20 Gallon Tank Can Black Mollies And Multies Live Here Together - Harmoniously And In Good Health?

Hello to everyone!

I have 3 (young) adult multies (Neolamprologus multifasciatus), probably the world's smallest cichlids - the male measures about 1.4" and the two ladies hardly an inch - in a tank measuring 32"x12"x16".
Water parameters are: pH 8,5, KH 12, GH 10. (I use an Italian-made test kit.)

The multies stay close to their shells and therefore to the bottom. Only lately the male ventures a little higher in the water to keep their only new tankmate, a harlequin, in higher water levels when the latter ventures within the boundaries of multies territory.

Due to fond childhood memories I'd like to add a few Black Mollies.

But I wonder:
- Is the water hard enough? When choosing fish I follow the requirements expressed by Seriously Fish, which under the heading "Hardness" indicates for Black Mollies "dH 15-30" (), whereas for multies it gives "8-25°H" (). Are these different measuring units? If so, how do they relate to each other?
- I have read somewhere that multies - although territorial - are tolerant in nature. My 9 month experience confirms that. It seems that at present they have more room than they need: they use only a part (some 40%) of the tank's bottom.

I intend to add another male and two more female multies, in hopes that they'll start spawning.
Would there be the conditions for about 10 fish - of which about 3 mollies - harmoniously living together, and in good health?

Many thanks in advance for any answer!

 

I'm not an expert on multis as I've never owned them before, but from what I've heard they do best in a species only tank. Another thing to take into consideration is that your multI population will grow and most likely eventually fill the extra space (given time of course).

 

The harlequin cichlid seems to be a alias for the red terror, a central Amerixcan cichlid. Africans (other than Kribensis) do not like American cichlids due to their submission styles.

 

The harlequin cichlid seems to be a alias for the red terror, a central Amerixcan cichlid. Africans (other than Kribensis) do not like American cichlids due to their submission styles.

You taught me something new, I thought that only this fish was meant by "harlequin": .
As much as I like American cichlids - be they from North, Central or South America - I refrain from purchasing them (with pain in my heart), because at 8.5 the pH of my water is too high and often my tank is too small.

 

Water wise they should be fine together . I would and do still think the multis prefer harder water then mollies,but often salt in water is mistaken for hardness and then someone says 'mollies can go in complete salt water so I would think they need harder water ' ...
Not sure the multis will like the mollies but ?

 

Water wise they should be fine together . I would and do still think the multis prefer harder water then mollies,but often salt in water is mistaken for hardness and then someone says 'mollies can go in complete salt water so I would think they need harder water ' ...
Not sure the multis will like the mollies but ?

I am quite confused.
Mainly this confusion is caused by my ignorance, Not knowing the exact meaning of GH-KH-ppm-dH I am unable to evaluate the data in post #1, which come from the same website.
Anyway, you answered the essential question: the needs of both types of fish overlap. Thanks.

There is nothing ferocious about the way my multies keep the Harlequin Rasbora out of their small territory. If I throw in some white worms, the cheeky fellow snatches the best part away in front of them. Now I am confident to add a few fast swimming mollies.
I guess that with 10 fish(es) there won't be overpopulation in the tank.

A few hours ago I clicked on the link to the YouTube video about your fish room. Amazing!
(In al seriousness, at intervals I dream of being in a fish room that is mine (there are only cichlids).
You're fortunate to live your dream.)

 

I'm not an expert on multis as I've never owned them before, but from what I've heard they do best in a species only tank. Another thing to take into consideration is that your multI population will grow and most likely eventually fill the extra space (given time of course).

I have another tank with 10 gal water volume if the multies do multiply.