need help with my african cichlid tank

[jakarta]

I've been mulling over a Zorchzon River Biotope for my 55 Gallon tank, but I think I'll put that on hold till I upgrade to a 125 Gallon. Instead, I'm excited to set up an African Biotope in my empty 55 Gallon tank - the dimensions are 48 X 12 X 20. What drew me to this idea was the "Powder Blue Cichlid" I saw at my LFS - it was stunning.

I've got a few fish in mind for this setup:

Labidochromis caeruleus(Yellow)
Pseudotropheus socolofi
Melanochromis johannii

Can anyone advise on the ideal number of each species to keep? Are there any other fish that would complement these well? I also need a bottom feeder and I'm considering synodontis - any suggestions on which ones to choose?

[jakarta]

I'm also thinking about adding Pseudotropheus Acei (Msuli) to the mix. Not a typical "showstopper" cichlid, but I find them quite appealing. Still waiting for some guidance, no huge rush though - my tank's cycled and has had fish for a couple months, but I'm still tweaking the decor and plants to get them just right.

[kalevi]

I'd advise against the Pseudotropheus Acei, they can grow quite large and might not be the best fit for your 55G tank. Sticking with the original three species you mentioned would be a good idea. For stocking, 3 to 6 of each species should work out fine. As for bottom feeders, Synodontis would be a good choice, but Bristlenose Plecos are also a popular option for Malawi tanks. What's your plan for filtration, have you decided on a system yet?

[jakarta]

For filtration, I'm planning on using a biowheel on one side - it's rated for up to 150 gallons - and on the other side, I'll have an internal filter with some used media to get things started. I'm also thinking of using aragonite sand and adding some crushed coral to the filter. I know both of these will help buffer the pH, so I'm wondering if that's overkill or if they'll work together okay?

I was thinking about trying to breed some albino Socolofi - has anyone had any luck with this? Is it pretty tough to do?

[kalevi]

That sounds like a solid filtration plan to me. The malawi's will definitely appreciate the extra effort, and buffering the water is always a good thing. As for breeding the socolofi, I'd say it's definitely doable - just make sure to get a good ratio of males to females, maybe 1-3 males to 3-6 females, and keep the water quality top-notch with regular maintenance, and they should start breeding in no time.

[jakarta]

I'm curious about the genetics of this - if I were to pair two albino socolofi, would their offspring be albino as well?

[novakid]

Albino to albino breeding, the offspring will indeed be albino, unless there's another gene at play that affects pigmentation and it's not recessive, then you might see some variation.