Baking soda is what I use to buffer the water on tanks without crushed coral mixed in the substrate. 1 TBS per 10 gallons.
While I still have a couple of community tanks with mostly males, I have found that you see some really cool dynamics with a breeding group of fish. I highly recommend trying the group of kenyi. They are underrated fish, mostly because they are common (sold at Petco, etc) and are generally not kept properly. \
They typically receive a combination of other tankmates from the "mixed African" tank. In my area, this tank is typically common hardy starter varieties - yellow labs, red zebras, kenyi, auratus and not hybrids (though they do appear on occasion, especially with peacocks).
New fish keepers get one of each and end up getting out of the hobby because these "hardy" cichlids outgrow their 20G and end up killing each other. After 6 months, the tank they setup with 6 cute little Africans ends up being a tank with 1 bumblebee and a 12" pleco.
Having a proper ratio of males to females and having adequate tank space is crucial. Your tank is 18" wide x 48' long, right? Adult kenyi will need a tank 4' long.
As others have said, just remember that these are seriously mean mbuna and they will get big. Fight the temptation to pickup other fish along the way and enjoy.
While I still have a couple of community tanks with mostly males, I have found that you see some really cool dynamics with a breeding group of fish. I highly recommend trying the group of kenyi. They are underrated fish, mostly because they are common (sold at Petco, etc) and are generally not kept properly. \
They typically receive a combination of other tankmates from the "mixed African" tank. In my area, this tank is typically common hardy starter varieties - yellow labs, red zebras, kenyi, auratus and not hybrids (though they do appear on occasion, especially with peacocks).
New fish keepers get one of each and end up getting out of the hobby because these "hardy" cichlids outgrow their 20G and end up killing each other. After 6 months, the tank they setup with 6 cute little Africans ends up being a tank with 1 bumblebee and a 12" pleco.
Having a proper ratio of males to females and having adequate tank space is crucial. Your tank is 18" wide x 48' long, right? Adult kenyi will need a tank 4' long.
As others have said, just remember that these are seriously mean mbuna and they will get big. Fight the temptation to pickup other fish along the way and enjoy.
