New Guy Here With A Few Questions....

[Hero]

I guess I'll start with a tank description. Hope I don't get flamed for this. I have a 10 gallon tank with 1 x 5" rope fish, 1 electric yellow lab, and 1 neon orange looking cichlid (know what it is?), a figure 8 puffer and a baby (sp)placastomus. Im using a 10 gallon Whisper pump with a 'bio filter.' Im going to the store tommorow to purchase an 'inside the tank' pump for a 20 gallon tank I just filled. I hope within a couple days to have all the fish moved to the 20gl. Right now they are on a diet of Tropical Flake food, krill, bloodworms (once a week, I know the 'bloat' issue) and beefheart. There is a big plastic rock look alike in the middle with a couple fake plants. I pulled out the live plants because they were not aquatic and began to rot in the tank. Not to mention the cichlids had a field day uprooting them and tearing the leaves off. I just found out that the 10 lbs of gravel is insufficient and that i should use 1 and a half pounds per gallon. Right? The tank has been running for about 8-9 days now. I have been doing 25% water changes every other day due to ammonia spikes. Is this because low gravel or because the tank is still cycling?

What is mbuna? Can't find a decent def. anywhere.

What do I see sand in all of the member cichlid tanks and not any gravel? Preference? Benefits?

I most certainly want to get a freshwater cichlid tank up and running learning as much as I can about the process and how cycling, tank maint. and water chemistry work before starting on a second tank. Any info or help you can offer is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Kyle

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I guess I'll start with a tank description. Hope I don't get flamed for this. I have a 10 gallon tank with 1 x 5" rope fish, 1 electric yellow lab, and 1 neon orange looking cichlid (know what it is?), a figure 8 puffer and a baby (sp)placastomus. Im using a 10 gallon Whisper pump with a 'bio filter.' Im going to the store tommorow to purchase an 'inside the tank' pump for a 20 gallon tank I just filled. I hope within a couple days to have all the fish moved to the 20gl. Right now they are on a diet of Tropical Flake food, krill, bloodworms (once a week, I know the 'bloat' issue) and beefheart. There is a big plastic rock look alike in the middle with a couple fake plants. I pulled out the live plants because they were not aquatic and began to rot in the tank. Not to mention the cichlids had a field day uprooting them and tearing the leaves off. I just found out that the 10 lbs of gravel is insufficient and that i should use 1 and a half pounds per gallon. Right? The tank has been running for about 8-9 days now. I have been doing 25% water changes every other day due to ammonia spikes. Is this because low gravel or because the tank is still cycling?

What is mbuna? Can't find a decent def. anywhere.

What do I see sand in all of the member cichlid tanks and not any gravel? Preference? Benefits?

I most certainly want to get a freshwater cichlid tank up and running learning as much as I can about the process and how cycling, tank maint. and water chemistry work before starting on a second tank. Any info or help you can offer is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Kyle

Gravel has nothing to do with cycling, unless you have an under gravel filter.

But anyway, you have some SERIOUS stocking ussues.

Most plecostomus grow very big, the puffer will tear chunks out of your other fish, and cichlids grow large as well.

If you could, return the fish or rehome them in a larger tank, but better yet return them, do a fishless cycle, and get some smaller fish.

 

[Hero]

Gravel has nothing to do with cycling, unless you have an under gravel filter.But anyway, you have some SERIOUS stocking ussues.Most plecostomus grow very big, the puffer will tear chunks out of your other fish, and cichlids grow large as well.If you could, return the fish or rehome them in a larger tank, but better yet return them, do a fishless cycle, and get some smaller fish.

Everything in the tank is a baby though... I understand its still a stocking issue. I need someone to explain to me the rules of stocking. I looked at some of the member cichlid tanks picks and it seems like there are crap loads of fish in some of those tanks. If I give the rope fish to a good home... won;t the 20gl be a good home for 2 baby cichlids a figure 8 puffer and a plecostomus for at least 3 months until I can buy something bigger???It would be nice if you could anwser some of my other basic questions. Not just tell me what I know...PS. I monitor fish behavior heavily (love it!) and as of right now the puffure keeps to himself... no problems yet.1 more question.What tank size is the minimum for 4 lake malaki cichlids?

 

[TylerFerretLord]

Gravel has nothing to do with cycling, unless you have an under gravel filter.But anyway, you have some SERIOUS stocking ussues.Most plecostomus grow very big, the puffer will tear chunks out of your other fish, and cichlids grow large as well.If you could, return the fish or rehome them in a larger tank, but better yet return them, do a fishless cycle, and get some smaller fish.

Everything in the tank is a baby though... I understand its still a stocking issue. I need someone to explain to me the rules of stocking. I looked at some of the member cichlid tanks picks and it seems like there are crap loads of fish in some of those tanks. If I give the rope fish to a good home... won;t the 20gl be a good home for 2 baby cichlids a figure 8 puffer and a plecostomus for at least 3 months until I can buy something bigger???It would be nice if you could anwser some of my other basic questions. Not just tell me what I know...PS. I monitor fish behavior heavily (love it!) and as of right now the puffure keeps to himself... no problems yet.1 more question.What tank size is the minimum for 4 lake malaki cichlids?

A plecostomus (especially a common) can grow very quickly, even in a small tank. A basic stocking rule is 1 inch of fish per gallon, and you use the adult size of the fish, and not the size it currently is.

Those cichlid tanks are so heavily stocked because cichlids are very aggressive fish and the large amount of them spreads out the aggression.

You should never buy a fish planning on getting a bigger tank later on. Something could come up, and you'll have a cramped tank.

I don't know much about cichlids, unfortunately, so I can't answer the minimum tank size question.

The reason you see sand in cichlid tanks is because they like to dig.

 

[Hero]

Gravel has nothing to do with cycling, unless you have an under gravel filter.But anyway, you have some SERIOUS stocking ussues.Most plecostomus grow very big, the puffer will tear chunks out of your other fish, and cichlids grow large as well.If you could, return the fish or rehome them in a larger tank, but better yet return them, do a fishless cycle, and get some smaller fish.

Everything in the tank is a baby though... I understand its still a stocking issue. I need someone to explain to me the rules of stocking. I looked at some of the member cichlid tanks picks and it seems like there are crap loads of fish in some of those tanks. If I give the rope fish to a good home... won;t the 20gl be a good home for 2 baby cichlids a figure 8 puffer and a plecostomus for at least 3 months until I can buy something bigger???It would be nice if you could anwser some of my other basic questions. Not just tell me what I know...PS. I monitor fish behavior heavily (love it!) and as of right now the puffure keeps to himself... no problems yet.1 more question.What tank size is the minimum for 4 lake malaki cichlids?

A plecostomus (especially a common) can grow very quickly, even in a small tank. A basic stocking rule is 1 inch of fish per gallon, and you use the adult size of the fish, and not the size it currently is.

Those cichlid tanks are so heavily stocked because cichlids are very aggressive fish and the large amount of them spreads out the aggression.

You should never buy a fish planning on getting a bigger tank later on. Something could come up, and you'll have a cramped tank.

I don't know much about cichlids, unfortunately, so I can't answer the minimum tank size question.

The reason you see sand in cichlid tanks is because they like to dig.

Ok well the pleco and the rope rish will be finding new home. I will deff plan ahead next time on tank size.

Is there anyone else who can anwser the other 20 questions i have asked?

 

[Hero]

Gravel has nothing to do with cycling, unless you have an under gravel filter.But anyway, you have some SERIOUS stocking ussues.Most plecostomus grow very big, the puffer will tear chunks out of your other fish, and cichlids grow large as well.If you could, return the fish or rehome them in a larger tank, but better yet return them, do a fishless cycle, and get some smaller fish.

Everything in the tank is a baby though... I understand its still a stocking issue. I need someone to explain to me the rules of stocking. I looked at some of the member cichlid tanks picks and it seems like there are crap loads of fish in some of those tanks. If I give the rope fish to a good home... won;t the 20gl be a good home for 2 baby cichlids a figure 8 puffer and a plecostomus for at least 3 months until I can buy something bigger???It would be nice if you could anwser some of my other basic questions. Not just tell me what I know...PS. I monitor fish behavior heavily (love it!) and as of right now the puffure keeps to himself... no problems yet.1 more question.What tank size is the minimum for 4 lake malaki cichlids?

A plecostomus (especially a common) can grow very quickly, even in a small tank. A basic stocking rule is 1 inch of fish per gallon, and you use the adult size of the fish, and not the size it currently is.

Those cichlid tanks are so heavily stocked because cichlids are very aggressive fish and the large amount of them spreads out the aggression.

You should never buy a fish planning on getting a bigger tank later on. Something could come up, and you'll have a cramped tank.

I don't know much about cichlids, unfortunately, so I can't answer the minimum tank size question.

The reason you see sand in cichlid tanks is because they like to dig.

Ok well the pleco and the rope rish will be finding new home. I will deff plan ahead next time on tank size.

Is there anyone else who can anwser the other 20 questions i have asked?

Is ther no one else on a forum with 30,000 users that can help out and anwser my questions? Seems like all other threads are getting helped....wtf.

 

[Maximus]

I'd just take back your fish for now, the tanks far too small I'm affraid.

Mbuna is a *group* of fish from lake malawi in africa. Most of them being complete herbivors, hence why they
enjoyed eating your plants.

The puffer is not suited for the tank at all. If he doesn't nip the cichlids, they will soon make short work of him.
Not to mention the fact the F8 should be housed in a brackish tank.

The minimum reccomended tank size for a group of mbuna is a tank of at least 55 gallons, with prefferably 48" of length.

It's also reccomended to keep a group of at least 5 (maybe more depending on the sp.) to help keep agression down.

If I were you, I'd rehome the fish (for store credit maybe?) and save your money for now to get a big enough tank outright.

 

[Hero]

I'd just take back your fish for now, the tanks far too small I'm affraid.

Mbuna is a *group* of fish from lake malawi in africa. Most of them being complete herbivors, hence why they
enjoyed eating your plants.

The puffer is not suited for the tank at all. If he doesn't nip the cichlids, they will soon make short work of him.
Not to mention the fact the F8 should be housed in a brackish tank.

The minimum reccomended tank size for a group of mbuna is a tank of at least 55 gallons, with prefferably 48" of length.

It's also reccomended to keep a group of at least 5 (maybe more depending on the sp.) to help keep agression down.

If I were you, I'd rehome the fish (for store credit maybe?) and save your money for now to get a big enough tank outright.

Ok Thanks for your help.

Side note. On another forum an expert told me that figure 8's are brackish water fish in the wild but in captivity are best kept in freshwater. Insight?

 

[Maximus]

Wrong way around, Fresh water in the wild, but fair far better in brackish water in captivity.