want to start a cichlid tank.. help plz.

Hello all
I am now in the process of doing research and really trying to decide what kind of cichlids to get for my 29 gallon tank. I am leaning toward the south american dwarf cichlids due to the size of the tank.My Ph is normally between 6.0-6.4. I read that the african cichlids prefer a higher PH and that is why I cannot have them, tho I really do love the ones available. But I do not want to tamper with the PH that I have. I would like to have some colorful cichids in the tank and wondering if anyone can help me. Also would like to know what other fish they are compatible with. I'm going to order them through a breeder and wanted to have some ideas and names before I talk with them. Anyone have any ideas on ones that I can try and what do I need for them in the way of set up?
thanks so much, ~ kate

 

Our Ph was the same but we kept Africans from Lake Malawi...to raise the Ph we added a lot of crushed coral & rocks (which they need for shelter anyway). The ph went up to 7.5. Our fish bred and were very happy in their 80g.
But since your tank is a 29 gallon I'd stick with SA dwarfs...less aggressive than the LM Africans. Or Kribensis, I have a pair...they are fun to watch.
Here are some profiles on different SA dwarfs.
Rams


Or these other types of dwarfs

 

Thanks Allie
I will check out the links you provided. I found some names of dwarfs that are very pretty to look at. They are: Hongsloi, cacatoides, (orange flash and double reds), and of course the german blue ram, which is very pretty!

Now all I have to do is find a breeder that sells these...
thanks for the advice, I won't be upping the PH in my tank, but will provide caves and plants for them.
I do love the kribs as well!
~ kate

 

Thanks Allie
I will check out the links you provided. I found some names of dwarfs that are very pretty to look at. They are: Hongsloi, cacatoides, (orange flash and double reds), and of course the german blue ram, which is very pretty!

Now all I have to do is find a breeder that sells these...
thanks for the advice, I won't be upping the PH in my tank, but will provide caves and plants for them.
I do love the kribs as well!
~ kate

You are welcome Kate. I was researching not too long ago on what to do with my 30gs so things are still fresh in my mind. ;D

 

Have you looked at the Cynotilapia family?
Quite a small mbuna - 4", and come in some
striking colours.

 

Thanks Azzman
I looked up the cynotilapia family ( most look just like the fontosa) and I see that they all require a PH of 8.6 and very hard water. I think that high a PH would be difficult to maintain in my tank since my water is only 6.0-6.4 the most. It leaves my choices for fish slim...
thanks ~ kate

 

have you seen the cockatoos on the dfs site?





idk anything about this guy...but is colorful

 

these aren't too colorful...but look really cool

 

HI Kevin
I have checked out both sites in your first reply. They really are beautiful and would love to be able to find those locally. That 65 dollar shipping charges is the killer....
I have looked at the goby before.. I think they have such cute faces on them, but not sure of their adult size in the 29 gallon tank. I have seen an assortment of goby fish and wow.. a lot of them are very very nice fish!
thanks for the links... ;D

 

sorry I wasn't of any help...ill keep my eye open for ya
btw, have you browsed aquabid?

edit: the info on the goby says they only need 30 gal. so you should be okay

 

After giving it a lot of thought and the fact that the Discus tank wc's are taking up a lot of my time, Ive decided to tear down the 29 gallon community tank rather than add cichlids there. I have found that the german blue ram can live compatibly with the Discus, and since they are the ones that I really want, I'm going to add two to the discus tank and see how it goes.
There is only one serpae tetra, one black skirt tetra and a black neon tetra still in the community tank, I'm going to add these fish to the 29 gallon Angel tank and see if they get along ok. If they do, then I will tear down the tank and put it in the basement for now.
The six tanks are taking up so much of my time that there is none left over for my other hobby, painting. Its been a hard decision to come to but I have not had much luck with that community tank.
I look forward to adding one or two German blue rams to the Discus tank, and with the three 10 gallon housing my four betta's and then the 29 gallon angel tank it is enough for me to handle.

Kevin, I will check out aquabid for those german blue rams...thanks!
~ kate

 

After giving it a lot of thought and the fact that the Discus tank wc's are taking up a lot of my time, Ive decided to tear down the 29 gallon community tank rather than add cichlids there. I have found that the german blue ram can live compatibly with the Discus, and since they are the ones that I really want, I'm going to add two to the discus tank and see how it goes.
There is only one serpae tetra, one black skirt tetra and a black neon tetra still in the community tank, I'm going to add these fish to the 29 gallon Angel tank and see if they get along ok. If they do, then I will tear down the tank and put it in the basement for now.
The six tanks are taking up so much of my time that there is none left over for my other hobby, painting. Its been a hard decision to come to but I have not had much luck with that community tank.
I look forward to adding one or two German blue rams to the Discus tank, and with the three 10 gallon housing my four betta's and then the 29 gallon angel tank it is enough for me to handle.

Kevin, I will check out aquabid for those german blue rams...thanks!
~ kate

Good idea...sometimes it's easier to just take down the set up when you can add what you like to your larger tank. We always have empty tanks sitting around.

 

HI Allie
I know that you have discus fish.. have you had the german blue rams in with them? Ive read on simply discus that they do get along and I plan on adding a male and three females to the tank when the order comes in.
So on that thought, I decided to keep the 29 gallon going for just in case they do not get along and I will have a tank ready for them to go in. Or.. on another thought it may be a good idea to use the 29 gallon as a QT for them first before introducing them to the discus tank. Either way... now that the diatom issue in a 'new tank syndrome' is ended.. I hate to see the tank be dismantled at this point. Its so nice and clean now! lol..
~ kate

 

I wouldn't add any rams to ur discus tank I think its fully stocked and u the rams might be a bit aggresive towards ur discus and I don't think that they can handle the water connditions of discus

Peace Out Callum!

 

HI callum
well from what I read, the rams prefer the lower PH that the Discus have in the tank as well as the temp of 84*. I really didnt want to go with the four dwarf rams, but read up on the numbers of males to female ratio. Not sure how two males would do in the tank either? If I could get away with just two males, which are more colorful then the females I would do that.
But thought there would be aggression in the tank with just two males.
As far as water quality goes.. I am changing the water in the discus tank every day, so the water would be fine for them. I have read up from other discus owners who have kept the german blue dwarf ram in the tank and they do fine with Discus. But will keep the 29 gallon going for just in case...
thanks, ~ kate

 

I have a question Callum..
I see in your siggy that you have blue rams. when I was at my LFS I put in a order for the german blue rams and they had two there. BUT.. my question is this... those two fish in the tank were almost all a dark blue and did not look like any photos of the colorful germans that I have seen in photos. Are the juvenile germans that solid color? Or is the Shop trying to sell the blue rams as german rams.. or are they one and the same? I would like to know before I buy a ram that I think is a german and it ends up not being the right one.
Any links to photos of the blue ram and the german blue ram you can link me to?
thanks, kate

 

genereally rams the female tend to have the red belly the males have a higher second spinal fin and the females s much shorter and yes 1:2 male/female ratio is correct

Peace Out Callum!

 

Thanks Callum! ;D

 

HI Allie
I know that you have discus fish.. have you had the german blue rams in with them? Ive read on simply discus that they do get along and I plan on adding a male and three females to the tank when the order comes in.
So on that thought, I decided to keep the 29 gallon going for just in case they do not get along and I will have a tank ready for them to go in. Or.. on another thought it may be a good idea to use the 29 gallon as a QT for them first before introducing them to the discus tank. Either way... now that the diatom issue in a 'new tank syndrome' is ended.. I hate to see the tank be dismantled at this point. Its so nice and clean now! lol..
~ kate

Actually discus is one of the fish we haven't tried ...yet. They should get along...they are from the same area of the world. I would definitely use the 29 gallon as a QT Discus are so sensitive...from what I've been reading. I am afraid to have discus here...$40-60 a fish...any discus you are out some money.

 

HI Allie
after I wrote that post, I checked out your tanks and realized that you do not have Discus.. sorry must have had you mixed up with someone else.
So I am still on the search for some GBR's for the tank. At the local fish store that I checked out, I really didnt like the look of them, they didnt even have the typical coloring that make these guys so beautiful. The two they had were almost all blue and very small, and one had a lot of its top fin tore, so I decided that was not the place to go. I may end up having to order them online at some point if my last place to check does not pan out for me. I like the cauacatuoides as well. I will QT them in the 29 gallon tank for awhile before introducing them to the Discus tank. My discus go for about 25 dollars here so that's not too bad, if I had to pay 40-60 for them, I would not be able to afford them, but at some point I will order myself a pure strain of Discus. ;D
~ kate

 

I know that Bill has some and he said that those little blue spots that everyone loves don't show up much in person...he said that the pictures always pick them up better than the human eye, so that might be what happened with those 2 you saw