peanut2110 Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Hi everyone, I have been reading a lot of really good info on this forum so I thought it was about time I joined and started participating in the discussion! Well at least asking some questions anyway! I have kept tropial fish for a while but only recently decided I felt confident enough to set up a tank for cichlids - the fish I have always wanted to keep! I love their colours and their personalities altho I'm not into bloodshed and carnage so opted for the more pecaeful haps and peacocks. Current set up is 180L tank with in-built filtration plus addl Eheim cannister filter. Aragonite sand for substrate, some crushed oyster shell in the cannister filter along with the noodles etc and pumice rock (boiled and cooled so it sinks) for the caves with a couple of small pieces of driftwood as well. PH 7.8, ammonia and nitrates 0ppm. Fish so far are 1 x Maleri red (9-10cm), 1 x A. Baenschi (7-8cm), 1 x A. Chilumba (5-6cm), 2 x P, Electra (4-5cm) and 1 x chinese algae eater. Next year once the new house is built, I will be upgrading to a 400-500L tank (yet to decide whether I will go with a purpose built tank or one of the Juwel aquariums - perhaps a future discussion topic?!) so my question at this point in time is, should I stick with the fish I have until I get the new tank or knowing it's coming, can I get some more fish now? You know what it's like - you always want more! I have done lots of reading on the web and get conflicting advice about whether one should overcrowd the haps and peacocks in the same way it is suggested you do so for mbuna. I would definitely like to get some more lovely boys for my display tank but not if the current tank is too small and it risks upsetting the fish I already have. So far peace has reigned supreme with only the odd chase here and there but it's usually the same ones doing the chasing (the Baenshi and the slightly larger Electra) and the same ones being chased (the Chilumba and the slightly smaller Electra). So I guess I'm also wondering if 3 or 4 more fish would help those guys who are getting chased a bit. Anyway, that's quite enough from me for now! I look forward to receiving some helpful advice from some of you fellow - but very much more experienced - cichlid lovers out there! Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 hi & welcome. nice to see another african keeper in northland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Welcome - and control yourself until you have the new house to put it in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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