New tank - rock questions

[tawnylane]

Hello all - have some questions:

Have a new tank (25g)going for 6 days now with cichlid mix substrate, Fluval 3Plus, Penguin 550 PH for surface agitation, live plants (java fern on
SMALL piece of african driftwood, val, anubias, some asparagus-fern-looking-thingy ) . Have been doing a fishy cycle -tank is in a waiting room and the kids have to see fish - with longfin danios (6 but 1 just disappeared!). Testing for ammonia and nitrite everyday: pH 8.0, ammonia never over .25 (local tap has chloramine), nitrite 0ppm, GH about 15? (don't remember, can't find the log just now), tested nitrates today - 5 ppm.

Will eventally have a very few - like 5- smaller species rift lake cichlids.
Now the cichlid questions - do smaller species move rocks around as much? Should I silicone the rocks together? (tank MUST remain balanced!) any kind of shells 'shellies' prefer?
Have researched bunches and have 'peaceful-type' in mind. As I'm hoping to get all juveniles, should I add them all at the same time?

Questions, questions

Thanks!

 

[NatakuTseng]

I have never heard or witnessed anything about riftlake cichlids being into rearranging the tank decor like Centrals or South American cichlids, so I think you'll be alright without siliconing the rocks together.

 

[~*LuvMyKribs*~]

They will dig at the gravel if it isnt too large. Rearrange it a bit. Nothing too big though. I would silicone the rocks together unless they are stacked really well. Its better safe that sorry- especially if they are large rocks that could fall and break the glass/crush the fish.

 

[tawnylane]

Thanks to both!

I did expect they would dig around in the sand/coral. I believe I may glue together sections to be alittle more stable - will let you know how it goes!