Adding Cichlids

[Becks1985]

Was wondering is it better to add all the cichlids I want at the start I have had fish in my tank till yesterday was thinking of adding 25 cichlids bout 2 inches in size each the tank is 350 litres

 

[eaglesaquarium]

The big questions are:

• what size will the cichlids grow to be?
• what kind are they?
• what was the bioload before yesterday?

 

[Becks1985]

There malawi cichlids all grow to bout 4 to 5 inches the ones that I want...

The bio load I don't know I had 4 medium sized angels. 10 neons. 7 rummynose. 5 corydoras. 4 platies. Clown loach. Panda garra loach.

I didn't really keep any of the water but I didn't touch my external filter so should still have all the good bacteria...
What you think?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

That seems like a reasonable plan.  Malawi need to be "overstocked" to reduce aggression, but the pH should be very high compared to the fish that had been in the tank previously...  You might want to consider adding some rocks and coral sand to raise the pH and kH.  Also adding some rock work will also give cover to fish that wish to get out of the fray, etc.  They will need to have some hiding places to retreat to at times.
 
 
Keeping the water isn't necessary, because the vast majority of bacteria are in the filter.
 
 
Adding them all at once is generally best, so that none of them have an established territory.  They will each find their niche in the tank.

 

[jwalser18]

That seems like a reasonable plan.  Malawi need to be "overstocked" to reduce aggression, but the pH should be very high compared to the fish that had been in the tank previously...  You might want to consider adding some rocks and coral sand to raise the pH and kH.  Also adding some rock work will also give cover to fish that wish to get out of the fray, etc.  They will need to have some hiding places to retreat to at times.
 
 
Keeping the water isn't necessary, because the vast majority of bacteria are in the filter.
 
 
Adding them all at once is generally best, so that none of them have an established territory.  They will each find their niche in the tank.

+1
 
this is going to be your best bet.

 

[Becks1985]

I added coral sand an ocean rock an some sorta black rock with white marking on it.. It's cost bout £100 for it all..
So I'm gonna wait to maybe Sunday to test the ph an all cause I due to get my fish Monday or Tuesday my ph was at 7.4 in my community tank so hopefully will raise it a bit...
When adding the rocks I tried to make as making little ways through the rocks an all...

Planning on getting
Yellow labs x5
Pseudotropheus acei x5
Cynotilapia afra x5
Red peacocks x5
Pseudotropheus demasoni or pseudotropheus saluosi x5

I prefer the demasoni but I heard there a lot more aggressive anyone know any better??

 

[Becks1985]

Anyone?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

As you're moving into specifics about the species, I'm moving this to Old World cichlids.