"Elaine T" wrote in message
...
Daniel Morrow wrote:
"Fred Bloggs" wrote in message
...

Hi Folks,

We recently moved and tore down our aquarium, and it is time to get it
starting again. It was a community tank with lots of plants, but I want
to
do something a little different when I get going again.

I am thinking cichlids which I understand needs lots of hiding places
and
rocks, but are they compatible with plants?

Any recommendations on good fish for a 55gal tank? I am looking for a
lot

of

color and small to medium size fish that are not excessively aggressive
or
require live food.

Is there anything special I need in the way of filtration or water
conditions?

Thanks




Typically the water needs to be very alkaline and the ph needs to be
high.
You could use aragonite in a media chamber in a filter to raise the
alkalinity (or so I am told - when I did that my general hardness went
up
but the carbonate hardness, otherwise know as alkaline, stayed almost
rock
bottom and I used Bermuda pink carib sea substrate in my filter's media
chamber) or I guess you could leave the water soft, etc. but not expect
any
breeding. Others here will be able to fill you in a lot better than me
and
give you more details, good luck and later!


Daniel, your advice is way off target for all but Tanganyikan cichlids.
Are you aware that discus, rams, and angels are also cichlids and
prefer very soft, acidic water? Or that even African Lake Malawi and
Victoria cichlids don't require extreme alkalinity and pH?

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Sorry about that - when I wrote it I thought I was right enough, please
excuse my assuming I was right. Later!