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Hi

Ive just bought a new (second hand..new for me!) tank.. very exciting! Its about 4 foot.. holds about 211 litres. Im planning on stocking it with cichlids.
It came with an Aqua Pro CF1000 filter... has anyone used this filter before and can advise how it is best set up?
Apart from this filter what other filter/aeration devices should i be using to keep the water at the best quality?
Ive read that UGF arent that good when running large tanks.
This is the first big tank ive setup and anyones advice as to what would be the best setup would be greatly appreciated!!

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Truth doesn't always win friends but it influences them

I have read that UGF's just aren't that great with cichlids because they like to root around in the substrate. I had a UGF with my barbs and the thing didn't really seem to work so I pulled it out and am just using the Aqua-Clear 200 that came with the tank. Just curious, what cichlids are you planning to get? I have a krib and I absolutely love her, the Bolivian rams are really nice too.

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

I have a UGF and a Eheim Pro11 on my 5ft tank and not a problem yet I dont have Cichlids as they can dig the substrate up very easly. Therefore I would use a good external Canister.

For that size tank two heaters would be an benifit.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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To be honest i havent been out looking at cichlids yet but thinking of electric blues for sure... im gng to scout around different aquariums and see what is available..Ive had electric yellows before so that might be an idea...

ill stick with the external cannister filter that came with it.. will that be enough to filter the water properly?

Ill also add a couple of airstones to get some extra water movement.. the guy who had it before me had a huge problem with algae.. i still have to give it a massive scrub cos most of the glass is still green!

Thanks for all your advice!

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Truth doesn't always win friends but it influences them

i just had a look at some kribs and they are gorgeous.. may have to find me a couple!

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Truth doesn't always win friends but it influences them

Congrats on the new tank! Second hand is often a good way to go, if the tank and equipmene are in good condition.

Kribs aren't compatible with african rift lake cichlids like electric blues, so you will have to choose between one set-up or the other. Either way you will have an awesome tank. Maybe best to decide what kind of look you are after and go from there - kribs and their tankmates would prefer a more planted tank, with soft, acidic water, while the africans would need lots of rock caves and hard, alkaline water. South American species usually do quite well with kribs - angelfish, discus (if you feel up to the challenge and the cost!), dwarf cichlids like rams or apistos, as well as most tetras, corys, etc. Electric blues are best kept with other hap species, or peacocks - no mbuna besides electric yellows, as they aren't compatible due to different diets and aggression levels. Personally I think a larger tank might suit haps and peacocks better, but it could be done in your tank with some careful planning and species selection.

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde

thanks! im so hopeless.. ive on ever had electric yellows so all these different species are all new to me! i think some more research is needed! i just want a really colourful tank! i was looking at gng marine since the tank is empty and now would be the time to do it but the initial cost scared me as well as my inexperience! i have 12 baby albino cories which i wanted to put in the new tank so i will be basing the rest of my fish around these..
can you suggest some fish that would live happily with my babies that are colourful and would live happily together.. this is gng to take some more thought than i first thought!

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Truth doesn't always win friends but it influences them

ok i dont know if i have a bit of a problem... i was just looking up compatible species to see what i can put in with my albino cories.. at the moment i think they are gng to be lunch to any fish so they wont be gng anywhere for a while.. but electric blues and corys dont appear to be compatible.. ive had my corys in with my electric yellows before and they lived quite happily...would it be ok to mix them??

i have some time before i add any fish as i still havent added water to the tank.. so im up for all possible suggestions.. the rams are so beautiful.. however i really wanted a more cichlid type tank...

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Truth doesn't always win friends but it influences them

I have found using the fish profiles here that sometimes it errs on the side of caution when choosing compatible species. I was trying to see if harlies, panda corys and my betta were compatible and it said no. When I checked from each perspective of each fish I got different results. Here's what I found with kribs-corys(even panda), danios, the gouramis with the opaline in it, just to name a few. The thing with cichlids is they become aggressive when they are breeding. My krib is alone, she's a focal point, if I wanted to breed her I would have to find homes for the rest of the fish in that tank. When you know what fish you want post it here, I'm sure you'll get good advice, I know I have already!

Last edited by luvmykrib at 15-Nov-2005 22:30

"If you're afraid you'll make a mistake, you won't make anything."
-Family Circus

I think that electric yellows with cories - especially babies - would be quite a dangerous mix. Electric yellows are fairly mellow for mbuna, but cories are still no match for them. Of course, there are variations to everything and your own past experience shows that it doesn't necessarily spell disaster, but personally I wouldn't risk it. There's also the factor that cories and electric yellows prefer vastly different water parameters and decor.

I think you might be better off with more of a South American cichlid set-up, with dwarf cichlids, angels (yes, they're cichlids too) and maybe some of the more mellow largish ones - not sure what to suggest here as American cichlids aren't my forte, but from memory I think that cichlids like Blue Acaras and Firemouths are quite safe with smaller fish.

Of course, being an mbuna keeper myself, I can more than understand the attraction to these gorgeous fish. If you really want to go for this set-up, I advise you keep your cories in another, smaller tank, with some compatible species.

The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde