Tank Layout

[Wiggles92]

I'm planning an African cichlid tank, and I need some advice on the layout. My tank is 48"x12"x19" (LxWxH), and I was thinking stacks of rocks on each end of the tank with scattered rocks in between. Will this layout work, and can I use sandstone for the rocks?

[Muske]

What Lake are you interested in most?

A 55 will make a great Tang. or Dwarf Mbuna tank. A little small for peacocks and Haps, but a good grow out for them.

Sandstone will be fine. Fish that spook easily may get scratched on them from time to time, but no worse than Lace rock, and that's what most of my rock is.

[bunty82]

can i keep
frontosa , blue dolphin and some peacocks in a 4.5 ft 2x2 tank.

[Wiggles92]

What Lake are you interested in most?

A 55 will make a great Tang. or Dwarf Mbuna tank. A little small for peacocks and Haps, but a good grow out for them.

Sandstone will be fine. Fish that spook easily may get scratched on them from time to time, but no worse than Lace rock, and that's what most of my rock is.

I don't have a specific lake in mind; I was thinking of going with some colorful ones that could live together in the 55 for life, so maybe some Labidos or Julies?

Ok, so the rock should be good; I might be able to coat it to make it less sharp.

[denoh]

set it up however you like, if it doesn't work....try something else

[CichlidsRool]

very rarely you'll get it right the first time, i hope you do but you might get a cichlid that is calm or you can get one that is aggressive, you just cant tel, frontosa's are very nice cichlid to have my very best....good luck!

[Wiggles92]

Ok, so trial and error. I have extra empty tanks I can setup for ones that don't get along with the others. I'll check out the frontosas.

[Wiggles92]

Here's my idea for the tank layout. The rock formations will be piles of sand stone (about 18" long) with caves for the fish to hide in and for separate colonies of fish.

http://i241.photobucket.com/albums/ff99/Wiggles92_17/Pond%20and%20Fish/TankDesign.jpg

So would a tank of Cyphotilapia frontosa, Labidochromis sp., and Julidochromis sp. work out well in my tank with this design? What species of Labidochromis and Julidochromis to be specific would you recommend? I was thinking of ordering a surprise box from fishfarm,and he offers all 3 species/genus.

[Wiggles92]

Ok, I just realized that Cyphotilapia frontosa and Julidochromis sp. are from Lake Tanganyika, and Labidochromis sp. are from Lake Malawi; would they still get along or should I just stick to specific lakes? I p lanned on ordering a surprise box of African Cichlids from fishfarm, so they should be pretty well matched anyway, right?

[james99]

a 4 foot tank is much too small for frontosa. you'll need atleast a 6 foot tank. you could possibly get them when they are small and grow them out and trade them, but whats the fun in not having the big adults swimming around.

[Wiggles92]

a 4 foot tank is much too small for frontosa. you'll need atleast a 6 foot tank. you could possibly get them when they are small and grow them out and trade them, but whats the fun in not having the big adults swimming around.

Ok, I'll rule out the frontosa; it wouldn't be much fun to have to get rid of them after they got too big.

Any ideas on what lake to go with? I'm up for anything, but I like the Mbuna of Lake Malawi a lot, so what would mix of species work for them? The Lake Tanganyika cichlids are pretty cool, too.

[Wiggles92]

How many full grown fish could I expect to fit in my 55 gallon?

[Wiggles92]

Well, I unfortunately have to nix the African Cichlid tank due to the cost of having to significantly harden the water due to my water being very soft (it eats copper pipe when not treated for drinking lol).