Bananalobster Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Hi everyone, Im picking up a large 3 ft tank this weekend (140L+). I want to set it up after it cycles with some dwarf cichlids. I was wondering if anybody had any ideas? I want to go for the less agro ones so that I can put a few different ones in. I have done some research and decided kribensis are probably out of the picture as they are very territorial when paired up. What is everybodys experiences with housing different types together? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim r Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 kribs would be perfect to start they are hardy non aggressive except when protecting their breeding site and easily bred. Bolivian butterfly is another good example. jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananalobster Posted October 24, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 Oh. well I would be looking at getting pairs/harems of each. With them growing much bigger than other dwarfs such as blue rams.. I thought they might end up keeping everybody in one corner thats all. Have you kept kribensis with other dwarfs before? Did it work alright for you if so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmchick Posted October 24, 2006 Report Share Posted October 24, 2006 hey bananalobster I have kribs in my dwarf cichlid tank and yes they rule the roost but only when breeding (which they seem to be doing non-stop!!) Given a cave they will defend it vigourously but otherwise they are very cool. I have a spare hundred or so if you are ever out west auckland :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTam22 Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 I have kribs in with blue rams with no problems at all, but they were in a 300ltr tank so I don't know what they would be like in a tank half that size?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananalobster Posted October 25, 2006 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Thanks for the offer farmchick I am going to auckland to get the tank but the tank will not be ready for them for a wee while yet. Am I right in assuming introducing a young group (4 or so) to get a pair is the best way to insure no injury? I want to get three or four pairs of different dwarfs, all of them bout 2 cm when I get them. I know it sounds like a squeeze but is it possible if I get them all at the same time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
farmchick Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 they will pair up pretty rapidly once they are of breeding size Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Make sure you have lots of caves/driftwood/plants to make definitive territories for the fish. Dwarf cichlids get very defensive when spawning, not just on other species, but also their partners, so they all need somewhere to hide when the going gets tough. Apistogramma's are very beautiful dwarf cichlids, and there are many different types too. Good luck with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananalobster Posted November 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 thanks antwan! Yes I was planning to put lots of driftwood and rocks for caves. Ive been inspired by some pictures on here of people using small terracotta pots in there tanks in piles... Looks very effective. The tank has been filled with water so I can start it cycling but I was wondering if I need to use something to get rid of the chlorine.. That would be ALOT of stress coat lol. will it naturally disperse in a couple of days of sitting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antwan Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 yip, sure will, to make it a little faster you could put in an airstone or powerhead to circulate the water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 Forget ya Stresscoat and use your air. It won't take long and why use chemicals when you don't need too also. Throw away money and use your Cycle as well. Just put a shrimp in and (dead) let it break down, that will give you your start to your cycling process. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananalobster Posted November 4, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 Thanks I think I might do that. Is stress coat a waste of money? Does everybody just fill the buckets with tap water and let it aerate over night or something? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljtan55 Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 I leave it overnight... was using it, then ran out and couldn't be bothered buying another big bottle. No difference with fish or plants before and after. Now I have a tiny bottle which I use when I'm moving fish or adding new fish. Cycle doesn't work, it doesn't contain the right bacteria. You can start the cycle with a sacrificial cycling guppy or similar hardy fish, or if you seed the filter for 2 weeks in a friend's tank you'll make everything go so much faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimTam22 Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 I use stress coat, I don't have enough room or containers to leave water sitting out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bananalobster Posted November 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2006 Ive decided to just put one small harem or pair in there, it will be much less stressfull for me and the fishes hehe. I have a double sponge filter im going to put in there when im convinced the chlorine has gone and a tiny internal that turns over 145 LPH. Im hoping that will be enough to seed such a big tank (for me anyway!). I dont have any small hardy fish.. Just a young apisto sp. steel blue dwarf cichlid. The tank conditions (slightly acidic and soft) will be the same in both tanks, could I maybe use him? Or would he be damaged? I could add all the water from his 50L tank aswell. He was by himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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