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Hi,
I just want to say, your setup for your South American Cichlids tank is very impressive.
I think you will be very happy with those choices.
I love how you have decided to choose 10 Bolivian Rams. They are a really dynamic group, a very peaceful fish to all others, and only mildly aggressive with each other. They engage in all kinds of flaring, displaying, and shoving matches that makes them super fun to watch in a larger group.
Will you post pictures once it is set up?


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How deep a substrate are we talking for the Africans?

10cm? 15cm?

I'll most likely be using what we call "River Sand." Kind of a cross between gravel and sand and dirt - you get it from landscaping places, not aquarium shops. A sack back of it cost like $5 when I got it a couple of years ago and that was enough to cover a 122cm x 45cm tank with a covering about 7 or 8cm deep. I couldn't even get a kilo bag from the aquarium place for $5!!!

Obviously you rinse to get rid of the dirt, but this stuff has worked fine in my planted tank.

I'll reduce to 10 Rams and add 5 festivums to my list. I'm glad I posted, I want something nice and balanced and you are helping nicely.

I had bad luck with the electric yellows. They were just so small and my full grown socolofi scared them out of eating I think. They're more of a timid mbuna, compared to some of the rascals I've had, so you may want to stock them first.

I've had luck cycling with plants. I'd try some Java Fern, cichlid resistant hairgrass, and I've heard that Vals won't be demolished from mbuna. But then again, mine try to eat the plastic plants all the time.

When setting up the tank, make sure you have plenty of gravel, as mbuna dig and dig and dig. The place caves where ever they feel it's needed, it can be quite amusing sometimes.

rams
Although 15 might be overkill, maybe some festivum too, or kribs?

Mawali is nice, less $$$ than tangs.

I'll be doing a fishless cycle - using pure ammonia. That was how I set up my first tank - nicely planted Asian community tank and cylcling just didn't happen once I started adding fish.

Also, I'm probably going Malawai - gotta love those electric yellows!!! Aslo it would be cool to get some Chilumba, but I doubt it in Brisbane!!!

Last edited by batman at 17-May-2005 17:09

One thing to remember about cichlids is that they do not like cycling tanks. I have lost more cichlids to small ammonia spikes than I care to admit. When starting the tank, I'd reccommend to stock with a bottomfeeder, or a more hardy species such as pseudotropheus species. I've had good and bad luck starting tanks with these, but they're common and cheap if they do succumb (sp?) to new tank syndrome.

I am more familiar with Africans, so unfortunately I can't give good advice on new world (Americas) cichlids. When it comes time for your African tank, decide first what lake you'd like to start with (Malawi, Victoria, Tang.) and start picking species that appeal to you. Ther's a whole bunch of us cichlid nuts here, so there's lots of advice. Good luck!

How about replacing the firemouths with:
Bolivian Rams Mikrogeophagus altispinosus x15?

I'd be worried about the firemouths and ottos. Ottos are extremely small fish and firemouths can be a bit aggressive.