Newbie - Cichlid Start Up....

Hi All,

I'm new to the site and basically to in depth fish keeping. Have had some goldfish, guppies and siamese fighters a few years ago, but now I want to start out with Cichlids.
Looking at either Malawi Mbuna's or Tanganyika cichlids. Have been doing lots of research but still learning.

Would appreciate all the advice I can get on these amazing fish.

Thanks and keep swimming....

 

Hi @Natz17 - 1stly go and update the where you from bit on your profile.....not all water is immediately Rift Lake ready,so...

Hope you going for a big tank mate - all Rift Cichlids get agro when big and needs a bit of elbow room to sort their squables out... Tell us a bit more of what you planning...

 

welcome to tasa

 

I stocked my tank with ten pairs of african malawis don't know the names but all different colors
In this big group there is not allot of aggression but I had new world chidlis but they are too aggressive and lack the character of the african malawis IMO

 

Hi again! I've updated my profile a bit. Can anyone tell me what the water in Blaauwberg Cape Town area is like regarding pH and dH? I currently have a small 60cm tank... I know its a bit small, but wanted to know if I can start with a few juveniles in it while I start building my big tank? Looking to build a 1,5m to 2m tank.... I have decided to start out with Malawi Cichlids looking at the Melanochromis Johannii.... Any help and advice would be really appreciated. Oh yes and where I can find some of these stunming fish?

 

A 60 cm tank is WAY to small mate....way to small except as a stop gap for a week or two...rather get the big tank 1st...

Capetown water is soft and settles out at a lowish pH(dont have the exact figures...),so you are going to need to buffer the water - there are various ways of doing this,but easiest is getting some coral sand or Shell grit(much cheaper option) into your substrate...
Can also recomend the Rift Valley pH up product from seachem - works well...
M.johannii's are nice fish and you get some stunning examples...just remember that the Melanochromis Genus contains some of your most agressive Mbuna.... Still get cold shudders everytime I see a M.chipokae....lol

 

Welcome..as azurekoi said..melanochromis are some of your most aggressive malawis..ph is not a problem if you add some crushed coral to your substrate or filter..it will help keep your ph up.if you are looking for nice mbuna,do not hesitate to pm me..I can advise you which species will go together without crossbreeding.