Where to start 55g African tank?

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warhawk

warhawk

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Feb 26, 2015
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Indiana
I have never keep a African cichlid so my experience is pretty limited, which brings me to here to ask questions.

I picked up a few 55g tanks at the petco sale and I have been thinking now is a good time to setup a African cichlid tank. The tank will be filtered buy a canister filter rated at 75g(don't recall the name) and sponge filters. So filteration shouldn't be a issue.

I know next to nothing about the different types of cichilds but from what I have seen I like the Kenyi because they are nice colors but there are a lot of different fish that have great colors. Also from what I read I need to stock the tank pretty heavy so I'm thinking 8-10 fish does that sound right?

So is that enough of a plan to get me started?
 
warhawk said:
I have never keep a African cichlid so my experience is pretty limited, which brings me to here to ask questions.

I picked up a few 55g tanks at the petco sale and I have been thinking now is a good time to setup a African cichlid tank. The tank will be filtered buy a canister filter rated at 75g(don't recall the name) and sponge filters. So filteration shouldn't be a issue.

I know next to nothing about the different types of cichilds but from what I have seen I like the Kenyi because they are nice colors but there are a lot of different fish that have great colors. Also from what I read I need to stock the tank pretty heavy so I'm thinking 8-10 fish does that sound right?

So is that enough of a plan to get me started?
Click to expand...
warhawk said:
I have never keep a African cichlid so my experience is pretty limited, which brings me to here to ask questions.

I picked up a few 55g tanks at the petco sale and I have been thinking now is a good time to setup a African cichlid tank. The tank will be filtered buy a canister filter rated at 75g(don't recall the name) and sponge filters. So filteration shouldn't be a issue.

I know next to nothing about the different types of cichilds but from what I have seen I like the Kenyi because they are nice colors but there are a lot of different fish that have great colors. Also from what I read I need to stock the tank pretty heavy so I'm thinking 8-10 fish does that sound right?

So is that enough of a plan to get me started?
Click to expand...
You can house more than 8-10 in a 55.My advice to you is do some research on African cichlids and make sure that you get them in trios.
 
darthvader4bwu said:
You can house more than 8-10 in a 55.My advice to you is do some research on African cichlids and make sure that you get them in trios.
Click to expand...

I'm starting to think a Mbuna tank would be a good choice. Looks like I could do 15+ in the 55g if I have the rocks for that. Plus the females have color also. So starting to narrow down my list.
 
Mbuna breed easily, so they can be obtained inexpensively from over stocked fish keepers.

They can be quite entertaining.
 
Research, research, research if you go into Africans blindly you will be disappointed and frustrated very quickly. Search our forum, and even recommend youtube KG tropicals. Not trying to be harsh just want you to succeed.:)
 
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Lake Malawi is one of 3 huge African Cichlid lakes.
Haps, peacocks, mbuna inhabit it. When researching every thing is GREEK. or maybe it's Latin?
The common Yellow fish, aka yellow Lab is a labidochomis caerulerus.
The blue fish is Psudochromius elongatus.
Unlike a Bass, Crappie, Bluegill. Most can cross breed into hybrids, of which the lake Malawi has lots of variations of the same basic fish. With different regional names.
Yellow labs are the most docile.
 
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