New to Chilids

[BigFin]

Hi Fish Buddys,

I've built a 165gal aquarium out of acrylic rercently and originaly intended to raise goldfish in it. I went to the fish store the other day and became interested in Chilids. Now I'm considering raising them insted. How easy are they to raise? what type of filtration do they need and how much? How should I set up the tank? Please post answers.

Thanks,
BigFin

 

[spAcE mOnkEy]

Cichlids are awsome. But, they are very different from eachother. Some have different requirements then others. They are also messy fish, so good filtration is required. What type were you interested in? By the way, what are the dimensions of your tank and are you planing on just raising them or keeping?

 

[BigFin]

Thanks for posting back. My tank is 71" long x 23" wide x 23.5" tall. I'm considering power filters, sponge filters, and caisters. I also may get ambisious and build a wet/dry?

BigFin

 

[smb7676]

Thanks for posting back. My tank is 71" long x 23" wide x 23.5" tall. I'm considering power filters, sponge filters, and caisters. I also may get ambisious and build a wet/dry?

BigFin

Boy I like Cichlids to but with a tank and the setup your going to do I'd go SW !!! Good luck though Cichlids are fun to keep they remind me of a puppy !!!

 

[BigFin]

Thanks for posting back. My tank is 71" long x 23" wide x 23.5" tall. I'm considering power filters, sponge filters, and caisters. I also may get ambisious and build a wet/dry?

BigFin

Boy I like Cichlids to but with a tank and the setup your going to do I'd go SW !!! Good luck though Cichlids are fun to keep they remind me of a puppy !!!

SMB7676,
What is SW?

BigFin

 

[smb7676]

SW = Saltwater .
Don't worry I didn't have a clue about all the letters for quite bit when I joined. People forget that others aren't in the know so to speak.

 

[freddyk]

Bigfin, spend some time and browse the internet for cichlids. Go to the fish store and see what they have that you take an interest in, write down the scientific names so you can look into them further.

Cichlids not only come from a wide range of biotopes (which would lead to how you set up the tank) but also a wide range of behaviors, temperments, breeding rituals, aggression, size, diets, water perameters... obviously research is very important.

With a tank that size you can do wonders, but it's all too easy to go out and simply get a bunch of big fish and throw them together and see what happens. Not all cichlids are compatible - in fact, it's safest to say that most are not compatible and take it from there.

The range of cichlids is so vast it can help narrow down the choices by deciding what kind of tank you want, or what you want out of the tank. Lotsof smaller fish? A few larger fish? A couple of giants? A mix of sizes? Unique behavior? Tons of color and activity? Slow and relaxing? Were you thinking of live plants? rocks? lots of decoration? a little? All cichlids? Cichlids with community fish? Do you care if they show natural behavior? High aggression? low aggression? All of these points can help point you in the right direction, the world of cichlids can be a little overwhelming.

Remember, any information you get that only pertains to 'cichlids' is not reliable information - this group is too diverse to do any generalizing at all.

Good luck, done right they're extremely rewarding fish to keep, and about as interesting as freshwater fish get.

 

[BigFin]

Thanks to both of you. I believe I want to raise new world cichlids, the bigger ones with color.

BigFin

 

[-*-MicHAeL-*-]

i am a beginner and hav 2 golden severums they are great and are no trouble to keep at all. check them out

 

[alabaster]

Welcome Bigfin. If I had a tank that big, I'd get some large central American ciclids. Consider oscars, red devils, midas cichlids, trimac, jack dempseys, green terrors, etc. Or look into the managuensis (jaguar) cichlid, though that might grow up to be more than you bargained for.

 

[freddyk]

Consider oscars, red devils, midas cichlids, trimac, jack dempseys, green terrors, etc. Or look into the managuensis (jaguar) cichlid

Ya, a pair of any of these would be very cool for your tank.

 

[juanveldez]

I also would possible consider some of the lubigrins group of pikes, they grow to be about 12-16 inches, they have so many different types of colors within the group, from the tan and black spckled juvie Crenicichla sp. cobra which turn to entirely red with age, to the colorful Crenicichla Marmorata. there is also Crenicichla Cinta. some other options would be Veja Synspillus, as already mentioned, Midas, Jags, trimacs. Left out were Amphilious Festae the females are more colorful than the males but males are very impressive to say the least. the thing to think about with all but the Veja species listed here, most of those fish are going to turn your big tank into a tank with just a pair of fish. all are highly territorial and therefore highly agressive ( but that is an idea of mine and should be saved for another post without hijacking this one.)