Cichlid Beginner

[S Herbert]

Hi,

I am totally new to fish keeping so would like some advice on a beginner cichlid tank. I am interested in cichlids as we want something different form the norm and love the personalities of these fish. Firstly the type of fish:
I have been recommended the following:

in 200Ltank(50gallons, sorry im in the UK we do litres )

4 angelfish ( Pterophyllum scalare)
1 pair of Aequidens curviceps
1 pair of Aequidens maronii (Keyhole cichlid)
6 Ancistrus (plecos)

Are all plecos 'suckers' or am i being totally stupid?It just seems that 6 of these would be too many. any suggestions on replacements for some of these?
This is our preferred set up as my OH loves angelfish, but there are 2 other options, we have been recommended for beginners:

30gallon tank:
either:
1 pair of Archocentrus sajica (T-Bar cichlid)
1 pair of convicts (Archocentrus nigrofasciatus)
2 Hypostomus (plecos)
OR
1 pair of kribs (Pelvicachromis pulcher)
1 pair of African butterfly cichlids (Anomalochromis thomasi)
1 pair of Egyptian mouth-brooders (Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor)
4 Ancistrus (plecos)


Any help suggestions or critisism much welcomed

Thanks Sarah

(PS have posted this in the african section aswell but was told it would be best to post here too)

 

[saboy]

If you want a peacefull community then I would not recoomend pairs , as agression can build and end up in dead fishies , when breeding

Dont get 6 plecs, they get big, 1 is enough I think,

for the 30 gallon, its ok if you have proly 1 pair(go for the sajica's they are nice!), male and female, but then have some fast fish like tetra's, and maybe one small plec

Convicts cichlids can KILL, and breed like rabbits, I know how rabbits breed, my back garden is full of them , the wild ones, !!


Sajica cichlids are much less agro, so i reccommend them rather than convicts, and IMO i think are much more colourfull


For your 200l, go for the angels, They are NICE ! but im not sure how angels will be with another pair,

I will let others to comment further, and maybe correct me with what i think !

 

[brewyn]

have posted reply on your thread post * African Cichlids*