advice on african set up

[gus_73]

Am looking at setting up cichlid tank, after research have narrowed it down to a rift lake set up, but unsure whether to go mbuna or tanganyikan. Was looking at 55 gallon tank but put deposit down on 80 gallon one today ( couldn't help myself ), and just wanted some advice.
I will be running an internal and external filter and will be using a lot of rocks, especially if I go mbuna route, if I go tang. I will do half shell and half rock dwellers, with sand/crushed coral substrate.
I want to keep smallish fish in larger numbers and I would like to do just use fish from the lake, so this rules out rainbowfish as dithers.
Now here is the bit I am stuck on a lot of the books seem to indicate that you can only keep cichlids in small numbers ( I have seen numbers as low as 12 fish for my size tank ), and what fish can you use to fill the top/mid section of the tank as the cichlids and catfish will mostly stick to bottom area.,
Any advice at all will be great, cheers gus

 

[wrs]

well, you should over stock Mbunas. Tangs usually need to be understocked.

You definetly can have more than 12 fish as long as you dont do huge ones.

 

[Sunny.C]

Yes catfish like to stick to the bottom, but keep in mind that cichlids also like to stick to the bottom as they are hunters and like digging.
http/www.fishprofiles.com
This site will give you a good guide line on what you can have.

 

[G_Sharky]

Why don't you turn it into an all lake tank.... keep Haps, and peacocks and some mild tempered or small mbuna....you could also add a couple of lake tang fish....check out my sig, I have a 75 gallon with 26 fish in total...that's with 2 filtration system(rena fisltar xp2 canister and AC300) and water change once a week....no problem so far....

 

[keane]

Hi, gus_73

try these links as well. These are what i have been basing my Mbuna community building on.....

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_75g.php

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php

hope this helps

steve B)

 

[Ferris]

I'd go for Mbuna, you won't regret it. Mbuna need to be kept relatively overstocked to curb the agression, which means more fish . The variety of colours available means you can have a stunning tank to rival even a marine tank, just look up Pseudtropheus Demasoni if you want an example of a colourful Mbuna. There is of course the problem of agression and you need to choose fish combinations carefully, the links thebaldranger gave you are good and look at the pinned articles at the top of this forum. If you have any really specific questions post them here and look out for reponses from freddyk, our resident Mbuna expert (amongst other things).

Hope this helps

 

[gus_73]

Cheers some very useful info and links, hit problem today in that none of my local LFS stock cichlids ( although found a place that had a mix tank ), assiustant spent 40 minutes with me telling me to go for a marine set up. She seemed to know her stuff and said they do not have much call for cichlids as few people are prepared to set up a proper tank for them. I will be looking further a field next week as have seen a few localish places on internet, as would still love to do a rift set up. Hopefully if I can get hold of the fish I will be a regular visitor to the forum, cheers gus

 

[gus_73]

Hi again just noticed that Ferris is from Manchester, any tips on good stores for Cichlids, seen one advertised in Bolton which claims they have good selection going therte next week, if you know of any others in Manchester area would be most grateful cheers gus