Hazcop

I might be (hopefully) getting a 130 gallon tank in the near future. It is a custom tank approx. 30x30x30. I would like to make this a cichlid only tank. My question is...where do cichlids like to hang out. I know they need plenty of hiding places, but do some prefer the upper levels of the tank, middle, or bottom? I don't want to stock the tank with fish that only want to hang on the bottom of the tank. Also, if I build the hiding places up the tank i.e. slate stacked like a card house, will the fish take to it? Lastly, is there a type of catfish/algee eater that will be able to tolerate the same water conditions and personality of this tank? Any input would be helpful. Thanks,

Chris

simpleton

You may get by with some floating plants for high level hiding places. I've not done it but seen it at the LFS. As for Cats, I'm not too sure. I'm just getting into Cichlids myself and I do have a Cory Cat but I only have a kribensis for now. I'm in the process of converting my community tank of 2 years into a Cichlid tank. Most everything I've read and everyone I've talked to at some pretty sophisiticated LFS' tell me that I will need to get rid of my Cory Cat if I want him to live. I think that you can get some Plecos and should not have any problems. Let's see what some others have to say on that subject. It's also going to depend on the type of Cichlids you have in the tank.