50lt tank.

[Leot]

Hi, I am reasonably new to keeping fish, however I have done alot of reading and am keen to keep some dwarf cichlids (all the cool characteristics/intelligence without the monster size)

I have a 50lt tank and was thinking of putting a pair of Dwarf Flag Acara's in it as the main inhabitants, along with some dither fish (for the top of the water) and maybe some loaches. I plan to well plant the tank (havnt setit up yet all I have atm is a tank+gravel+ug filter) and am going to purchase a light/heater Hang on filter.

So basically I am wondering If my tank is big enough and what sort of fish might be good to keep with the Flag Acara's. I am thinkng Zebra Danios + Kuhli Loaches ATM.

Any advice for a beginner would be good

 

[Mo99]

Hiya,
you've got a good idea already, Dwarfs do like some caves, and lots of plants, and good water conditions, i have no experiance with Zebra Danios, but belive that they will be good with the dwarfs, i recall that teh water GH would have to be on the low side as thats what they like... Kuhli Loaches are prone to illness when moved , so quarentine them before you put them in the tank..

 

[Leot]

BTW, just to avoid confusion the cichlid im talking about is Laetacara curviceps.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Cheese Specialist]

When you mention dither fish, are you looking to breed them? If so, I would not add any bottom feeders as these are seen as more a threat to the fry.

I am in the middle of setting up a krib breeding tank and I am only having 2 female mollies in with them.

 

[Leot]

As far as I am aware the term 'Dither fish' refers to fish that are highly active that are added to a tank in the hopes of bringing out the personalities of the other more timid fish.

I am not setting this tank up as a breeding tank, nor trying to breed them, this is my only tank and I am a beginner, however i would like to try starting out with dwarf cichlids, preferably the friendly kind so i can put a few other fishies in there with them

If they breed I will try to raise the fry, then give them away once they get too big and start overcrowding the tank.

 

[methical]

Danios are awesome

they would do pretty well in a 50l tank