setting up a cichlid tank ...

mlkpookie · 08-20-2007, 04:52 PM

I have finally decided on 2 convict cichlids with leucistic colouration. They are a breeding pair and we do want them to raise their fry.

Do these fish need any special requirements and what are their basic needs, aside from caves?

We picked it up a yard sale and has been stored for 3-4 months so it needs to be cleaned. How should I do that? With just warm water no soap or chemicals?

I plan on keeping them in a 20 gal tank.

We aren't sure what filter to use and were thinking about a biowheel but are also considering a build your own filter. What do you suggest?

We were thinking of using a larger then needed filter like a 30 gal tank filter instead of a 20 gal tank filter. Is that a wise decision, if so how much over filtering would be safe to do without causing problems? We are also looking at upgrading the tank size so could we go as far to use a filter for a 40gal tank in a 20 gal tank?

How much water do you think needs to be changed weekly and do we vacuum weekly?

What kind of substrate should we use?

Are there any plants that we can add to the tank as a snack? Of coarse we will be feeding them another food but wouldn't they enjoy a plant to snack on? What kind of foods are your highest recommended for a staple diet? We do have an omnivorous frozen food available in our area.

We also want the tank fully cycled before they come home. We discussed working something out with a "tropical tank" friend where we can add a packet of Bio Spira to our tank. Then she would provide 4 danios and/or a freshwater flounder to support the cycle til we bring them home (hopefuly in 2-3 weeks). The other fish will be removed before we put the cihlids in the tank. Would that provide sufficient cycling to support them and possibly a tank of frys within in a month of bringing them home?

Should the tank be heated for the cichlids? If so to what temperature?

This is our 2cnd tank but our 1st one with cichlids. We made a lot of mistakes with our first tank (goldfish) and are trying to avoid mistakes this time around.

Any and all suggestions would be appreciated, from basic needs to basic facts!

Also if you know of any helpful articles would you please let me know?

Thanks!!

freshwater06 · 08-20-2007, 06:05 PM

clean the tank with hot water and scrub it, rocks or sand will do, sand with it a hand full of rock scattered looks good, and make sure to build the tank up with a lots of caves, ciclhids love hidin places, also some plants as they like veggie diets and flakes too, for temperature i keep mine at 79-80F, also cichlids are on the mean side so they dont do well with others and also a challenge to keep 2 different types of cichlids together so try to keep the same. far as the filter, have one thats rated a a slightly larger tank, 30-40 since you have a 20.

twood63 · 08-20-2007, 06:43 PM

When I got mine The lady at the LFS said to get cichlid substrate. It helps keep the PH at a higher level. This really helps in bringing there natural colors. Everything else freshwater stated above is great to follow. if you plan on having multiple breeds of cichlids in a tank get them all at 1 time and as bad as it sounds the quantity if fish should be higher than the standard for your tank. This seems to get the fish used to the population and they are calmer. I have a 55 with yellows 8 blue zebras 3 red zebras 2 and believe it or not 5 tiger barbs they made me mad one night picking in my community tank so I thought would show them how mean the Africans were.... wouldn't you know they get along.

T

harley3k · 08-20-2007, 10:03 PM

You can probably skip the buffering substrate for a Convict. Most people who use buffers are keeping Rift Lake Cichlids. The Rift Lakes have ph's as high as 8.2 - 8.4. Convicts are really adaptable do well from 6.5 to 8.5.

pappyy3 · 08-21-2007, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley3k

You can probably skip the buffering substrate for a Convict. Most people who use buffers are keeping Rift Lake Cichlids. The Rift Lakes have ph's as high as 8.2 - 8.4. Convicts are really adaptable do well from 6.5 to 8.5.

Agree with Harley3K. Convicts tend to do well in quite wide PH range, so unless your water's PH keeps falling below a PH of 6.5 I wouldn't bother with getting gravel that buffers your water.

If your gonna breed these fish you have to eventually think about where you put them all once they start their little families.

Once they start breeding, they don't stop and will lay eggs every 4 to 6 weeks if you let them

Tbx · 08-21-2007, 03:16 PM

You can way over filter and still be safe on my new 29 gallon salt water I have a 30 gallon bio wheel 1 in tank 15 gallon filter and 2 power heads a canister filter for a 40 gallon and a bubbler filter it is a little bubble thing with bio balls inside it and a nano fission protien skimmer and that is still safe so you should have no problems even with a 30-60 gallon filter on it

Over filtering is really hard you would have to get a 200 gallon filter to over filter your tank which would not fit Your tank size would restrict the amount of filters you can put on it so do not worry about over filtration trust me It would be super obvious if you were over filtering a tank.

twood63 · 08-21-2007, 06:40 PM

Hey TBX,

I just had a vision where the fish were being sucked in and over the overflow like a water slide...... Those convicts going weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

lets do it again.

T

freshwater06 · 08-21-2007, 09:40 PM

whats the difference in a regular filter and a bio wheel filter?

gm333 · 08-21-2007, 11:17 PM

The biowheel provides alot more bilogical filtration than just the filter cartridges.