Help finding cichlids for new tank !

[freshcichlid]

i am trying to learn some things here and i dont know much at all so i need help
right now i have a tank that is, i think, 40 gallons, its ( 36long x 20deep x 16tall ). in this tank i want to make it a cichlid tank. i am looking into it and i want a collection of smaller cichlids, i do not want rams or peacocks. i am interested in "yellow labs" and "Daktari" cichlids and "yellow top mbamba", what i really want are half all yellow cichlids and half blue on blue striped cichlids, some with the yellow top and some without. i want as many as i can get but i dont want them to get big, no more than about 4". I also want ones that will eat brine shrimp, and occassionly cucumber or zuccini. once this is figured out i need to know how many i can fit in this size tank. i know this seems like a lot but all my fish stores say a different thing at every place, so i am comming here !
thanks a lot !!

 

[freddyk]

Look at a combination of Labidochromis Caeruleus and Cynotilapia Afra - you'll get your yellow and you'll get your blue and both these species will handle the brine shrimp without trouble. Look at aiming for about 6-8 labs and 4-6 afra, starting off with more juveniles to start to ensure decent male:female ratios. In a 3 foot tank you may only be able to hold a single male Afra. Your stocking levels depends on the filtration on the tank and your maintenance routine so it's impossible to give accurate numbers, only rough estimates.

Choose either Lab. Caeruleus or Lab Mbamba, not both - different labs can be very aggressive toward each other and will crossbreed. Pseudotropheus Daktari is fine but you need to be more careful about the brine shrimp.

 

[freshcichlid]

hey thanks for that help, it really was the best yet.
i saw you said 6-8 labs and 4-6 afra, so i can 10-14ish total fish ? and why more labs when they are the larger of the two, just curious i dont know much ! is it possible to have maybe 4 yellow labs and 6 afra's ?
i have my tank that i am about to start cycling, i have a 40-60gallon filter that looks like the filter on the bottom of this picture..

, i have a 10" bubble stone that lays under the gravel and a 20" bubble stick that sticks to the glass, thats all that i have to filter/move my water around with. do you think that this is a suitable setup? i am looking for a new filter because the one i have is old and noisy, would you have any pref. on filters, a bio-wheel, undergravel, the one i have now, or an internal filter? whats bst for cichlids ?
thanks a lot. this is such a great help to me !

 

[freddyk]

Labs tend to dwell at deeper levels in the wild and live in groups of males and females - a pretty unique trait among mbuna. They're at their best in numbers. Although they're physically smaller Afras tend to be more aggressive and active. 6:6 ratio at least, IMO.

The Emp 400 is a nice filter, it should do the job. If you find it's not quite doing the job as the fish grow you can always add something else.

 

[freshcichlid]

Which is the best filter for my 40 gallon freshwater tank? thanks !PetCo Filters

 

[keane]

Which is the best filter for my 40 gallon freshwater tank? thanks !PetCo Filters

rather than trawl though all of those ...what you look for in a filter is a turnover per hour of around 7 - 10 times your tank capacity, i.e. for your 40 gallon you are looking at a filter that has a turnover of anything from 280 - 400 gallons per hour. (I think I am right on this anyway!!)

Also brand. It is better not to cut costs on this as it will end up costing you more in the long run .

Good brands (IMHO) are: -

Eheim
Fluval
Aquaclear
Emporer
Penguin

Other people on here may have different views but I would suggest an external canister such as the Eheim or the Fluval, rather than a HOB or internal.

hope this helps.

steve

 

[freshcichlid]

alright, i getting the 350gph bio-wheel, now can i have 4 yellow labs and 6 afra's in my 40 gallon ? and if so what other tank mates can i get ? i wanted to get some cories but were told not to. can i get a ropesnake ? i want something like and eel or loach.

 

[Violent J]

You can get a clown loach, i have 2 in my tank along with 9 other cichlids and they are doing fine. The loaches and cichlids hang out together.

 

[freshcichlid]

A clown loach, like one ? can i get two ! ?

 

[freddyk]

Clown loaches get very big, do best in groups, and they are not suitable for your tank.

Go with the catfish idea and see if you can some Synodontis petricola - very cool little catfish that would do well.

5 Labs, 5 Afra, and 5 Petricola would make a very nice tank.

 

[freshcichlid]

im thinking 4 labs and 6 afra's. i am not sure i completely like those cats, i had some pictus before and they were alright, but i am now looking for something else, haha i dont know what, i want to get a bristlenose pleco, but i dont know what else to get. any other good ideas ? thanks
and just to know, why exactly wont cories go with cichlids ?
So what about a Raphel catfish, getting a pair of those ?

 

[freddyk]

Cichlids are very active and aggressive, and share the same territory as the laid back, peaceful corys that won't stand a chance.

Raphaels should work fine

 

[freshcichlid]

awsome so here is the list :

4 yellow labs
6 afra's
2 raphaels
1 pleco, not sure yet
1 snail

 

[freshcichlid]

so now i have a big decision, gravel or sand ! ?

i have a black tank, what do i get, black sand or blue and black gravel
black or blue background

 

[freshcichlid]

i have decided on black sand, now black or blue background ?