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On the right path for cichlids?

2K views 12 replies 5 participants last post by  rrcoolj 
#1 ·
Hey guys,
I posted couple days ago to get some advice for my cichlids tank, which helped me a lot. But after several hours of reading the forum (so much information!!) i just feel like i have a thousand more questions. Heres what i got so far;
40g long tank, AC 110 filter, caribsea ivory cichlids substrate and aragonite, lots of rocks, going to get the T5 dual lamp 10k light fixture. My tap water parameters are; Ph around 7.2, hardness barely around 50ppm.

Am i gonna run into some kind of Ph trouble soon or later?!
I wanted a mbunas tank, cause they look awesome, i like the way they act in the tank, and a decor with tons of rocks is very good looking, oh and their aggressivity :). Should i rethink about getting mbunas and go with a specie that will fit more my tap water parameters..?
If not, which mbunas you guys suggest i put in my tank? Since i only have a 40g id rather small ones. Yellow labs, kenyi?!

Thanks for all the help!
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#2 ·
The aragonite and cichlid sand will manage your Ph and Hardness. When I asked how long that'd work, the guy said "Forever or until you take it down."

I don't have any Mbunas yet so I can only tell you what I've learned so far. I was warned off of Kenyii, they're pretty but not so nice. Yellow labs are mellow. 4:1 F:M ratios are ideal are over stock.
 
#3 ·
So basically just with the substrate my Ph will always stay around 8 or so??

What about zebras?! And how many fish i should put in my tank?!
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#4 ·
#5 ·
Although the above link might be good for peaceful cichlids and community fish, cichlids don't follow the same stocking rule as most fish especially mbuna. You have to overstock a mbuna tank to minimize aggression. What are the tank dimensions of your 40? If it a 3ft tank your options will be limited. I think the tank is a little on the small side for red zebras which I am assuming is what you were talking about. You need to select smaller growing/peaceful mbuna.
 
#6 ·
I would go with yellow labs and rusties for a 40 gal. They are both on the smaller side, and peaceful for mbuna. I have both species in a 40, and I love them! When the rusties mature, they get the most amazing violet sheen to them. :)

Mine are all male, but I've been lucky. I wouldn't recommend an all male mbuna tank to everyone. It has to be really carefully set up. So, get one male to several females. You will probably end up with more than one male, unless you can vent them - especially the labs. Sub-adult rusties will be showing egg spots if male, although not always the case.

Good luck!
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#10 ·
You still want 100% filtration. Depending on who I've asked I've heard 120% to 150% stocking capacity as long as the filtration is there. Me, I don't plan on going over 120%.

Website aside, my friend (a cichlid enthusiast) said I could probably manage about 15 or so adults and a pleco in a 55 until I am more experienced.
 
#11 ·
You still want 100% filtration. Depending on who I've asked I've heard 120% to 150% stocking capacity as long as the filtration is there. Me, I don't plan on going over 120%.

Website aside, my friend (a cichlid enthusiast) said I could probably manage about 15 or so adults and a pleco in a 55 until I am more experienced.
120% as juveniles or adult size ??
 
#13 ·
IMO common plecos need a 180. They can get every bit of 2ft and a 4ftx18" footprint does not yield enough room. As for the stock 5 labs and 5 rusties sound fine in a 4ft long 40. I am not sure what the percentage means but just know you can never have too much filtration.
 
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