Cichlid Help. Newbie

[Nick16]

right, i am completely new to the whole cichlid scene.

i want to keep some but i only know the very basics. like a slight overstocking, high filtration etc. i have a few questions

1) i want to keep some of the less aggressive fish of course, e.g avoiding mbuna but i havent a clue what to get and how many etc. i like the look of aarons Copadichromis Borleyi !!

2) i know i need some special substrate (coral?) but dont know where to get it and what type

3) anyone know any good books on the keeping of cichlids, i have a book on identification but not on the keeping.


any help is great. (i hope my tank is big enough for a few (i would like about 10)

 

[Ludwig Venter]

(i hope my tank is big enough for a few (i would like about 10)

You say/ or ask, but you do not state the size of your tank???

 

[Nick16]

ah sorry appear to have forgotton to type that. its a 240L.... 63USG

 

[Ludwig Venter]

ah sorry appear to have forgotton to type that. its a 240L.... 63USG

I've said it before, & I say it again.... Peaceful cichlids will include Orange Chromides...(slightly brackish), but, IMO flexable....

 

[kj23502]

for a 55g
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php


for a 75g
http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_75g.php


Footprint matters a bit more than the height.

 

[Nick16]

cheers for the links. i understand about the footprint, try telling a proper newbie a 4 foot high tank is not the same as a 4 foot long tank!

 

[Nick16]

right, after reading alot of that, im back to square one again. i always wanted to keep keyholes as they are peaceful sometimes a little shy. but i think i would keep 3 or 4 of them if i could, to help them in confidence.

i know this is a bit un cichlid realted but would i be able to get these in a 240L tank.

4 keyholes (i prefer the shorter finned females but do i need a male?)
4 bosemani rainbows
4 Melanotaenia Praecox (dwarf rainbow)
and a small shoal of harlequins (say 8-10)

would they work at all?

thanks for all the help.

 

[kj23502]

Ask in the New World Cichlid section

 

[Nick16]

ahh some much to-ing and fro-ing.

 

[kj23502]

keyholes are new world, aren't they? I don't know a single thing about New Worlds other than convicts breed like mad

You're more likely to get answers on the last fish selection if you ask in the New World.