Keeping African Cichlid Questions???

fishguy001

AC Members
Oct 22, 2009
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Hi I was advised by a fellow aquariacentral user who by his tank looks like he/she knows african cichlids. She/he said that I can have 3 male and I think 6 or 9 female saulosi in a 45 gallon tank without - the gravel and the holow rocks I will add. But here are my questions.

If I decide to go with a decent amount of rock that Is not hollow what options does this leave me with the saulosi and/or other african cichlids?

As baby fish 2-4 or 5 cm will I be able to add them all at once as adviced? If not how many at a time?

What is a good cheap rocks and substrate that buffer the water?

Thanks!
 
You can add all at once and I use slate rock just flat rock that I build caves and stuff with and substrate it is your choice either sand or rock or do both
 
You don't need the hollow rocks I would just use regular rocks you can pick up from a landscaping store. I have granite in my mbuna tank but limestone is great for buffering your water hardness and Ph. I think you can still keep 12 saulosi in the 45 even without using the hallow rocks. Just make sure you have good filtration and keep up on your weekly water changes. It would be best to add all the babies at once.
 
Yep use a crushed coral or a aragonite type of substrate it will buffer better than any rock will do, find a creek and pick up some creek rock clean it really good with a scrub brush and or boil it and you should be good plus it is free..

If you feel like you have to buy rock try to get Texas Holey rock over limestone will be better in the long run..

If at all possible add all your fish at the same time this will lesson the chances of a beat down if you add more fish of the same species a few weeks later if this isn't possible than add new fish with lights out and re arrange the decor this should help..
 
thanks for the input guys
 
Pieces of dead coral work well as rockwork also. A substrate of pool sand mixed with the crushed coral/ aragonite looks nice and is inexpensive.
 
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