New to Africans need help

[lizardfishman]

What's up guys? Haven't posted in a long time (in the middle of college apps). I have a 55gal tank thats currently empty and a 20gal tank that's sw and has one goby in it. I'm planning on starting up the 55gal again and I really want to go back to freshwater since I'm going off to college and I don't want to leave my parents with two sw tanks to take care of because I doubt thier capabilities to take care of the tank if something goes seriously wrong and I don't want to lose a few hundred dollars worth of fish. I've kept cichlids before but they were all SA/CA cichlids and I've always wanted to try Africans. I want to know if I can use the same rocks and sand for Africans that I used when my 55gal was sw. The rocks are Live Rock which hasn't been in water for a few months so it's dead now and the sand is crushed coral. If I can use the same decor, what fish should I look to stock the tank with? I'm open to either rift lake.

Thanks,
Lizardfishman

 

[mahemaheman85]

if you doubt your parents abilitys and your leaving then you shouldn't go with africans either, most the requirements are similar minus the salt

 

[jhutch]

Africans are easy. If you have adults you don't even really need to worry about water changes. You would be fine using the old sw stuff because the rift lake fish like a little salt anyway. As far as what fish to get there are way too many choices.

 

[mike dunagan]

Africans are easy. If you have adults you don't even really need to worry about water changes. You would be fine using the old sw stuff because the rift lake fish like a little salt anyway. As far as what fish to get there are way too many choices.

I do not agree that they do not require water changes since they are adults. I would still do water changes with africans.


Now you can reuse the the items, just check to be sure that the salt content when you fill is not to high.

 

[Muske]

Rinse the heck out of the rock also. Could be harboring dead micros. that could foul the water.

 

[lizardfishman]

Ya, I'm definately washing the rocks and stuff off to get rid of anything that's dead and I'll check the salt content when I put them in. I'm going to go check out a store like 30mins from my house that's supposed to be really good this weekend and I'll see what they have. I might just go back to oddballs. Depends on what they have cuz theres no other good stores near me.

 

[nuggets]

a good cleaning first and a good rinsing and you should do atleast a bare minimum of a 1/3rd water change every 2 months i mean come on

 

[jhutch]

I never said don't do water changes. I just said it's not a big worry if someone forgets. Personally I never do water changes with my breeders but that is my own opinion.

 

[lizardfishman]

Ok thanks for the info guys. I'll try to find the old stock list i had planned for a Tanganikian (sp?) tank.