Setting Up An Amazonian Tank

[DanMan092]

Okay, I have a 30 gal tank. I hope this is big enough. I have a 24" light (yes, it should be 36", I'll get a better one) I also have a fluval 204 canister filter. Also, i have a UV Sterilizer with a power head. Is this suffiecient to create an amazonian tank? I really dont know what to do. I hope to have rams and stuff. Can i also have kribs in the same tank or are they african? Thanks to anyone who helps, i cant seem to find any pictures of tanks with the dirt substrate (which is what i want)

 

[Sp3nc3r]

i dont know anything else except this

yes kribs are african cichlids good luck and update with pics

 

[DanMan092]

What type of Amazonian Tank should it be? I know that there is White water, I think like Rift or something. Which type is the one with the actual dirt?

 

[Chris_Wood]

Hi the one with the dirt is black water.

It is effetively peat and other organic matter and can be easily replicated in the auqarium using either Tetra back water extract or placing a peat substitute in the filter (I use Eheim's Ephitorf).

The water also needs to be soft.

Some suitable tank mates for an Amazon rift tank are:

Angel Fish
Discus
Ram's
Cardinal Tetras
Black Neon Tetras
Neon Tetras
Rummy Nose Tetras

Not all of the above are compatible... ...for instance I wouldn't keep Discus and Angels together and Angles can be risky with small Tetras (particularly Neon and Cardinal) as they tend to go hunting at night and eat the smaller ones. Bigger tetras are fine (I keep Angles and Cardinals and have never lost a single fish).

A good clean-up crew for the bottom would consist of Cory's and a small sp. of pleco.

As previously mentioned Kribs are not American (New World) Chiclids and therefore do not really fit into an Amzonian Rift biotype (they would also be problematic if kept with Rams).

Hope this helps and that you enjoy your Amazon Rift tank as much as I do mine!


CW