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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 17:00:50 GMT -5
all you cichlid experts id like to know what would be the best tank set up for these species. i already know that you need lots of rocks and hiding places and very little plants since they will dig most of them up or eat them down to the gravel. and lighting isnt much of an issue.
soo my question is what would be the easiest rock terrain set up thats available at almost any pet store?
and also feel free to add the specifics to everything that is the malawi cichlids. like water temperater and water levels. and all that good important stuff. this will be a reference for anyone thats just starting to get into the addiction of cichlid tanks. Thanks James
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Post by eve on Feb 26, 2009 17:27:04 GMT -5
read this article and see if you have any questions afterwards Yellow lab
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 18:51:49 GMT -5
thanks eve ive ready many articles like that. i was just more curious about there living habitat in an aquarium. and have owners give there descriptions of what they used to start there cichlid tanks. i just want to have everyone new or future new people and myself to have a reference for anything malawi cichlid.
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Post by eve on Feb 26, 2009 18:57:57 GMT -5
the profiles you will see here, are all written by members and do have personal input in them, so they're definitely way different then other articles you will see
what are your target q's?
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 19:25:59 GMT -5
type of stones for hiding. types of plants that arent going to get dug up or eaten besides plastic fake ones. water levels. nitrite nitrate gh kh etc... maximum amount of cichlids per gallons. compatable tank mates. other then other african/malawi cichlids. umm any other input they feel like dropping in
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Post by eve on Feb 26, 2009 19:33:33 GMT -5
type of stones for hiding. types of plants that arent going to get dug up or eaten besides plastic fake ones. water levels. nitrite nitrate gh kh etc... maximum amount of cichlids per gallons. compatable tank mates. other then other african/malawi cichlids. umm any other input they feel like dropping in you can use slate to build caves with as example also any other stones which you might find in the wild, just make sure they are free of any bad materials, best to cook them i had luck with amazon sword and anubis not being dug up with them nitrite should never ever be present, unless in the cycling process nitrAtes should be below 20 ppm pH is mentioned in the article as well as temperature there is no maximum amount per gallon in a 29 gallon tank, however you're limited to 1 species because of the foot print meaning, no more then 1 male and 3-4 females, that's the limit schooling fish is what you can add without any probs with yellows remind me again of what you currently have
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 19:38:10 GMT -5
3 juli cory cats 3 albino cory cats 1 dojo loach getting big around 6 inches now and i just purchased 5 neons for dither fish next step is to get the terrain i need. then grow out the neons to over an inch and then save up some cash for the labs.
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 19:41:05 GMT -5
im planning to place 4 labs in at 1 time soo they can all get territory so there wont be issues.
and i have a feeling its going to be a while before that happens because the females are pretty hard to find in my area. i called around and everyones got males.
im also planning to get juveniles so i can watch them grow and also the smaller they are at first the less aggressive they will be with my other fish.
and if i have to i can always get a new 10 gallon tank and move my cory cats and dojo in there after it cycles. and have 3 corys in 1 of the 10s with the dojo and 3 corys in the other 10 with the guppies.
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Post by murdock6701 on Feb 26, 2009 20:39:46 GMT -5
granite and marble work well too - gives you some color.....
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Post by jonv on Feb 26, 2009 21:03:13 GMT -5
Tell you the truth here, looking at your readings, they are almost ideal for a Tangyangikan tank, just need to raise up the GH and KH a little bit. I'm surprised no one else has picked up on this yet. Might be worth your time to look into. Or Victorians. I can't tell you how much looking back I wish I'd gone Victorian sooner.
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 26, 2009 21:18:41 GMT -5
thanks jon which victorians would you suggest as far as color and size go. im looking for bright colors and anywhere from 4 inches to 7 inches.
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Post by murdock6701 on Feb 26, 2009 21:35:23 GMT -5
I'm no expert but your tank size might not be large enough to handle 5 fish 7" long......somebody correct me if I'm wrong
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Post by eve on Feb 27, 2009 3:35:40 GMT -5
I'm no expert but your tank size might not be large enough to handle 5 fish 7" long......somebody correct me if I'm wrong couldn't agree more on that don't forget, you have a really small footprint as well your tank is higher then longer, which means, there is no way at all to keep more then one species in there i doubt that tangs would be the right fit for you
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Post by jonv on Feb 27, 2009 8:19:27 GMT -5
I don't agree that Tangs wouldn't work out. Shell dwellers. That is the key. They are often times mentioned to work in 10 to 20 gallon tanks, the footprint on this tank is even larger so there shouldn't be any reason these types wouldn't work. Front as said before, that's not going to work. The Lelupi shouldn't be an issue at all, because if Mbuna can fit in there, the Lelupi would as well, since they get about the same size. Not many people I've seen even keep Tangyangikans, so as I said before, I see an opportunity since your pH is ideal, and your GH is just a tad under that some wonder shells couldn't address.
Not all Tangyangikans reach that 7 inch size range, so only from that aspect I'd say I agree. Larger Tangs no, but there are numerous other smaller growing ones out there to choose from. On the Vics, like I said before, check out the Yellow Belly Alberts I just got at the beginning of the month. Final sizes on males is maybe 3-4 inches, but the colors on these are outstanding. Pundamilla Nyerie's are another good colored choice as well. Either way, Vic or Tang, or Malawi, one species here is the key.
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 27, 2009 12:43:49 GMT -5
so as i posted in my other thread the tang thread. i believe my choice is leaning to yellow labs and an acei
for my tank size how many yellow males would be a safe number with just 1 acei.
is it just 1 acei and 1 lab.
or can i get 2 labs and 1 acei?
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 27, 2009 15:34:25 GMT -5
i have just baught a decoration with many holes in it im sure it will work for a lab
also had a question. jonv has mentiond to me earlier that if i were to get 2 female labs i could possibly put a male of another cichlid species from the same lake in the tank with them.
soo i was thinking about 2 female labs and 1 male blue ahli hap
would that be another possibility to look into?
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 27, 2009 15:56:36 GMT -5
new decoration and finished tank terrainside viewwould this be the ideal situation for a yellow lab?
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Post by eve on Feb 27, 2009 17:01:39 GMT -5
you know why this decoration won't work guess not it won't work, as there is no way to establish territory for more then 1, it's a one pice decoration, with no separate divided spots believe me, i know since i took the exact same decoration out of my tank since you don't wonna hear that you shouldn't mix any species in a 28 gallon tank, i will pull out of this thread
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Post by corycatwoman on Feb 27, 2009 17:26:05 GMT -5
hmm that would be an issue ill have to take it back. i dont really know what other decorations would work tho. the only other one i seen was similar in height but not near as wide and was numerous holes with no backing soo i picked this one cuz it was numerous holes with a backing for a cave like affect also. ill need to look at smaller individual caves then.
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Post by brenda on Feb 27, 2009 17:27:55 GMT -5
I guess I am more open to mixing in a tank that size as I have seen it done and work well for people. To me if you want to try it do, but be prepared to un do it if it doesn't work. The key would also being putting them all in at the same time.The Ahli however will be too big...You could try one of these...http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=2292 they don't get huge and they're peaceful and not really teritorial and may work well with 2 female yellow labs. Your tank looks beautiful, but I am not sure if that decor would work either.
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