African Cichlids Tank

I have been looking for fish that will thrive in my hard tap water. I have found that African Cichlids like hard water. Therefore I am considering a tank that would have fish from East Africa.

I want to use an existing 20 long for this purpose. I suspect it is smaller than would be ideal, but I am hoping I can make it work. Maybe a pair of small cichlids and other compatible fish.

What other fish come from this area?

What sort of plants would be suitable?

What sort of substrate would be optimal?

Any other thoughts?

 

Ok, in a 20 long anything from Lake MalawI is out of the question. Mbuna and Utaka (= Haps = Peacocks) need far bigger tanks.

What would work are Tanganyikans. The shelldwellers would work, but they are best kept on their own. Same goes for Rockdwellers like Julidochromis. A pair of Altolamprologus might also work. In case of rockdwellers you could combine those with Synodontis lucipinnis.

Biggest problem: There is not much from that area besides cichlids that is suitable for this tank size AND available in the hobby.

Plantwise... There is very few underwater vegetation in the rift lakes besides algae. There are some species of vallisneria-like plants, some lotus like plants and some reeds. That's basically it.

Substrate: Sand. All the way. Just standard sand.

My suggestion:

Get a pair or a trio of some smaller tanganyikan cichlids, decorate suitably (depending on rock or shell dwellers) and let them form a colony.

 

Maybe shell dwellers

 

I like the shell dweller idea.

So, I am thinking leave the existing stock in there for now while changing the substrate to sand and rescaping appropriate for the shellies or other small east african tanganyikan cichlid. Manage it through any mini-cycles resulting from the substrate change and re-scape with the existing guppies.

Once stable, remove the guppies and add the cichlids.

I have 20 lbs of sand I formerly used in another tank and changed out. It is just regular sand I bought at Petco. I assume good as any.

Add some shells and rocks. I have a rock and driftwood in there. Maybe leave what I have and add some shells.

Pluses and minuses on leaving vs removing Anubius plants?

 

Maybe rearrange the rocks and driftwood in case you decide to go for shelldwellers. You can divide the tank with it in case you get more than one male. Otherwise just leave open sand and cover it in shells. In case you decide for rockdwellers you will have to add a lot more rocks, though.

Yes, the sand will suffice.

Plus on the anubias: Good for water quality. Minus: Could be buried by shellwellers. Might not look appropriate in the setup.

 

Plus on the anubias: Good for water quality. Minus: Could be buried by shellwellers. Might not look appropriate in the setup.

Generally, I like plants. I have plants in all my tanks. Agree the anubias might not look right in this set up. Maybe go without plants for the moment and add later after more research? Any plants recommended for this set up? I like column feeders so I do not have to mess with root tabs.

 

Depends. You want something from the biotope or are you indifferent where they come from?

 

Depends. You want something from the biotope or are you indifferent where they come from?

Biotope would be nice, but I would settle for water parameter compatible. Maybe best to start with no plants and work on plants as phase two.

I have read that small shellies are okay in a 10 gallon tank. I have a 10 gallon tank that currently has not fish in it. I am considering the possibility of starting there so I do not have to disrupt the existing 20. I suppose I could look at it as an extended quarantine tank. Get something set up there and then move to 20 gallon in the future.

 

From the biotope would be quite hard to make happen. Most plant species from Lake Tanganyika that are not cosmopolits are basically not available in the hobby. You'd have to go with stand-ins with close-enough looks. Shorter Vallisneria species, Ceratophyllum, Nymphea and some reeds come to mind. Anything you have to plant in substrate is out of the question with shellies. They will eventually dig them up.

I'd prefer the bigger tank for the shellies. They are known to even attack crocodiles. I mean... these fish have attitude! In case your individuals won't get along, in a 10 they'll kill each other.