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Re-stocking my 250L is due to start any time now after a full strip down and re location. Ive been looking at doing a cichlid tank.

Ive been looking around and was thinking of have 5 or 6 yellow labs and 5 or 6 masked julies, with 4 bristlenose on algae duty. Just thought id check on the compatability of the cichlids with each other, as well as things like ease of keeping and breeding, and any other species to consider as well as/ instead of the labs and julies, considering this will be my first real cichlid tank as such.

Any advice as well as personal experience would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Matt.

Ok, I have my new plan. I was looking at droping the jullies and going for 6 electric yellows with some cobalt blues and Johannii as well. What sort of numbers of the blues and johannii should i be looking at. And will the Bn be compatible with the african cichlids.

Matt.

I currently have 6 electric yellows, 5 princess cichlids, 2 peacock Cichlids, 4 clown loaches and a convict cichlid and a pictus cat, all in a 250lt tanks ,and they all seem to be going great. Gives a good mixture of both colour and sizes in the fish , and an active tank to look at.

Yea if you go with the Africans you defintly get a lot more in your tank compaired to if you would do the south american cichlids. I kept the africans before and they have much brighter colors and more aggresive then the South American cichlids.

African Chiclids would look great in that tank !

I think however that 4 BN might be a bit much on the bioload of the tank, and a little algea is good for the chiclids. I would mabey go with 2 instead, just so that the bioload doesn't max out...

Inky

electric yellows would be sweet but your julies could pick on them as they get older in your set up. i work in a fish store and can without doubt tell you the more african cichlids you can possibly have in your tank(to a limit) befor your filter konks out, the better. i have 3 foot with 2 small fluval internals and 25 fish. the more fish the less territory they can get, therefore the less agression seeing as territory defence for food in that area is what makes them aggressive.
get basically whatever fish you like (and for a 5 foot it sounds...that would be about 40 something) and you'll b sweet. and forget about that "dont get more than 2 Brestlenose" comment. thats just dang rediculous but i would say you go for synodontis or something seeing they are more suited to the high ph and all that jazz.hope thats helpful
later days

The process has begun. 40 fish!!! excelent. So far there are 4 BN 6 Electric yellows and 6 Johannii. Need to have a look at varying the colours a bit. Maybe find somthing purple of blue or black. Electric blues might be next on the shopping list.

Thanks everyone

Matt.

i like african cichlids and all but i like south and central americans because mine show a lot more aggresion than my african i tryed puting 1 fontasa with my 8" oscar and it ate it right away it was a 4" fontasa and it died so i out them in with my convicts and the convicts fought them and killed them right away. so i like south and central americans.