A Few Questions

[K.J.]

Oh boy, never posted in this section before but I'm curious. Depending on how my bettas go (that is, if they fail miserably and I never do it again) I might use the 55g growout tank for africans. It came with a 60 gallon HOB filter pumping 330 gph (this is extremely low for a filter for this tank, right?) what would I need to upgrade to? Not really wanting to spend a bunch of money on a new filter. Lol, I could add 2 10 gallon hob filters and that adds another like 200 gph. Anyway, secondly what are good options for this tank, and are there any plecos to go with it? I can't decide on bright and colorful or natural and low key. Help What would you choose?

 

[dthoffsett]

Welcome to the cichlid section! For a 55gal tank you are going to want a total gph of 450-600. Aquaclear hobs are great, relatively inexpensive, powerful, and you can add your own media (or use what's included).

Bristlenose plecs are great for mbuna, they are hardy enough to ignore the cichlids occasionally picking on them, and do a great job eating algae, though your cichlids will help with that.

Here are a couple of great links on stocking, and setting up a mbuna tank. Also, check out our members tanks to get inspiration. And feel free to ask anymore questions you might have.

http/www.fishforums.net/Members-African-...ks-t169788.html
http/www.fishforums.net/The-Mbuna-Aquarium-t27706.html
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php