Looking At Keeping Cichlids

[m4tt_STiProdrive]

I'm now looking to hopefully keep cichlids at some point in the future (tropical set up at the moment and stock will be going to lfs)

my current tank was heavily planted but they have been removed and now is mostly white rock(local garden centre)and natural slate pieces a piece of drift wood with java fern will be re-homed,i'm looking this week to be adding some more rock,slate? and maybe large pebbles etc

substrate is about 1" depth of black mica sand my tank is a juwel rio 125 ltr (size according to juwel of 81 x 36 x 73cm)
current filtration consists of airstone and koralia nano 1600 powerhead as well as a fully cycled aquaone aquis 1050 series 2 external filter
bearing in mind my size and capacity of tank what types could happily be kept and stocking levels?
also would any further filteration be needed too?
this is all new to me so any help or advise from more experienced cichlid keepers would be most appreciated
thanks in advance

 

[m4tt_STiProdrive]

Ph of my water is 7.0-7.4

 

[ZoddyZod]

Ph of my water is 7.0-7.4

that's a bit low if you are looking at cichlids from the great lakes. They really need 7.8 and higher.

have you considered South or Central American cichlids?

 

[synodontismultipunctatus]

Youd struggle to house mbuna or open water cichlids in an aquarium that sort of size. There is a smaller alternative though, tanganyikan shell dwellers. These are pretty much the smallest cichlid from the african rift lake and will do fine in your aquarium.
Good fish to look at off the top of my head are
Neolamprologus multifaciatus
Neolamprologus brevis
Lamprologus occelatus
Lamprologus brevis
And neolamprologus cuadopunctatus

But wait there is yet another option!
If its the colours of the african cichlids you like the why not go for some south american dwarf cichlids, im not as clued up on them but you only have to look as far as apistogramma cacautoides to really see the potential of these kinds of fish, there are many types so its worth asking in the new world forum! If u have any q's about tanganyikans feel free to ask!
Good luck!

Oh and if you smash up some ocean rock or tuffa and put the smaller pieces in you aquarium it will increase the pH. Oh yeah and ditch the bog wood.

 

[m4tt_STiProdrive]

Thanks both of you for your replys i'll research the list of cichlids you gave me and also look to get some ocean rock hopefully soon i can get all sorted and get started