Tank requirements for African cichlids

[dbltrubl98]

I was wondering if it would be possible to keep 2-3 Kenyi and 2-3 bumble bee cichlids in a 30 gal tank. Or maybe just one species?

[t_chelle16]

30 gallons is pretty small for those kinds of africans. I honestly wouldn't put either kenyi or bumblebee's in a 30. If I were to keep africans in a 30, it would be either shell dwellers or maybe some yellow labs (preferrably 1 m/3 - 4 females but they're pretty much impossible to sex when young)

-Chelle

[dbltrubl98]

I just got a 55 gal acrilic tank today for free I can't wait to set it up but unfortunatly it will go where the Cristmas tree is now so it will have to wait a couple of weeks, it comes with a wet/dry filter. I was wondering what that means. Thanks for the help.

[dbltrubl98]

also I was wondering if I could get a complete list of everything I will need because I want to know if the lps is just trying to sell me stuff...
Here's what I know I will need.I am planning on getting 12-14 fish:
3-4 Kenyi
3-4 Electric Yellow
3-4 Bumblebee

I know I will need 1 male and then 2-3 females of each to reduce fighting and some hiding spots to reduce aggresion.

250-300watt heater
Gravel- ?? pounds
decorations
airstones?
filter- not sure if the one it comes with will work and/or if I should get a better one.
Water test kit

[t_chelle16]

I've never actually had a wet/dry filter so I'm not overly familiar with how they work. I do know that they are considered one of the best forms of filtration, but I'll have to let someone else go into specifics.

As far as stocking, I'd be a little worried about the yellow labs. They're not nearly as aggressive as the kenyi & bumblebees.

Heater sounds good.

Gravel - you could probably get away with around 40lbs. That should give you somewhere around 1" - 1 1/2" deep.

Decorations - lots of caves. Preferrably at least 1 cave/fish. If you're stacking rocks, make sure that they are very stable. You could maybe silicon them together in groups of about 3 (depending on the size of the rocks) then arrange them in the tank.

Airstone - as long as the filter aggitates the surface and the fish aren't gasping, you don't really need an air stone, but they do look kind of nice. I like mine set up so the bubbles bounce off the rocks making the caves.

Test kit - you'll need at least ammonia, nitrIte, and nitrAte. pH, KH, and GH are also nice to have.

I highly recommend you do the fishless method to cycle the tank. That way there's pretty much no risk of losing fish initially.
http://flippersandfins.net/Cycling.htm

-Chelle

[dbltrubl98]

what would be a good tankmate for Kenyi and bumblebee cichlids?

[t_chelle16]

Maybe some red zebras (might have problems with hybridizing, though). Or maybe Melanochromis johanni.

-Chelle