May Switch To Africans....need Suggestions

[Faythee]

Hi all. I have a 56 US Gallon Angel tank that has been a nightmare. I plan on moving some fish, rehoming others, and stripping the tank down to start over again.

I'm always admiring the Africans. Kribs and Peacocks to name a couple. Here is the thing. The tank is shaped like a cube. It is 30" long, 18" wide, and 24" tall. Just don't know if it is suitable.

My tapwater ph is already high at 7.8 - 8.0, I would need to learn how to keep the PH correct and ideas on stocking, substrate, temp etc.

That is IF a tank this size is even suitable for any of the species. Any advise would be much appreciated !

 

[dthoffsett]

I really think your tank would be more suited for some of the Lake Tangnikya cichlids rather than the Lake Malawi species. Even though it's 18" deep, being only 30" long is really too short IMO for mbuna or peacocks.

For tangs, I'd think any of the following setups would look fabulous as long as you can source them.
Tanganyika Mini-Community
Select 1 pair from each group (max of 2 pairs):
• Altolamprologus calvus or compressiceps
• Neolamprologus leleupi or cylindricus
• Julidochromis or Chalinochromis species
• Telmatochromis vittatus, bifrenatus or
brichardi


Tanganyikan Sand-Sifter Setup:
• Xenotilapia papilio or flavipinnis - 6
• Paracyprichromis brieni or nigripinnis - 8
• Altolamprologus calvus or compressiceps pair
• Phyllonemus typus - 4
Or

• Altolamprologus calvus or compressiceps pair
• Neolamprologus buescheri
• Shell dweller pair of choice -
'Lamprologus' (Shellies) brevis,
multifasciatus (group), meleagris,
ornatipinnis, ocellatus, speciosus,
similis (group), Neolamprologus signatus

 

[Faythee]

Thank you. I clicked on the links and some look really nice. I'm not sure how readily available they are though. Maybe I should go to the store, write some down and go from there.

Another question.....Do all Africans pretty much dwell near the bottom of the tank or do some swim all over ? Wondering if the top half of the tank would just look empty most of the time.

 

[Faythee]

Nevermind.....after looking into it more, this tank just isn't the right set up. Don't know what I am going to do with it.

 

[reflexhunter]

go with some shell dwellers say 6 multis try to get a couple of mated pairs or 1mto5f then when they get astablished rearange the tank put in some rock stacks and get some "inkfin"calvus x2you might have to get about 6 then sell back the other 4 once you get a pair, this is the setup that was recomended to me for my 29g tank by another guy who had done this set up before with no problems but every tank is different so just keep an eye on it ,btw get young calvus they grow pretty slow so as to not have a problem in the near future and the inkfins' are very pretty.