My African Tank

Are ya getting over-whelmed yet??
I know..I know..enough already..LOL..!!

...well folks..got some more pic.'s for ya!!

This is a video of my 75 gal. African cichlid tank...hope you enjoy!!

Very nice Diane.

I have often wanted to try an african tank, but life has got in the way of my MTS to a degree.

Because of this, I'm not familiar with the names of the different breeds, so excuse my obvious ignorance, but I think it's hilarious how that blue one seems to rule the roost. Everyone else just seems to cower as it swims back and forth.

Thanks for sharing.

Lol..Oh yeah..that one is a Johnanni. And yep..they are pretty aggressive.
Believe me..They all can take care of themselves..but he chases nearly everyone. Thinks he's the man of the hour!!
I hear splashing quiet frequently!!
Funny..africans are said to be most aggressive of the cichlid family..and I have had these for around 5-6 yrs. now. These guys all have gotten really large..around 8 - 10 inches most of them. Not once have I had any deaths. They all were put together as babies though..and for the most part..get along. Well..much as they care to..know what I mean?
I honestly have seen more aggression to the point of TAKE DOWN with the Angelfish!!
Far as my Africans..these are what are in this tank...
Johnanni
Ice Blue peacock
Yellow Lab
Girrafe Hap
Brichardi
Electric Blue
2 Bristlenose plecos
3 Hybrids ( cross between a female peacock I gave away~making toooo many babies~ !! and the Yellow lab)

I love your aqua-scaping. It all looks so natural. The fish appear healthy and active too. Nice job!

Thanks Megham!
I am sorry that I just now noticed your post.
It was fun doing this tank...with africans they like all the rocks & hiding places. So I got to really play around with decor.
Personally..I think Africans are great.
They come in such a pretty array of colors.
Pretty entertaining too...cause they are very active.
Just a different personality from my Angels....so it's nice to have both.

that tank is so beutiful! i really wanted a cichlid tank. is it hard to take care of? you have inspired me.

Gouramigirl wrote:

that tank is so beutiful! i really wanted a cichlid tank. is it hard to take care of? you have inspired me. :laugh:

Oh..thanks!!
Actually..no ..it's not hard to take care of. In fact..easier than all my Angel tanks.
These are all dwarf african cichlids...from
Lake Malawi..(did I already say that?)...ooops.
I don't do w/c's near as often on this tank. Every two weeks w/ siphoning the gravel...
..as opposed to every week or more with the Angels.
I think the trick with africans..is to put them all in at the same time. These all grew up together. I know when I tried adding a newbie around a year later..they killed it within the first few minutes. Pretty aggressive towards anything "new"..but since they all were there from the start..they mainly chase each other..but nothing more than that. You should try it.. I think you would find them fun.

Your tank is AWESOME!
Like GG I want to know if they're hard to look after re: the fish?

Let me know K?
Thanks
Jenn

jbolton65 wrote:

Your tank is AWESOME!
Like GG I want to know if they're hard to look after re: the fish?

Let me know K?
Thanks
Jenn
:silly:

Awe..thank you for the compliment!
I don't think so...Think I already mentioned it..but..
In fact I think they are easier than my Angelfish. Fewer water changes.
Like I said in the previous post..
I change out around 25 - 40% & vacumm 1/2 the gravel every two weeks.
My PH is 7.8..and they do great. Constant temp. of 78 degrees.
I also add a bit of Aq. salt with the w/c's...since they prefer a more brackish environment.
With africans..you can probably have one per five gal. as opposed to angels..where they need 10 gal. per fish. With african cichlids..the more..the better as far as spreading out the aggression. It is best to have at least five fish IMO. Try to place them in at the same time. Adding a newbie later on..just doesn't work. They "will" pick on it and make it's life miserable. Trust me..
When you start out..you can have a smaller tank than I do ( mine is a 75 gal.)...but eventually...you will need at least a 55 gal. Most of my africans are around 8 inches now.
I have probably had these for I'm thinking 5 - 6 yrs.
And although africans are very aggressive.. if they all get put in a tank together when young..establish territory..they will be fine.
With mine...even with the continual chasing..not one has ever been killed by another. Be sure an give them enough hiding places with rock caves & such.
That's about all I can think of..
if you have any other ??'s...
feel free to ask.
If you DO decide on them..have fun ( I think you will enjoy them)...do research..and don't let the LFS tell you you can put So. Americans in with these guys.
Awe....NOPE! They "will" kill them.