Cichlids with other community fish

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bdobosz

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Jan 2, 2005
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My brother and I are planning a 180G tank and we are kind of running into a stumbling block as to what kind of fish we want. He would like to get various African Cichlids where I would prefer Angels and some less common fish like a Black Ghost Knife. There will also be a Pleco and 3 Pictus cats moved into the tank from one of my other tanks. Would it be possible for these types of fish to co-exist? Then the other issue would be plants. From what I have kind of read the Cichlids don’t need a planted tank as much as the Angels and other fish might. Would there be anyway to pull both our ideas together?
 
Actually no, they won't work. Most African cichlids need opposite water conditions (africans need hard, alkaline water, Angels and South Americans need soft, acidic water) from all of the other fish you are discussing (for the record, angelfish are actually South American cichlids). Additionally, some Africans have very specific dietary requirements that don't match the either. There are a few riverine africans that would work, but none of them are the rift lakers, which are most likely what you are envisioning.

There are, however, a few South American cichlids that might work, but I would thoroughly check compatability with your knife.
 
I think it will work if you don't get the Africans and stick with angels. I also think that the black ghost will be ok, but let the BGK owners answer that. angels will be ok with plants but other cichlids like to eat or dig up plants. but there are many peaceful cichlids that can go with angels.
 
In a tank that size you could put a colony of SA dwarf cichlids. They would be ok with your angels, love a planted tank, and will thrive in slightly acidic water. You still get all that great cichlid behavior in a tiny package. Don't know anything about the ghost knife.
 
Amen, mooman, more dwarves. I would, however, check really carefully about Knives with dwarves, as knives love smaller fish. You could also look into Jurupari Earth Eaters. I've heard they do well with knives and aren't exceptionally aggressive.
 
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