Empty Tank Ready for Cichlids

I've had a 29 gallon for over a year with tropical community fish (danios, mollys, rainbow shark, glofish, and rasboras). However, after Super Storm Sandy I'm only left with two glofish. I'm looking to start over brand new and go more aggressive with some cichlids. Just wanted to hear some ideas of which types and how many I can introduce into the tank. Would the glofish get destroyed if I don't put them into a different tank? Thanks in advance!

 

That is wonderful to hear! I personally love cichlids they will be my next endeavor once I get a larger tank ( in a couple months) sorry to hear about your other fish.

I'm not fish expert but the general rule is 1inch per gallon, so I would find out which ones you are looking to get and how big they will be at full size and guage that for your 29g.

Here I found this for you! https://www.fishlore.com/profiles-cichlids.htm

 

Welcome to fishlore! Sorry to hear about your fish friends...

With Cichlids the general rule is out the door in my book, with there quick spurt movement that could cover 2.5 to 3 feet in less than a second if given the room to do so... Unless you are talking about adding one Angel as a center piece assuming your tank is tall...

Hope to hear other opinions as well...

 

Yeah I heard that you are supposed to over stock a cichlid tank to avoid aggression. Not an expert, just what I've heard.

 

I got 10 african cichlids at the fish store, and after I got home and tried to find out what they were, I think I ended up with 5 electric yellow labs, 2 Kenyi, and 3 venustus (wish the people at the store would have done a better job and not sold me 3 venustus since they get 10"+) I'll have to come up with some sort of plan there. Hopefully I have time, they're only 1-1.5" right now.
I have these all in a 60 gallon.

I think the Electric Yellows get around 4.5-5" and the KenyI I think get around 6" give or take.

From the cichlid profiles page, it looks like angelfish would be best as long as your tank is tall rather than long. Even the yellow lab cichlids recommend 55 gallon minimum.

 

If you intend to stock MalawI Cichlids try to follow this rule - It worked for me back in Uk with wild caught Mbuna
As you only have a 29G tank, you will be restricted on the number of fish
Try to keep 1 X Dominant Male fish + 1 x Sub Male and 3 females together of any species of Mbuna ( easy to sex most species as male has false egg spots on analfin ) and the females are useually much more drab in colour
*As with all potential stocking do your research on the fish you intend to stock fully*.
*There are over 600 known species of MalawI Cichlids*
This will reduce aggression, as the A male is more intent on the females and the sub male than the other fish in the tank
Also try to choose the more "passive " and mild natured species ( yes - there are a few)
A slight overstocking will also help control aggression, but this leads to a problem with the water changes
Water will have to be changed possibly as much as 60% twice a week
Mbuna eat algie and a lot of it, and what goes in must come out = Nitrates, and there should only be rock in the tank - no plants, so the plants can't help you with that problem
Good luck