50g Cichlid build

[samual]

I had always wanted to keep cichlids when I was younger - it just wasn't something that was financially feasible but as an adult... its possible.

This is a tank I set up on Monday with a used filter to expedite the cycling process. The plan is to eventually plant it with an array of bright ferns etc. Plants are fairly new to me so that will be a learning curve.

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated in regards to cichlids / plants and scaping.

 

[1112-425XL]

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Hello, do you know what kind of cichlid you want? Is this a 48 x12 tank?

 

[CascadianExotics]

50 gallons is a bit small for most cichlids, outside of Dwarf (Rams, Apistogrammas) and Tanganyikan Lamprologines. Though, if you can keep reef, you can keep Tanganyikans. If you're wanting to do something outside of that, the save the 50 for a reef build, and get at least a 75 gallon tank at a minimum.

Also, plants are not going to go well with cichlids. There are some South American and West African species that will be fine, but most will destroy that aquascape in a fast hurry.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Welcome to the group. Cichlids were my start as well. A couple of jack Dempsey's needed a tank mate that could handle their exhubetance.

Enter the green spotted puffer. I fell in love and found out he would do way better in brackish water. Gave the Dempsey's away and went to 1.022. After Pierre passed (the gsp, puffer not stars) I wasn't sure what to do so I bumped things to 1.025. That was in 2003. 20 years later here I am.

 

[NCsalt]

Tanganyikan Cichlids are so cool imo! Shelldwellers, Calvus, Brichardi, Julies and more. I thought very hard about doing that instead of a reef with my 40 breeder. Reef won out as I missed my old reef tank.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Blue acara
Fire mouth
Convict cichlid
Polar blue
Angles
For Americans

Rusty
Yellow lab
Shell dwellers
Jewel
For African.

Stay away from
Severum
Oscar
Jack Dems

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Blue acara
Fire mouth
Convict cichlid
Polar blue
Angles
For Americans

Rusty
Yellow lab
Shell dwellers
Jewel
For African.

Stay away from
Severum
Oscar
Jack Dems

Jacks are so pretty though.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Jacks are so pretty though.

Agreed, just that some strains can be quiet large. I'm thinking 75 minimum.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Jacks are so pretty though.

I'm keeping most of my list, now and have kept all of them. I just got a baby green Texas Cichlid that is growing out as fast as an Oscar, has a personality that is a cross between jacks on the aggressive side and an Oscar's wet pet side. It's becoming my favorite fish of all time.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

I'm keeping most of my list, now and have kept all of them. I just got a baby green Texas Cichlid that is growing out as fast as an Oscar, has a personality that is a cross between jacks on the aggressive side and an Oscar's wet pet side. It's becoming my favorite fish of all time.

We used to pull Texas cichlids out of the local water (I grew up in central Texas). Called them Rio grande perch, they are also extremely pretty. They were always a bit aggressive, in the rivers and ponds as well as in a tank. I believe they are the cichlid found furthest north in the world.

Can you just buy them now?

 

[Cichlid Dad]

We used to pull Texas cichlids out of the local water (I grew up in central Texas). Called them Rio grande perch, they are also extremely pretty. They were always a bit aggressive, in the rivers and ponds as well as in a tank. I believe they are the cichlid found furthest north in the world.

Can you just buy them now?

Yes, you can buy them over the counter, there are a few strains but there has been hybridization and not exactly the same fish you find in Texas and Mexico. True, they are the only true north American cichlids.

 

[CascadianExotics]

Tanganyikan Cichlids are so cool imo! Shelldwellers, Calvus, Brichardi, Julies and more. I thought very hard about doing that instead of a reef with my 40 breeder. Reef won out as I missed my old reef tank.

My Tanganyikan community has been my trainer for a reef tank. Got some Black Calvus, Julie's, Caudopunctatus, and Daffodils in a heavily rockwork setup. Think I'm going to have to split the Daffodils from the group, as the members of Brichardi complex get really aggressive when they start breeding.

Really want to add some paracyprichromis and enantiopus to the tank when I do get the Daffodils out. Maybe I'll get a pair of lelupi as well for some color.

 

[Roatan Reef]

Go with South American Cichlids...more peaceful, cooler colors, , less aggressive and you can add a variety of to it
....South African Cichlids...will out compete and kill each other

 

[CascadianExotics]

Go with South American Cichlids...more peaceful, cooler colors, , less aggressive and you can add a variety of to it
....South African Cichlids...will out compete and kill each other

Not if you keep them properly. I have three tanks of nothing but the African species you are referring to (Malawi, Tanganyikan, and Madagascan) that have been up and running for years. A lot of other people have found great success with these kinds of fish too. It's all in how they are kept and managed, my friend!

On the other hand, there are some South American cichlids that put Africans to shame in terms of temperament....Salvini, literally every Parachromis (Dovii, Jaguars, etc), Devils, Flowerhorn, Terrors....

 

[Roatan Reef]

Not if you keep them properly. I have three tanks of nothing but the African species you are referring to (Malawi, Tanganyikan, and Madagascan) that have been up and running for years. A lot of other people have found great success with these kinds of fish too. It's all in how they are kept and managed, my friend!

On the other hand, there are some South American cichlids that put Africans to shame in terms of temperament....Salvini, literally every Parachromis (Dovii, Jaguars, etc), Devils, Flowerhorn, Terrors....

True, I've set up some friends and family SAfrican Cichlid tanks, and aside from minor aggression and a few deaths, tanks have done excellent.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

The biggest problem with Africans is that after a while they all end up being the same shade of blah I mean brown.

 

[CascadianExotics]

The biggest problem with Africans is that after a while they all end up being the same shade of blah I mean brown.

Don't know where you're getting your info, but.....

All these fish I've raised out from 1 inch fry to adults.

 

[Townes_Van_Camp]

Don't know where you're getting your info, but.....

All these fish I've raised out from 1 inch fry to adults.

Every multi species African tank I have ever seen and there have been hundreds eventually turned into a bunch of cross bred, brown fish. I should have stated the community part.

 

[CascadianExotics]

Every multi species African tank I have ever seen and there have been hundreds eventually turned into a bunch of cross bred, brown fish. I should have stated the community part.

That's why you have a male-only show tank, or breed single-species. I raised the vast majority of mine up, and got a few select juvenile males along the way for my tank.

There are ways to have multi species Mbuna tanks without a lot of inter-breeding, and Tanganyikans will stick to their own. Again, it's all in how you keep them, and stock your tank.