this one looks good so far (small, likes alky, hard water, tough)

Anyone familiar with this variety?
 
cynotilapia afra are quite aggresive and aren't suited for a tank as small as yours. If you want to go with mbuna you will be limited to only a few species that are "peaceful" enough to work in such a small tank.

If you like the look of the cynotilapia afra, male Ps. saulosi have a similar pattern(balckk bars on a blue body) http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/p_saulosi.php.

SOme other mbuna that work ok in a small tank are yellow labs http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/l_caeruleus.php and rusties(one of my fav.mbuna) http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/i_sprengerae.php

Even with these species you are limited on the number you can add. A trio(1m/2f) or a group of 4(1m/3f) might work. But a 29g is really too small for malawis.
 
The yellow labs I can get locally, but they aren't sexed, and the clerks are no helpl.

Is it hard to tell the males from the females?

Would three or four of these work in 29?
 
Sorry, I just read your link.

Excellent article; Thanks!
 
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