Need Advice...new 20gal Dwarf Cichlid Tank

[johnnyr]

Hi Guys and Gals,

I'm re-doing my 20 gallon, and have decided to try and go with some dwarf cichlids. I just have a few questions:

1) I would like to go with sand, and I love watching cichlids suck up the sand, and spit it back out. (when looking for food or making a cove) My question is, will most dwarf cichlids do this as well? (i.e. Rams)

2) I know the pros and cons of live plants, but for this tank and its inhabitants, what would be better? Live or fake?

3) Can you suggest some tankmates (or certain species of dwarf cichlids) for my set up?

4) I would also like to keep some large bamboo shrimp in the tank as well, do you think this is feasable?

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[nadajdui]

This is just from my short(so far) personal experience with dwarf cichlids, like Apistogramma, but tetras are generally a very good tank mate for them. My Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid completely ignores them.

 

[kribensis12]

i think that your dwarfs will do fine with sand, mine love it. If i were you i would get alot a lot of plants, live is always better. I can suggest through experience that kribensis, coccatos( i know i didnt spell it right), and good size tetras and mollies will go well with any kind of dwarf.Good luck. If you can i would like to see a good pic.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

i think that your dwarfs will do fine with sand, mine love it. If i were you i would get alot a lot of plants, live is always better. I can suggest through experience that kribensis, coccatos( i know i didnt spell it right), and good size tetras and mollies will go well with any kind of dwarf.Good luck. If you can i would like to see a good pic.

Well I wouldn't add any mollies as these like brackish better. Add lots of real plants, rocks and hiding places. I would do a cichlid only community tank as temperment may vary depending on fish and tetras may be harrast. I would stock with apistos, bolivian rams, german blue rams, gold rams, cockatoo cichlids and maybe one keyhole cichlid (depending on number of other fish).

 

[RadaR]

I would stock with apistos, bolivian rams, german blue rams, gold rams, cockatoo cichlids and maybe one keyhole cichlid (depending on number of other fish).

All of those Cichlids in a 20G!?
Or are you saying that that is a list of the fish that can be chosen for this tank?