Cichlids

Hi everyone,

I am planning to start my first African Cichlid tank. I am doing extensive research so that I can be informed on which specific species to start with, their needs, water parameters, food, aqua scape, etc.

My question is, which is the smallest species from the African Cichlids that I can buy? And what is the smallest tank size I can get for that particualr species?

Your input will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

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Comment by Jessie Madrid on October 17, 2013 at 11:02pm: Cichlids like their space, they can be very territorial... so size goes along with how many you want to keep. However, some people like to over crowd to help with aggression and that they are messy eaters but that requires a large tank with a lot of maint. Hope this was at least of some help.

Comment by OceanLife69 on October 18, 2013 at 8:44am: Jessie, thank you so very much for your reply! Yes it does help. I am making all of my notes and once I have a substantial amount of information, I will set up my tank (the right way).

I will post pixs!

Thanks again!

Comment by Robert Jango on October 18, 2013 at 9:54am: An experiment was conducted in which a fish was placed in a 1 foot long tank and given constant water changes and a good supply of food. The fish grew to the size of the tank - 1 foot long! I'm not suggesting you do this. It would be cruel. But I am saying water quality is what matters - not the size of the tank.

From a practical point of view, small tanks get dirtier faster; so keeping a large tank is much easier. And Jessie is right. Cichlids like their space. And crowding will cut down on aggression by breaking down territorial boundaries.

Comment by OceanLife69 on October 18, 2013 at 4:12pm: Robert, I thank you for your reply. Yes, every comment absolutely helps and I am making notes!

My issue right now is that I can not afford a large tank, so I was leaning towards a 40g or a 55g tank. Since I do not know much about cichlids, I did not want to buy lots of them (since they have to be in a large group as per my research) and then having to buy a bigger tank later on.

But you make a lot of sence about the water clarity. I am planing to use Purigen along with Chemi-pure Elite, and Poly-Filters. I have found many in the hobby prasing all of these when used together.

What is the smallest Cichlid species I can buy for a 40g or a 55g?

And thank you again!! All this truly helps!!

Comment by Robert Jango on October 18, 2013 at 11:14pm: A 55 gallon tank is a pretty big. You could fit six 4 inch fish comfortably and triple that amount in good water. I've never actually kept African cichlids but there's a speaker at the Boston Aquarium Society on Monday who specializes in African and Central American Cichlids. I'll give him your question. I know he's keeping some endangered species from the Rift Lakes.

I had to look up Purigen and Chemipure. Chemi-pure sounds a bit dangerous and Purigen absorbs all organic compounds and carbon. I wonder if that's a good idea.

Clean water and clear water are two different things. Thick green water (suspended algae) is very clean, healthy water. The most beautiful fish I ever saw was an 8¢ Comet that lived in water that looked like pea soup. The combination of sun, algae, and live food turned this fish into a true "gold" fish. I'm not suggesting you should go ahead and cultivate green water. But I'm trying to make a point.

Clean water is the absence of ammonia, nitrogenous waste, and anearobic bacteria. Algae rids water of ammonia as do floating plants. Beneficial bacteria does the same thing plus some other things that plants can't do. The best way to cultivate beneficial bacteria is to provide it with as much oxygenated surface area as possible. Provide your 55 gallon tank with a lot of surface area and its water will mimic the conditions in a much larger (and healthier) body of water. Did you know that the coastline of Massachusetts is just as long as California's? Thats because its crinkled up like a sponge. Add two or more sponge or foam filters to your tank. These do a better job than anything else. My water passes through (in order) two sponges, a UV filter, and a wet/dry filter atop the tank that looks like a miniature waterfall. The fish are in a 70 gallon tank but they feel like they're in a 700 gallon tank.

The UV filter is for environmental bacteria (fish tuberculosis) that thrive in ultra clean, soft water, low ph, tanks like mine. You probably won't need one.

Comment by OceanLife69 on October 19, 2013 at 5:18pm: Robert, I truly appreciate your input on this man, and I can not wait to start this project. Help like yours and the others on this site guides me to understand better what I am about to start before I do anything, that's why I joined.

Just waiting for the right time now (economically) to be able to afford the 55 gallong tank that I want to get for these amazing fish.

Anyways, thanks again Robert, much appreciated.

Comment by Robert Jango on October 20, 2013 at 1:44am: Yeah, I'll keep you posted. Check Craigslist or garage sales for tanks. Sometimes if they're dirty or covered with calcium/lime stains you can get them for free. Before you buy a used tank fill it with water to make sure it doesn't leak.

Comment by OceanLife69 on October 20, 2013 at 12:01pm: Yea, that's what I was planning to do! lol! Now I am researching how to clean and fix (if need be) a used tank! Man, is never ending information! lol! Sometimes it gets a bit overwhelmning!!

Comment by Robert Jango on October 20, 2013 at 12:36pm: You can fix a leaker but I avoid them. There's always the possibility that it will re-open. But, like I said, some people are very good at it. Cleaning a used tank is easy - just wash with dish soap and rinse with a hose. Alcohol and bleach are even more effective but you'd better to rinse the heck out of it. Use the smell test when you're done. Can you still smell the bleach?

For limestone/calcium deposits which come from saltwater tanks you can use CLR or Muriatic Acid. These are even worse than bleach though. Rinsing would have to be outside with a strong hose. And I let the tank sit for a day and then re-rinse.

Its great that you're researching the subject. But the real research begins after you buy the tank. Its like learning a foreign language. Three years of high school French is great, but you won't learn the language until you move to France. (I knew a girl from France who said she couldn't understand Canadian French - interesting. I didn't even bother asking her about Cajun).