Starting a cichlid tank

Monsterpony

I am considering setting up my 75 gallon tank as a cichlid tank and been doing research. I have found lots of information, but still have questions. To reduce aggression, I am suppose to overcrowd the tank. How crowded is overcrowed? Is there a certain number/volume of fish? Is one magnum 350 canister filter and two (one large and one medium) HOB power filters be suitable filtration for a crowded tank? How big should rock caves be? How many rock caves do I need? Will other decor such as terracotta pots or PVC pipes function as rock caves? What other fish, if any, could be kept in the same tank?

iamntbatman

What kind of cichlids are you considering? They're a diverse group of fish so their care is impossible to describe with any brevity. African Rift Lake cichlids do well when kept in crowded conditions. Dwarf cichlids are not usually kept this way, instead they are usually kept in densely planted tanks. Medium to large New World cichlids (convicts, Jack Dempseys, green terrors, oscars, etc) are usually kept alone or with plenty of room for the fish to avoid one another.

So, before I can comment on your proposed ideas, you'll have to specify exactly what kind of fish you're interested in.

Monsterpony

Due to my local water being 8.2pH, I am looking at African cichlids. I will probably end up setting it up with the lake that I will most easily be able to find fish species for (Malawi seemed the likely candidate from my research). I like the idea of a rock tank since my other tanks are heavily decorated with plants.

willow

that should make a nice differance then.
i look forward to seeing it grow. :)