Opinions

[Holiman]

I have a new 55gal cichlid tank, I am presently using gravel and river stones. Filtration is power filter and underground with 2 power head. I am worried about changing to sand to keep ph because of power heads. I am also considering adding more river stones later right now things are going well since my fish are small. I am also not entirely sure which cichlids I have only that they are Lake Malawai african.

http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/3331/dragontank.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/2899/bluex.jpg

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8512/yellowej.jpg

 

[spyke]

looks like you got some electric blue johanni, and some yellow labs.

nice set up, but undergravel filters are not so awesome for malawi cichlids, cuz they like to dig, so scrap the undergravel, and get some sand!!!!, but you can still use the powerhead for flow and aeration.

and add a few more mbuna to the tank, like some zebras or whatever is available...just look up mbuna and figure it out from there.

 

[Holiman]

Thanks yes I do plan to add more but since these are my first cichlids I wanted to start young and small. I understand your point I guess the easiest solution would be to phase our underground one part at a time its just a shame I like the dark color tbh.

 

[Holiman]

Oh yeah I thought there johanni as well but the verticle black stripes and the dark bar across their upper fin had me confused.