Cichlids

[AquaBarb]

Thinking about adventuring in to the world of Cichlids this year.

I want to start researching into whats required etc but thought id ask a few Q's to narrow it down a bit for myself.

Which species would be ideal to start off with? I have moderately hard water GH 14 dgh with a PH of 7.4. Mbuna's

Are there any plants that can survive with Cichlids? And what rock/stone is best to use?

Cheers

 

[Colin_T]

The GH is a bit soft for African Rift Lake cichlids and a bit hard for South American cichlids. You can either mix rain water or reverse osmosis water with the tap water (50/50 mix) to make it softer for the South American fish. Or add some Rift Lake conditioner to increase the hardness for Rift Lake cichlids.

If you keep South Americans then fine smooth gravel or sand. If you keep Rift Lake cichlids, use a marine sand or something that buffers the water.

Most common aquarium plants can be kept with cichlids but some of them might dig some plants up. South American dwarf cichlids are less likely to dig the plants up.
Floating plants can be used in tanks where fish excavate the substrate and rip the plants up.

Mbunas are not the best fish to start with due to their aggression.
Go to a pet shop and make a list of fish you like, then post it here. We can go through it and say which fish can be kept together and which ones to avoid. Do the same with plants.

 

[Retired Viking]

I had African Cichlids years ago and they would constantly uproot my plastic plants

 

[AquaBarb]

The GH is a bit soft for African Rift Lake cichlids and a bit hard for South American cichlids. You can either mix rain water or reverse osmosis water with the tap water (50/50 mix) to make it softer for the South American fish. Or add some Rift Lake conditioner to increase the hardness for Rift Lake cichlids.

If you keep South Americans then fine smooth gravel or sand. If you keep Rift Lake cichlids, use a marine sand or something that buffers the water.

Most common aquarium plants can be kept with cichlids but some of them might dig some plants up. South American dwarf cichlids are less likely to dig the plants up.
Floating plants can be used in tanks where fish excavate the substrate and rip the plants up.

Mbunas are not the best fish to start with due to their aggression.
Go to a pet shop and make a list of fish you like, then post it here. We can go through it and say which fish can be kept together and which ones to avoid. Do the same with plants.

Much appreciated Colin ill get a list together

 

[AquaBarb]

I had African Cichlids years ago and they would constantly uproot my plastic plants

What species where they? Did you enjoy keeping them other than uprooting your plants lol

 

[Retired Viking]

They were rescues I took in, 8 young adults. It was many years ago, my daughter was in college and someone was going to get rid of them so she brought them home for me. I had 6 fish tanks at the time and had taken in other rescues before. They were a shade of white with black stripes. I enjoyed them until they took over my 55 gallon tank. I had to remove my other fish and only had a pelco that they left alone.Then they starting having fry which at first was fun to watch but got out of hand. All the young were colored like the adults.They were nice looking fish. I had made the mistake of having fake breeding grass in the tank

 

[AquaBarb]

Hi Guy's,

These are the Cichlids i like. Im drawn to the blue/yellow species mostly
Sorry if ive spelt any wrong, its like learning an Ancient Language

*Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi "lemon Jake"
*Aulonocara Stuartgranti "Blue Neon"
*Aulonocara Stuartgranti "flavescent Peacock"
*Placidochromis Lalo Reef
*Lethrinops Red cap
*Labidochromis Caerulevs (yellow lab)
*Pseudotropheus Acei

Like i say the Cichlid worlds all new to me so im not sure whats suitable or what can go with what. Not expecting all these to go together but its just a list of what i like.

Could i ask what id need to provided water params wise, temp, space etc please.

Tank size will be 5/6ft wide 450/650 litres

Many thanks

 

[Colin_T]

GH between 300 & 400ppm (300-350ppm would be fine).
pH between 7.4 & 8.5 (7.6-8.0 is ideal)
Temperature between 20-30C (24-26C is ideal).

If you have a 6ft x 2ft x 2ft tank they would be fine. You could have a few of them in a 4ft x 2ft x 2ft tank.

They are all from Lake Malawi in Africa. If you want to breed them, only keep one species of Aulonocara otherwise they will cross breed with each other. The male Aulonocaras have the colour and the females are silver to grey in colour.
The Aulonocaras might also hybridise with the Lethrinops and Placidochromis.

I have never heard of

Lethrinops Red cap so I googled them. WOW, Nice fish.​

 

[AquaBarb]

GH between 300 & 400ppm (300-350ppm would be fine).
pH between 7.4 & 8.5 (7.6-8.0 is ideal)
Temperature between 20-30C (24-26C is ideal).

If you have a 6ft x 2ft x 2ft tank they would be fine. You could have a few of them in a 4ft x 2ft x 2ft tank.

They are all from Lake Malawi in Africa. If you want to breed them, only keep one species of Aulonocara otherwise they will cross breed with each other. The male Aulonocaras have the colour and the females are silver to grey in colour.
The Aulonocaras might also hybridise with the Lethrinops and Placidochromis.

I have never heard of
Lethrinops Red cap so I googled them. WOW, Nice fish.

Very helpful Colin thank you

Red caps a beauty probably my favourite of the bunch.

So if they are from lake malawi i would need to add some Rift Lake conditioner to increase the hardness and use a sand to buffer my water?? Is that right Colin? Think my waters around 230/240ppm at the moment

 

[Colin_T]

Yes, you will have to add some Rift Lake conditioner and use beach sand or some sort of substrate that helps raise the pH. You won't need much Rift Lake conditioner, just enough to get it over 300ppm.

 

[AquaBarb]

Yes, you will have to add some Rift Lake conditioner and use beach sand or some sort of substrate that helps raise the pH. You won't need much Rift Lake conditioner, just enough to get it over 300ppm.

Happy days pleased that their harder water Cichlids i like. Easier for me to sort my water out than trying to get it softer.

 

[Colin_T]

be careful when buying Rift Lake conditioners. Some are good and some not so good. The main ingredients should be calcium and magnesium chloride, then calcium and magnesium carbonates/ bicarbonates. If you find some online, post a link here and we can check it out before you buy it.

 

[AquaBarb]

@Colin_T

Im looking at the Lethrinops family of cichlids
Red cap
Yellow collar
marginatus
albus kande blue fin

Think i could have a mixture of these in a 5/6ft tank?

If so is it best to get a mix of male/females or could i do all males

 

[Colin_T]

males only unless you want to breed them. If you want to breed them, only have 1 species per tank.

 

[AquaBarb]

males only unless you want to breed them. If you want to breed them, only have 1 species per tank.

Thats great thank you Colin

Would you say they need a certain group size of each cichlid specie or could i do a couple of each?