Any ideas for a 26 gallon?

[Dooner]

26 gallon tank, my tap water is moderately hard and alkaline (pH of about 8)

I'd like either 1 fish in the tank or a species tank.

That's why i was looking especially into Lamprologus similis...I am very intrigued by them, both looks and cool behavior, and the conditions of my tap sound perfect for them and the tank size appropriate. All I'd have to do is change my substrate to sand. However, are they going to spawn and spawn to the point where i can control them? Also, how easily could I find any to buy? I got the impression online that you have to order them from specific breeders.

I was also looking into yellow labs, but I don't know- they sound like a lot of work, and the shell-dwellers sound much more interesting.

Any suggestions?

 

[Dooner]

Ph of 8, not 8) haha

 

[freshcichlid]

if you wanted a species you can do some ps. saulosi ! small and very nice looking

 

[freddyk]

They are great fish, but if you can't find them there are many other shelldwellers that are great too. Multifasciatus is almost the same as Similis, and usually easier to find. This size tank makes a far better shell dweller setup then mbuna.

 

[Dooner]

Multifasciatus sounds good...

But will they still overrun the tank? I'm concerned because I read a story about a guy who kept the similis and ended up having to sell 600 fry in 3 months. Is there anything I can do to keep them from doing this?

I have another concern too, though it may sound very amateur, how do you filter sand tanks? Will power filters suck up the sand? Can you use siphon tubes to clean the sand at all? How does that work?

Thanks guys! I hope someday I can give the advice.

 

[wrs]

you should want them to have fry, think of all the money! Those are rare fish.

 

[AmberC]

No filters will not suck up the sand and when you syphone.. you just hold it a few inches above the sand and do the top. The syphone will suck the sand up.

 

[freddyk]

I have another concern too, though it may sound very amateur, how do you filter sand tanks? Will power filters suck up the sand? Can you use siphon tubes to clean the sand at all?

Hanging filters will suck up any sand floating around, and it can damage the impeller, I shut my filters down during maintenance.

But will they still overrun the tank? I'm concerned because I read a story about a guy who kept the similis and ended up having to sell 600 fry in 3 months. Is there anything I can do to keep them from doing this?

In a species tank they're going to breed. I can assure you that you won't have 600 fry in 3 months, but they will raise broods, and they make good parents. I'd think they'd be pretty easy to get rid of, as pets or feeders.