New Start, New Fish

[ballyclover]

Hi guys
 
 
After several years of keeping "normal" fish, guppies plecs etc have decided to go to Cichlids as i love the colours and even the tanks set ups, and feel i am ready
 
I currently have a sand substrate and was planing onkeeping this and buying some ocean rock, around 25kg and having no plants at all. I may now get rid of the sand and go to the black substrate you can buy.
 
So my question, in my current set up with normal fish and plants bog wood, i suffer alot with green alge and the dreaded black stuff. If i do aways with plants and wood, what are the chances that the ocean rock will develope green alge or the black stuff, as i would have no other fish than Cichlids?
 
Second question, i have a 180lts tanks, how many would be too many, and what would be a perfect, bright colours and easy to start fish?
 
 
i appreciate any tips and all the help in advance
 
thank you

 

[bullit]

Unfortunately the ocean rock will go green. Any rock will but it looks a bit nasty on ocean rock. Natural stone, river rocks look good with algae on and the fish will then nibble at it. Tuffa rock also looks ok. Fish wise, as you have a small tank then smaller species like salousi would be fine. cheers

edit- you will prob have to up your filtration aswell.

 

[ballyclover]

i use a tetratec 1200 at the min which is quite good. Is there a way to prevent the rock going green?

 

[bullit]

Not that i know of. Personally id try to make a biotope.

 

[Tizer]

Of course you can stop the rock going green....don't turn the lights on, ever.
 
If you are going African/Malawi, you have to accept algae is your friend, they eat it, you need it. Do perhaps get some nice big round river rocks instead of nasty looking ocean rock