What should I do?

[afireinside]

Well, in a few months, I'm getting a 90 gallon tank. I like planning things out, but now I am stuck, I've narrowed it down to a Community Tank or an African Cichlid Tank. Here's the problem: African Cichlids can cost alot but are very pretty. For a community tank, you can get relatively cheap fish, and you can have alot of them. So I can't decide. I'm going to have the members of the forum debate and based on the results, I shall choose what type of tank I want. I'll have this closed on September 1st.

 

[inflexion]

if your LFS's have a good selection on chiclids then go for that as mine dont, also like you said they look amazing so as long as you dont rush it you will have an amazing tank to look at

 

[tttnjfttt]

what is the pH and KH of your local water? African Cichlids need hard water with a high pH, so that may be something else to consider.

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

yeah the hardness of ur water is important. as is the question of weheter u can get hold of chilids easily! i have two community tanks i really wann do a chlid tank now, so assuming water is suitable and chilids can be got i would go for that

 

[andywg]

I say neither. Go oddball and throw in some rare catfish. I have no time for Cichlids and while some community fish are great (like bala sharks) they can't match up to things like black ghost knives or African butterfly fish and catfish from the dorididae family.

 

[boxman]

I'd like to have both but I don't regret having a tropical community tank for sure.

Cichlids are lovely fish and after going to the London Aquarium and seeing their Cichlid displays it made me want some but I wouldn't sacrifice my trop. comm. tank for anything.

 

[Cossack1977]

Ive got a comunity tank and it's great.
Have a look at my sig

Ive got a great varriety of fish and more to come as soon as my new filter is built. I lost about 30 fish when i moved house 3 months ago and havnt restocked but still have about 70 fish in the tank

And yes i have to BGK and there fine with all tank mates.

 

[Soaup]

I prefer cichlids they are very intelligent and have very vibrant colors. If your local water supply doesnt have a high PH you can buy crushed coral over gravel. The coral raises the ph in the water. A 90 gallon cichlid tank if well maintained is quite a display.

 

[afireinside]

ugn... So many oppinions. uhhh, would an oscar do good in a cichlid tank?

 

[LoachLover]

Personally I'd go with the community tank, Cichlids are nice but not all they're cracked up to be in my opinion.

 

[fish_keeper2]

to sasitfy both ends id go with some angels and some peacefull community fish that r compatible with angels

 

[afireinside]

I already have some angels

 

[fish_r_great]

Oh no!!! You could've went here

http/14.freebb.com/?freebb=mnfish
http/www.iowaaquaria.com/forum/index.php
http/www.wiscichlidforum.com/

found local breeders and got cheap Africans!!!

 

[fish_r_great]

Africans are awesome you can still sell your Angels. (not that they're not nice just not as great as Africans)

 

[Opcn]

Cichlids are nice, salt water is better