Setting up a cichlid tank.

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oceanscurve

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 12, 2006
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USA
Hello,
As some of you may now I have kept saltwater tanks and even a Cichlid tank that I bred them in. I am planing to set up a new tank for cichlid breeding. I was wondering what would be a good filteration system. Its been a long time since I had a freshwater tank and am hopping to hop wright back in. Do you have an suggestions for filteration? Also what is the most ideal type of cichlid to breed? I would like to have a full set up around 75 gallons with around 3 or 4 pairs of cichlids,low lighting, natral decoration and canister filter. Should I use a sand bed or a gravel bed?

thanks,
-Tom
 
I would go with 1 or 2 canister filters for a 75gallon. Personally i would choose Filstar XP line. Also make sure you put a sponge cover over the inlet pipe for the filter so the fry don't get sucked up. And as far as keeping multiple pairs in a 75gallon is going to limit your options greatly on a small 75gallon. Most cichlids become very aggressive when breeding so having multiple pairs could turn into a disaster in such a small tank. If it was me i'd go with a breeding pair of GreenTerror's for a 75gallon...GoodLuck
 
I wouldnt try breeding more than 1 pair in a 75gal tank. Cichlids become violent when breeding so the first pair to breed would try to kill of everything else in the tank. GT's JD's or maybe RD's might be a good choice but just 1 pair.
 
How large do theys pairs get? So how big would a tank need to be to have 2 or 3 different pairs? Or would it be smarter to keep non pairing cichlids?
 
you won't see me recommending africans over south/central americans very often, but in this case you might want to consider something like Neolamprologus brichardi or Neolamprologus pulcher. behavior wise they will be similar to Central americans, but from what I understand in the wild they live in large groups. several pairs will be in the same area and will help protect each other's fry. so, with these 2 species and probably a few others you could keep multiple pairs in your 75.

if you really want CA/SA cichlids and you really want multiple pairs you could do a couple pairs of dwarves like rams or appistos, or probably a pair of smaller Cryptoheros (such as nanoluteus, honduran red point, sajica or spilurum) and a pair of Thorichthys (pretty much any) or 2 pairs of either of these groups. there are other south americans that you could keep more than one pair such as keyholes, the flag cichlids (Laetacara dorsigera and L. curviceps), festivums, and several of the smaller acaras. :)

if you want anything CA/SA that will get over 7" though then you should probably stick to one pair in that size tank. :thumbsup:
 
Eheim Cannister with a Sand Bottom. As mentioned above for a 75, a school of Daffodils with plenty of white rock is a slam dunk for little ones. One pair of CA's as an alternative. Jags are predictable but the 75 may be a tad small. A really beautiful alternative would be a pair of Mota's.
 
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