"Krazy K" wrote in message
...
I am looking to get a 55 gal tank. Wife is in love with colorful
cichlids so it olooks like we will be getting the african varieties of
some types. I myself like loaches (botias). Any suggestions on what
cichlids would be favorable in this type of invironment? I plant to
create heavy cover with plant, rosk, and simulated resin wood type
structurse. I have read that the mouth breeders tend to be less
territorial. Also have questions on the issue of salt in the tank.
Seems the African Cichlids prefer a more saline water but how much is
needed if any. Thanks for you time and patience.

If you want to go with a heavily planted tank, I'd go with some type of West
African riverine species. Take a look at the Kribensis (Pelvicachromis pulcher)
and the Jewel cichlids (Hemichromis guttatus). Both beautiful fish. As for the
lake species, Lake Malawi has the most colorful variety. But whether it's Lake
Malawi or Lake Tanganyika, the fish need hard water with a high pH and
conditions that don't fluctuate. Most plants don't do well in water with high
pH. Also, many of the Lake Malawi species like to dig and a good number of them
will eat plants.
With the riverine species, they do best in water that's close to neutral.
Water that fluctuates slightly in temperature, pH, hardness, etc doesn't affect
them as easily being that the rivers fluctuate naturally. My wife likes her
colorful Mbuna (group of fish from Lake Malawi) tank, but her favorite tanks are
the 55 South American tank and the 20L tank with the Jewel fish in them. A 55
gallon tank with a pair of Jewels, a nice pleco and some dither fish would be a
nice tank. You may be able to do a pair of Kribs in the tank as well if the
habitat was set up right, although Jewel fish can be pretty territorial when
breeding.
Amateur
www.amateurcichlids.com
Jewel Cichlids http://www.amateurcichlids.com/fish/hem_gut.shtml
Kribs http://www.amateurcichlids.com/fish/kribensis.shtml