Need help on starting african cichlid tank.

[Benfica]

I have always been fascinated by african cichlids. Since i havea 38 galon with some common communtiy fish i plan on switching it over to Malawai cichlids theme.
I really want eletric yellows lab to be includes in setup

My Setup:
38Gallon Glass, 36L,12W,18H
280 biowheel marine filter
Alot of pounds of slate/lavarock
200 watt heater
Fake plant (big)
Black Gravel
Canopy

*I plan on buying a lot of Rock (block) to cover the back of the tank since i know africians need it*

- If someone knows species i can put into the take .
- What i need to add, or take away
- Any knowledge on how to maintain malawai theme tank.


Thanks

 

[Benfica]

And do i get any speical thing to make the water harder?

 

[lateraldisposition]

what u got sounds good for inside I would keep no more than five or six smaller 5to6 inch. Less agressive malawians because yellow labs are pretty peaceful I made the mistake of a lab and red zebra lab is constantly being picked at by mates some species like a little salt but most are just fine without it I hope I helped

 

[lateraldisposition]

oh yea I would go with argonite or a sand to raise the ph a little mine like a 7.7ish just do some research on em and u should be fine also religeous weekly water changes

 

[Benfica]

what u got sounds good for inside I would keep no more than five or six smaller 5to6 inch. Less agressive malawians because yellow labs are pretty peaceful I made the mistake of a lab and red zebra lab is constantly being picked at by mates some species like a little salt but most are just fine without it I hope I helped

Thank you

 

[Benfica]

oh yea I would go with argonite or a sand to raise the ph a little mine like a 7.7ish just do some research on em and u should be fine also religeous weekly water changes

So i need sand instead of gravel.

 

[navygirl76]

i would put yellow labs and maybe a dwarf type mbuna like saulosi's or a few rusties.. and thats it. i would make it a two species tank. i would mix some crushed coral or argonite to raise the ph level in with the sand as substrate and like you said plenty of rockwork. i love the lava rock because its light, and it stacks really well. it wont fall and kill a fish lol.

i love yellow labs too-they will look great in the tank!

 

[Benfica]

i would put yellow labs and maybe a dwarf type mbuna like saulosi's or a few rusties.. and thats it. i would make it a two species tank. i would mix some crushed coral or argonite to raise the ph level in with the sand as substrate and like you said plenty of rockwork. i love the lava rock because its light, and it stacks really well. it wont fall and kill a fish lol.

i love yellow labs too-they will look great in the tank!

hehe, got about 150.00 in lava rock in the tank lol.Thanks for your post.

 

[lateraldisposition]

u don't have to get sand or arginite but it will help keep ur ph up without fluctuations I use only ph neutral and my ph stays 7.6 to 7.8

 

[BigTim15]

I would get sand but just my 2 cents