Making the switch. Help me with stock

[soulpatch]

Ok all. I am not that familiar with which Africans get along with one another. I currently have a 125 with Oscars, green terror, 2 4 line cats, and a couple silver dollars.

I woudl like to get rid of everything and start up a African tank for more color. I would like it to be more of a community tank with tons of color (especially the deep blues and oranges some of the fish possess) I have one issue though and that is the fact that my wife woudl like to keep the green terror. Now my GT is fairly docile (though the oscars rule the tank so this could be why) and he schools with the silver dollars. I understand the PH differences between Africans and SAs but I also know that the GT is a hardy fish.

So I would like to drop in some slate to build up some rock faces and caverns for the Africans instead of the driftwood I have now. I would also potentially like to do some live plants as opposed to fake plants to give it a realistic look though I am not adverse to simple rocks.


That said what species could I use to populate the tank with tons of color but woudl get along with one another. I have read if the tank is all male then it will cut down on aggression and such. I would like quite a few fish as well as my godson prefers my guppy breeder/feeder tank over the main tank in th house and it bothers me. He just likes the colors of the guppies.

So while I would be staying in the cichlid family but a whole new beast to me. So please help a guy out and point me in the direction of what woudl work. I woudl also LOVE if people could post up sites to buy from where I could get specific genders. Most places I look at are for juvies or adult but do not note that you can select a sex...

Also any awesome spots to order the rock online and/or any things I should be aware of for the tank during the conversion. I know I will need to raise my PH slightly but let me know of any other items. Filtration is with FX5 and XP4 so I should be covered there. Thinking of adding a Diaton DE filter too to keep things crystal clear.

 

[Mokujin22]

Increasing hardness/pH is as simple as adding baking soda or mixing crushed coral into your existing substrate. Forget those expensive chemicals - especially with a tank that size.

All male Malawi fish compatible with a GT would be just about any hap and larger, more aggressive peacocks. Some common suggestions:

Any Protomelas
Any Placidochromis
Any Otopharynx
Any Copadichrimis
Peacocks - A. jacobfreibergi, benga, rubescens/ruby red, lwanda, OB, dragonsblood, etc
Cyrtacara moori
Dimidiochromis compressiceps
Scianochromis fryeri

Avoid two fish that have too similar colors/body shapes as they will fight. For example, you may have trouble with two very similar yellow peacocks or two very similar blue/red combination Protomelas.

I would also avoid very large/aggressive predators or any fish in excess of 10".

PM'ed you with a suggestion for online retailers.

Good luck.

 

[soulpatch]

Thanks. I will look over the PM and check out the sites. I was thinking of some crushed coral as I already have pool filter sand as a base so the coral would roughen it up slightly to add to the rock look. Never would have thought of baking soda. That is an excellant idea and would save costs should I not go with the coral.

Your list of suggestions. Would any of those work with a GT or would I merely look at the larger peacocks and haps?

 

[Mokujin22]

NP buddy. Post up the list and I'll take a look at it.

I'd say with a green terror, most of the larger fish listed would be fine. If anything, you may want to avoid some of the Otopharynx and smaller Copadichromis as they would be the most timid of the list.

 

[malawidave]

quick note... check your regular tap pH... not sure about PA, but where Im from water is naturally hard... I dont have to add anything and my pH comes to 7.8... might save you from having to add Baking soda either... or small amount if a little on the low side, then the rock should keep it steady near 8.

Also the list that Mokujin gave you Is an excellent choice only make sure not to get them too small, even the meanest little african can get beat down by a larger aggressive fish

good luck and welcome to the OLD WORLD