Cichlid Tank Project

[Ashy_]

Well i think i want to start a cichlid project so i want to stat a topic about it where i can post how i'm getting on and making sure i'm not going anywhere wrong.

I currently have a 110l tank, it's just short of 3 feet. I've read the keeping mbuna guide and it says have a tank at least 3ft but i'm not buying another one so it'll have to do.

Firsty in Tesco they are selling 10kg of play sand for £3, can i use this?
Also i like the look of ocean rock, apparently it help with the pH?
Filtration - No idea about this, Seen a Fluval 4 on ebay, does 200l or something, internal, sound good? External filters, i don't even know what they are.

Heater - Standard i guess?

Livestock - Not completely thought it up yet but i have plenty of time, i like the look of rams, convicts, firemouths. TBH they all look fantastic.

Cycling - Once i get the rock and sand i'll start this, reading the fishless cycling it looks like a few people have problems with it, am i bad in wanting to do fish cycling? But will i need to buy alot of fish for the size of the tank? What happens when they cycling is done, do they become cichlid food?

I currently have a 5g community tank, shal i start putting my water change water in the new tank?

Any thats all for now, i'll be adding to this when i've done things.

 

[Davo86]

I currently have a 110l tank, it's just short of 3 feet. I've read the keeping mbuna guide and it says have a tank at least 3ft but i'm not buying another one so it'll have to do.

Livestock - Not completely thought it up yet but i have plenty of time, i like the look of rams, convicts, firemouths. TBH they all look fantastic.

mbuna are Old World/African cichlids yes, but 110L definitely won't do for them,

rams, Convicts and Firemouths are New World/American Cichlids, one pair of any of these would be fine

 

[youngfisher]

Ok I have learnt a lot about Cichlids lately, as my dad has a tank and im in the process of one. (Cichlid Tank)

-You can use play sand, Just clean it good.
-I have LOADS! of oceon rock in the tanks, the cichlids love it. And there not affected by high ph.
-I think you are better with an External filter yes. Although I do have an internal for mine which is around the same size as yours, but I think im upgrading soon.
-Heater, yes just like tropical fish themselfs.
-You will have to research each fish to learn about them, there agression etc. You don't want world war in your tank, as most of the cichlids are pritty agressive.
-Please do NOT! do a fish-in cycle with cichlids. IMO they are the worst fish you could do it with, Message Tom_os I have purchased some filter sponge off him. He will post it to you, then you just put that in your filter and it speeds your cycling up a hell of a lot.
-You dont want ALOT of fish as they are agressive.
-And about the water from the 5g community tank, its not the water that needs 'cycling' its the filter sponge. However you could around half of your filter sponge from your filter, and put it in the new filter as it will speed up cycling.

Hope this helps. Im still learning about cichlids aswell. There amazing.

I will try and help you out as much as possible

 

[Ashy_]

Thanks, i never even thought of the American cichlids. I wasn't going to use cichlids for cycling, more like a load of swordtails or something like that, goldfish?

I might stick with the 1 filter then as my colelction grow get a second. I'll buy the sand now

 

[youngfisher]

Goldfish are coldwater

And not alot of tropicals can deal with the high PH.
Just do fishless cycle

 

[Ashy_]

Think i'll go for American then, mt LFS is open til 8 tonight so i'll pop in for a chat and look at their rams.
Guess this topic is in the wrong section now.