Stephanie Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 After thinking about it for years and realising that planted tanks are simply not my thing I've decided I'd like to setup a small tank with cichlids. Any suggestions regarding stocking this thing would be wonderful. I obviously don't want anything that grows huge or breeds like crazy. Nothing terribly high maintenance would be nice also. Just a nice, reasonably simple tank with a bit of colour. I have a pair of bristlenose I'd like to keep in there if possible but they have another tank they can live in if they have to move. The tank is about 400mm high and 450 wide. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 Shellies and Leleupi? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfishhead Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 Yellow and Dems would be the perfect combination for your requirements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie Posted April 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 Thanks guys, both good options. I was thinking maybe yellows and dems but I wasn't sure if they'd be a little too big. Do you know how many I would be looking at? I'd be keen to keep it a little understocked. Currently looking into external filters, so many options and I feel like I haven't bought fish equipment in so long! It's like starting again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 Pair of dwarf flags, rams or apistogramma? More similar in terms of water requirements to your bristlenose and would give you options for stocking other non-cichlid fish (corys, tetras, pencilfish etc). IMO 160L isn't enough for dems and yellows, probably barely enough for yellows alone if you want a decent group. I think shellies and/or Altolamprologus would be your best bet if you want rift lake fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 After thinking about it for years and realising that planted tanks are simply not my thing I've decided I'd like to setup a small tank with cichlids. Any suggestions regarding stocking this thing would be wonderful. I obviously don't want anything that grows huge or breeds like crazy. Nothing terribly high maintenance would be nice also. Just a nice, reasonably simple tank with a bit of colour. I have a pair of bristlenose I'd like to keep in there if possible but they have another tank they can live in if they have to move. The tank is about 400mm high and 450 wide. Thanks! Kribs would be compatible with bristlenose, apistos, various rams. Most of the dwarf cichlids would be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 Your tank is probably too small for dems and yellows you might get away with it though. I read that you shouldn't keep leleupi and shellies together apparently the leleupi kill the shellies.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie Posted April 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 Thanks heaps for that. Had a feeling that was going to be the case. I've been researching and they just seem too large as adults. I've generally had bad luck with Rams in the past, but this seems to be a problem lots of people have. The others you mention seem like good options to look in to. Shellies weren't something I thought of but I've always admired them when I've seen them in fish shops. I do adore kribs but not when they breed! Haha. Back to researching, I think this has to be the hardest part of keeping fish! So many options and so few tanks these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
POWER77 Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 So it's 90cm long? I read that you shouldn't keep leleupi and shellies together apparently the leleupi kill the shellies.. :iag: speaking from experience I wouldn't do it, tried it a couple years ago and lost two shellies in a day. A small group of Calvus maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camtang Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 I read that you shouldn't keep leleupi and shellies together apparently the leleupi kill the shellies.. I never knew that. I had some of them in a tank together for a while without any noteable issue. As far as I knew it was just Alto's that were advised against keeping with shellies. I guess you learn something every day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie Posted April 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 So it's 90cm long? Yes, sorry I left that bit out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfishhead Posted April 28, 2014 Report Share Posted April 28, 2014 90x40x45 is a bit small for Yellows and Dems. But you may get around it by raise them from fry together. And keep decent number in each group especially for dems at least 12. Heaps hiding places, rocks, caves ect... I cannot see anything else are better then yellow and dems for your setup at moment consider your tanks size and your requirement for colors. May be single species of Kribs or Neolamprologus brichardi also an option. Good luck :thup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephanie Posted May 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2014 Thanks for the feedback. I'm starting to think once I clear out the guppies from the tank then I might set up and see if I can find a couple of brichardi. I swear they used to be for sale everywhere but I haven't seen any in a long time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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