What To Get?

[stephen.h89]

ok i am probably going to get slated for this because i have changed my mind so many times but here goes.

I have just bought a RIO 400 and want to make it a cichlid tank, basically i am wanting to kno what people what have stocking wise, i kno the final decision is down to me but would appreciate other peoples input. thanx in advance

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Just to be clear, are we talking Rift Valley cichlids (Malawi; Victoria, Tanganyika), or African riverine cichlids like Steatocranus tinanti and Nanochromis parilus?

 

[stephen.h89]

rift valley cichlids, sorry should have been clearer

 

[stephen.h89]

ok i think i have decided on mbuna, i have seen some really nice setups, would i be able to put some shell dwellers in there aswell if i scatter some shells around on the bottom

 

[stephen.h89]

also how much ocean rock would i need for a tank this size, would 20kg do it? i basically want the whole back of the tank like a wall of rock and a pile of rocks that stick out from the back at each end

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

I believe mixing Tanganyikan shell dwellers and Malawi is a risky business.

Don't know if you scour the ads at Aquarist Classified, but there have been some Tropheus duboisi (Tanganyikan) youngsters for sale buy one or two keepers. My favourite LFS now has the final gorgeous Tropheus moori morilo at a tenner to clear!

I believe Tropheus need to be in groups of ~8 or 9, plus because of their very specific dietery needs, any "community" fish need to be happy with the same diet (think its bloat that can be caught by Tropheus if they eat meat).