Ideas for a cichlid tank

[Flash Wilson]

Hello. I don't normally post here, but I do read it.

Anyway - I have a 4ft tank which I want to slowly convert to be
a cichlid tank. At present it contains 2 nocturnal catfish
(a pleco and similar, which hide by day under wood), 4 kribs,
3 clown loaches and 3 tiger barbs.

Some of the older smaller fish have died off or been moved
recently leaving me with those. I don't expect the tiger barbs
to live much longer (they look fullgrown and battleworn) but
they keep surprising me. So that leaves the loaches, which will
soon be too big to move elsewhere, and the catfish and kribs.

I'd like to add more cichlids and gradually turn it into a
cichlid tank, but obviously along the way, the fish have to get
along. I don't know much about cichlids except that a) they
can be aggressive and b) gouramis are supposed to be easyish.

My water parameters are medium-hard (12KH ish) and 7.8pH.

I'd love some suggestions for what sort of fish to try, and
which I could introduce now, which I'd need to wait until the
tigers are gone, etc. The tigers don't seem to pick on any other
fish (as I said, they are quite old!) although the kribs get
territorial when laying eggs (not that they ever hatch).

A little more info: the tank is 48x15x15 inches, it's planted
quite heavily along the back and also has some bogwood, slate
etc - only the front half of the tank is bare, which means there
is lots of swimming space as well as room to hide; there's a
reasonable current as I have an external filter output at one
end and a supplementary internal filter at the other; the
clowns are about 2.5", 3" and 5", and I think the catfish are
about 7" but I never see them by day! The kribs are a mature
pair, and a pair of juveniles which are about 2/3 grown.

All advice/interesting solutions welcome.

--
Flash Wilson

[Keith J.]

Hi Flash,

Kribs are from west Africa, where the pH is normally below 7. Their eggs
will only hatch in relatively soft water with low pH .

With a pH over 7.5 , I would go with either cichlids from either East Africa
or Central America.

Gouramis are from Southeast Asia and are anabantids, not cichlids, by the
way. The tiger barbs should be ok with most small-ish cichlids, as they are
quick enough to flee before they are hurt badly. Something like an adult
Jack Dempsey might eat them whole though.

Central American cichlids are some of my favorite fish. They are the most
"pet-like", having more personality than most other fish. The drawback is
that they are highly protective of "their" tank , and don't tolerate
intruders. You pretty much have to keep them as pairs or one fish to a tank
once they reach full size. Some of the exceptions are firemouths, Neets, and
Convicts, which would probably get along in a large tank like yours.

African cichlids can be kept as a community. I would suggest you go with
Malawi or Tanganyikan cichlids if you want a community tank.Here's a like to
a good site about them : http://www.africancichlids.net/

Glad to help;
Keith

"Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
...
> Hello. I don't normally post here, but I do read it.
>
> Anyway - I have a 4ft tank which I want to slowly convert to be
> a cichlid tank. At present it contains 2 nocturnal catfish
> (a pleco and similar, which hide by day under wood), 4 kribs,
> 3 clown loaches and 3 tiger barbs.
>
> Some of the older smaller fish have died off or been moved
> recently leaving me with those. I don't expect the tiger barbs
> to live much longer (they look fullgrown and battleworn) but
> they keep surprising me. So that leaves the loaches, which will
> soon be too big to move elsewhere, and the catfish and kribs.

<snip>

[D. J]

"Keith J." > wrote in
message ...

> Kribs are from west Africa, where the pH is normally below 7. Their eggs
> will only hatch in relatively soft water with low pH .
>
Kribs actually do well in water with any reasonable PH, that makes them
among the easiest cichlids to breed in home aquarium, however PH value does
effect the sex ratio of their offspring.

I wouldn't keep any cichlid can grow >6" in a 55G with Kribs, I wouldn't
keep peaceful dwarf cichlids either, depending on your luck, maybe some
convicts, firemouths, you know Kribs are no peaceful fish, neither are
convicts/firemouths.

[Flash Wilson]

On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 01:49:15 GMT, D. J > wrote:
>
>"Keith J." > wrote in
>message ...
>
>> Kribs are from west Africa, where the pH is normally below 7. Their eggs
>> will only hatch in relatively soft water with low pH .
>>
>Kribs actually do well in water with any reasonable PH, that makes them
>among the easiest cichlids to breed in home aquarium, however PH value does
>effect the sex ratio of their offspring.
>
>I wouldn't keep any cichlid can grow >6" in a 55G with Kribs, I wouldn't
>keep peaceful dwarf cichlids either, depending on your luck, maybe some
>convicts, firemouths, you know Kribs are no peaceful fish, neither are
>convicts/firemouths.

Thanks both of you... that's given me some good pointers, now to
do the hard research ;) Might come back when I've had some thoughts
and see what ppl think.

Cheers,



--
Flash Wilson
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Losing the Electric Ballroom to compulsory purchase by LUL sucks!
Email your MP now: http://www.camdenlock.co.uk/writenow.htm

[Dave Thompson]

"Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
...
> Hello. I don't normally post here, but I do read it.
>
> Anyway - I have a 4ft tank which I want to slowly convert to be
> a cichlid tank. At present it contains 2 nocturnal catfish
> (a pleco and similar, which hide by day under wood), 4 kribs,
> 3 clown loaches and 3 tiger barbs.

I have much the same situation with an 80gl hex that I have. I really never
did anything definite with it for the two years I had it. I originally
wanted to make it into a heavily planted tank but because it's so tall it's
a pain in the rear to plant, light, and maintain. So now it contains a
couple Kribs left over from a breeding population, a couple plecos, a couple
loaches, and a really mean kissing gourami.

Just recently I decided to turn it into an African Cichlid tank so I added
some more hiding space and added a couple juvenile Africans. I left the
plants and the fish alone and plan to add Africans as I collect pocket
change and can afford to do it. I decided that this relaxed and long term
method was the way to go because as Africans are introduced they will either
accept their more docile tankmates or take care of the problem naturally.
Eventually I will have a community of Africans and it will take less time
than just waiting for the other fish to just die off.

Since you don't want to spend lots of money this might work for you.

[NetMax]

"Flash Wilson" > wrote in message
...
> Hello. I don't normally post here, but I do read it.
>
> Anyway - I have a 4ft tank which I want to slowly convert to be
> a cichlid tank. At present it contains 2 nocturnal catfish
> (a pleco and similar, which hide by day under wood), 4 kribs,
> 3 clown loaches and 3 tiger barbs.
>
> Some of the older smaller fish have died off or been moved
> recently leaving me with those. I don't expect the tiger barbs
> to live much longer (they look fullgrown and battleworn) but
> they keep surprising me. So that leaves the loaches, which will
> soon be too big to move elsewhere, and the catfish and kribs.
>
> I'd like to add more cichlids and gradually turn it into a
> cichlid tank, but obviously along the way, the fish have to get
> along. I don't know much about cichlids except that a) they
> can be aggressive and b) gouramis are supposed to be easyish.
>
> My water parameters are medium-hard (12KH ish) and 7.8pH.
>
> I'd love some suggestions for what sort of fish to try, and
> which I could introduce now, which I'd need to wait until the
> tigers are gone, etc. The tigers don't seem to pick on any other
> fish (as I said, they are quite old!) although the kribs get
> territorial when laying eggs (not that they ever hatch).
>
> A little more info: the tank is 48x15x15 inches, it's planted
> quite heavily along the back and also has some bogwood, slate
> etc - only the front half of the tank is bare, which means there
> is lots of swimming space as well as room to hide; there's a
> reasonable current as I have an external filter output at one
> end and a supplementary internal filter at the other; the
> clowns are about 2.5", 3" and 5", and I think the catfish are
> about 7" but I never see them by day! The kribs are a mature
> pair, and a pair of juveniles which are about 2/3 grown.
>
> All advice/interesting solutions welcome.

So what cichlids will go into a 46g tank, with medium-hard water, 7.8pH?
Lots! Which will leave your Kribs alone, not kill your barbs, and not
rip out your plants?... Less ;~) There are 4 approaches (in my mind).
The first is what you are trying to do, which is very limiting, ie:
Angelfish.

The next approach would be to pull the pH down a bit ie: Apistos, Acaras,
Keyholes, Flags, Festivums, even Severums if you were willing to concede
the plants.

Another approach is to lose the Kribs & plants, and keep the water ie:
Firemouths, Convicts, Texans, etc.

Another approach is to reset the tank, aquascape with rockwork, and look
into African cichlids. Here there are many recipes ie:
http://www.cichlidrecipe.com/cichlidrecipe/crindx.htm ranging from small
to large rockdwellers (in varying dispositions), or medium to jumbo open
water swimmers (which often have better dispositions ;~)

If you've gotten bored with other tropicals, the cichlids should keep you
amused for at least 20 years. Paradoxically, many 'retired' hobbyists
who have moved up through the fish species chain, do give up cichlids and
find themselves returning to the low maintenance, low worry Guppy. Your
first and your last fish, the Guppy, and in between, they feed your
cichlids ;~)

NetMax

> --
> Flash Wilson

[Keith J.]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
. ..
<snip>

>Paradoxically, many 'retired' hobbyists
> who have moved up through the fish species chain, do give up cichlids and
> find themselves returning to the low maintenance, low worry Guppy. Your
> first and your last fish, the Guppy, and in between, they feed your
> cichlids ;~)
>
> NetMax

Guppies ? My first fish were a perch , a black bullhead , and a smallmouth
bass; all 5 to 7 inches. Not big enough for the frying pan, but just right
for a 20 gallon tank formerly occupied by a hamster.

Paradoxically, the first fish I spawned were giant danios, and I haven't
been able to breed them in 6 tries since.

Keith J.

[NetMax]

"Keith J." > wrote in
message ...
>
> "NetMax" > wrote in message
> . ..
> <snip>
>
> >Paradoxically, many 'retired' hobbyists
> > who have moved up through the fish species chain, do give up cichlids
and
> > find themselves returning to the low maintenance, low worry Guppy.
Your
> > first and your last fish, the Guppy, and in between, they feed your
> > cichlids ;~)
> >
> > NetMax
>
> Guppies ? My first fish were a perch , a black bullhead , and a
smallmouth
> bass; all 5 to 7 inches. Not big enough for the frying pan, but just
right
> for a 20 gallon tank formerly occupied by a hamster.
>
> Paradoxically, the first fish I spawned were giant danios, and I
haven't
> been able to breed them in 6 tries since.
>
> Keith J.

LOL, my first fish was actually Pumpkinseed sunfish, but I think my first
tropical fish were Guppies. I know what you mean about the Giant danios.
I was breeding Kuhli loaches until I was told that it was very difficult
to do, and then do you think I could get them to breed again?, no chance.

NetMax

[Keith J.]

"NetMax" > wrote in message
...

<snip>
> I know what you mean about the Giant danios. I was breeding Kuhli
> loaches until I was told that it was very difficult to do, and then do
> you think I could get them to breed again?, no chance.
>
>NetMax

It seems that we can't provide the correct breeding envoronment anymore.
Maybe the water quality is too good ? Or their other fish don't beat them
up enough ?

Pity that we've not "noobies" < sigh>

The only time I got giant danios to spawn, 6 adults were tossed in the oscar
tank and meant to be feeders. Somehow the adults and 30 or so fry avoided
four 8 inch oscars for months.

But with marbles on the tank bottom, optimal water conditions, and no
tankmates they decide to go celibate.

With my wierd luck, I'll win the lottery jackpot and get hit by lightning on
my way to cash in the ticket.

Keith J.

[Flash Wilson]

On Sat, 31 Jan 2004 01:32:23 -0500, NetMax > wrote:
>
>> All advice/interesting solutions welcome.
>
>So what cichlids will go into a 46g tank, with medium-hard water, 7.8pH?
>Lots! Which will leave your Kribs alone, not kill your barbs, and not
>rip out your plants?... Less ;~) There are 4 approaches (in my mind).

<snip>

I think I missed this post before, somehow - I've only just spotted it!
Thanks very much, it's very helpful ;)

>If you've gotten bored with other tropicals

Not so much bored with, because I very much like my "pretty" 2 ft
tank which has cardinals etc in it, but sort of bored with the fish
that I have had in the past, and bored with having to tailor everything
to getting along with tigers!

>first and your last fish, the Guppy

Wasn't my first by a long way.. that was the tiger barb!
Which I love... but they are such a hassle to find friends for them!
So when the existing ones die, I won't replace them!

Thanks for the pointers.... lots of Googling coming up ;)
--
Flash Wilson
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