5Ft Cichlid Tank

[aqua monster]

Hi everyone after spending hours on the net today looking at tanks, fish and everything that goes with it i have decided to go for a 5ft by 2ft by 2ft tank and keep cichlid's.
15 or so years ago i used to keep fish and was up to date on whats worth buying and whats not...
would it be possible for someone to give me a decent list of filters,pumps,lights,gravel/sand(whats best) rocks ect...
what would be a safe number of mixed cichlid's to keep in a tank this size and would i be better to buy all things new or look out or a deal.??

Regards Aqua Monster

 

[kaivalagi]

Heelo and welcome

Have a look at my journal, link in my sig, 60"x18"x24" tank with cichlids...might give you some ideas...equipment and fish listed, sand substrate for the eartheaters and cory...

With a SA setup including Severums and Geophagus as the main fish you can't go wrong

 

[always4lora]

It doesn't say where you're at but if in the UK keep your eye on http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/

There is always bargains to be had.

Filter's you want 2 fluval/hagen fx5's , the eheim 2080's are good but for the price difference go with the fx5's
Heater's you can use 2 300watts , branding it's up you.

Stocking wise; what do you want? Like the one or two big fish/ a bunch of small fish?

 

[kaivalagi]

In case you don't read my journal I thought I better give you my suggestions on equipment, a little different from Always4lora's but I figured contrasting view might help you pick what's best for you

For filters I'd recommend 2 x Tetratec ex1200, less than £100 each, really good value as they come with everything in them media wise and I have no complaints so far...I would also go external on the heaters, I am using 2 x Hydor ETH...fantastic heaters!

FX5's are well rated and are very very powerful and LARGE, in almost everyway they are awesome...BUT the default hoses on them IMHO are a design mistake, they're annoying as they are ribbed and can't be divided to use with external heaters / UV sterilizers etc unless you buy connectors at a silly sum...you could replace the hosing to be able to use external devices though...this is the one reason I didn't go for them, otherwise I was sold on them! Ehiems in my opinion are very nice but overly rated, they are well built and are known to be long lasting as they've been around with the same design for a long time, but they're expensive for what you get...there is no reason why the Tetratec or Fluval filters wouldn't be as good in every aspect, it's just they haven't been around for long enough to have the track record...

I personally think all the filters mentioned so far are good, but each have thier own pros and cons, I ended up going with the ex1200's and couldn't have been happier with my choice.

Most importantly I'd say go external with everything you can such as filters and heaters so you are left with all the tank space you could possibly have!

 

[aqua monster]

Hi guys thankyou for all your info..im from uk (Bath)

I would like 15 fish not to sure which cichlid's can go together but i do like the yellow/black/blue coloured ones..sorry dont know there real name yet as i only started looking at getting another tank a few weeks back.Is there any cichlid's not to buy or put together with other one's..?

I like what you guys have done with the sand and rock look with not many plants but befor i think about rocks and pretty looking things i want to get the right stuff to do the job 110% and think whis i had brougth that filter ect...

be sure when i do buy a tank i will upload pics as i go and any ideas or info would be more than welcome..good or bad...

You might of been the same but i have this pic in my head of how it will look but i dont know it untill i see it...does that make sence..?

I did read your 4 pages and it was some good reading and help.

Regards Aqua Monster

 

[kaivalagi]

Sounds like you want an African Cichlid setup to me? I don't know much about that to be fair, high pH lots of rocks, brightly coloured slightly aggressive fish etc

Some of the species are listed here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/forum/41-cichlids-african/
Journals of peoples African tanks are here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/forum/110-journals-and-photographs/

Hope that helps

 

[fish_tank0311]

Post some pictures broooooo!

 

[kaivalagi]

Some good pics for member's African tanks can be found here: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/169788-members-african-cichlid-tanks/

 

[aqua monster]

Hi guys thank you all for your info and links to other sites and pics...

I have decided to go for the Juwel vison 450 tank not brought it yet as still deciding to go new or grab a bargin 2nd hand..only trouble is it had to be dark wood to fit in with other house old objects which is not the end of the world but limits my 2nd hand buying.

If any ones knows of any good tanks please give us a shout..

 

[kaivalagi]

Have a look at ND Aquatics online, custom made tanks that are cheaper than the Juwel although you will need all the bits to go in (filter, heater, lights) so probably work out more expensive in the long run although you will have all the things you want. Or if you can find a local stockist Seabray are nice too, that's what mine is...10mm glass all around, nice glass top and the cabinet has a lot of finishes to choice from.