is everything alright

[floriks]

I'm finally upgrading to a 50-gallon tank (48"x12"x18") and I'm stoked to try my hand at African cichlids. I've always been drawn to their feisty personalities and the way they can turn a tank upside down. I'm thinking of starting with some beginner-friendly cichlids and keeping the setup pretty simple - aragonite sand and some round river rock stacking on the sides.

I'd love to stick with what my local Petsmart has in stock, so nothing too exotic. Right now, they've got:

Labidochromis caeruleus
Pseudotropheus acei
Aulonocara jacobfreibergi
Cynotilapia afra
Maylandia lombardoi
Melanochromis auratus
Tropheus moorii
Pseudotropheus crabro
Pseudotropheus assorted species tank

My favorite cichlids are the ones that are always digging and rearranging the tank. I'm not a fan of having a bunch of random fish swimming around, so I'd like to keep it to 2-3 species max. Maybe a solo cichlid species and some catfish to keep things interesting.

Out of the ones in stock, I'm really drawn to the yellow labs, aceis, and bumblebees. But I've heard the bumblebees can be pretty aggressive, while the aceis and labs are supposedly pretty chill.

I'm a total newbie when it comes to African cichlids, so I'm probably dreaming big. I've heard they like a heavy veggie-based diet - what kind of food would be best for them? Also, what's a good target for gph on the filtration system? And what temperature should I aim for in the tank?

Any advice would be super appreciated, thanks.

[squashy]

I've had cichlids before, but they were omnivores, so I'm no expert. I did some research on the ones you mentioned, though. The Acei cichlid is the only herbivore, and it grows up to 6 inches. The yellow lab is an omnivore, reaching 5 inches. And the bumblebee, well, it's an omnivore too, getting up to 8 inches. As for tank parameters, I'd say aim for 76-82 degrees Fahrenheit, KH 10-15, and pH 7.8-8.5. I'm not sure if this helps, but I'm sure someone will chime in with more advice. I found this info on Live Aquaria, figured I'd pass it along.

[floriks]

I'm not a cichlid master at all I've had them but the ones I had were omnivores. I did look all of the ones you said you were leaning toward and all but one is an omnivore, that one is your acei cichlid. The Acei Cichlid is a herbivore and grows to 6". The yellow lab grows to 5" and is an omnivore. And the Bumblebee grows to 8 inches and is also an omnivore. I'd also say anywhere from 76-82 for the temp, KH-10-15, and PH 7.8-8.5. I'm not sure if this helps or not but I'm sure someone will help you out.

I found this info. at Live aquaria.

Liveaquaria is just another fish store to me, a lot of the info they provide isn't reliable. They might be right in this case, but I wouldn't bet on it. They're not the best website for research.

I know bumblebees appreciate a bit of meat, as they eat parasites off some species of fish in the wild. Most mbuna cichlids are pretty vegetarian, though. A lot of the tags at my store say the african cichlids are omnivores or even carnivores, when most of them will get bloated or constipated trying to digest meaty foods. I appreciate your effort, though.

[axiom]

When it comes to filtration, I've heard most people opt for two external filters, seems like a good rule of thumb to aim for at least 10 times the tank volume turnover per hour. I've got a similar setup on my own tank, running two Eheim filters that manage 2300 liters per hour, and that's for a relatively smaller 200-liter tank.

[waveborn]

If you're in the Denver area, I'd recommend checking out about-fish - despite the website being a bit outdated, the store itself is top-notch. Mark, the owner, is an ACA member and a seasoned African cichlid breeder who prioritizes the health of his stock over profits. He's got a vast selection of both African and South American cichlids, including F1 fish that you can be sure are genuine. Just be upfront about being new to the hobby, and he'll be happy to guide you.

For filtration, 10x turnover is the standard for most rift lake keepers. A temperature of 78 degrees is ideal for cichlids. When it comes to food, you can't go wrong with New Life Spectrum - it's a great all-around choice, regardless of the specific dietary needs of your cichlids. And, since most Colorado tap water is already quite hard, you likely won't need to modify it unless you're aiming for perfection.

As for the bumblebees, they do have a reputation, but every fish is an individual, so it's hard to make guarantees. I've got a yellow lab that's a bit of a handful, but I love him anyway. Acei cichlids, on the other hand, are generally peaceful but can hold their own - they've been a great addition to most of my setups. Mbuna are the ones that tend to turn the tank upside down, in my experience, while peacocks are generally more laid-back.

[kalevi]

If you're going for 2-3 species, I think keeping a decent-sized group of each is the way to go - it's really natural and works especially well for mbuna. I'd definitely lean towards keeping mbuna over peacocks or haps, as they need a lot of open space to swim and a tank with good depth and width. Is your tank 12" or 18" front to back, by the way? The Labidochromis caeruleus would work beautifully in your tank, no question. The Cynotilapia afra would also be a great choice, and there are plenty of varieties to choose from. The Pseudotropheus acei get pretty big, so they might outgrow your tank eventually. I think the afra and labs would look amazing in large numbers, maybe with a pair or two of another species or a synodontis catfish to round things out.

[waveborn]

I'm thinking, why not the yellow tails in a 50-gallon tank, they're only 6 inches long but man, they're super active. I've had some experience with them and I've found they breed pretty early too. I've got a 4-inch female that's almost ready to spit her first fry, which is awesome because this is her first hold and it's almost full term - better than any of my other females have ever done.

Maybe some of the dwarf species would actually be a better fit for this tank, I'm thinking. Kalevi's usually on point with his advice, so I'm inclined to agree with him on this one.

[kalevi]

I'd like to add to what waveborn said, if you're near that guy with a great selection, you might be able to get your hands on other species, which would definitely open up more options for you.

[kalevi]

If you're in the Denver area, I'd recommend checking out about-fish - despite the website being a bit outdated, the store itself is top-notch. Mark, the owner, is an ACA member and a seasoned African cichlid breeder who prioritizes the health of his stock over profits. He's got a vast selection of both African and South American cichlids, including F1 fish that you can be sure are genuine. Just be upfront about being new to the hobby, and he'll be happy to guide you.

For filtration, 10x turnover is the standard for most rift lake keepers. A temperature of 78 degrees is ideal for cichlids. When it comes to food, you can't go wrong with New Life Spectrum - it's a great all-around choice, regardless of the specific dietary needs of your cichlids. And, since most Colorado tap water is already quite hard, you likely won't need to modify it unless you're aiming for perfection.

As for the bumblebees, they do have a reputation, but every fish is an individual, so it's hard to make guarantees. I've got a yellow lab that's a bit of a handful, but I love him anyway. Acei cichlids, on the other hand, are generally peaceful but can hold their own - they've been a great addition to most of my setups. Mbuna are the ones that tend to turn the tank upside down, in my experience, while peacocks are generally more laid-back.

To me, they just seem to have this larger-than-life presence, like the biggest 6" fish you've ever laid eyes on. Their body shape and build definitely contribute to that, as they're quite chunky and well-built. Having one or two in a 50G wouldn't be the end of the world, but they do thrive in shoaling groups, loving to be surrounded by their own kind. Ultimately, it's up to floriks to decide, but I think he'd be better off with slightly smaller species.

[waveborn]

If you're in the Denver area, I'd recommend checking out about-fish - despite the website being a bit outdated, the store itself is top-notch. Mark, the owner, is an ACA member and a seasoned African cichlid breeder who prioritizes the health of his stock over profits. He's got a vast selection of both African and South American cichlids, including F1 fish that you can be sure are genuine. Just be upfront about being new to the hobby, and he'll be happy to guide you.

For filtration, 10x turnover is the standard for most rift lake keepers. A temperature of 78 degrees is ideal for cichlids. When it comes to food, you can't go wrong with New Life Spectrum - it's a great all-around choice, regardless of the specific dietary needs of your cichlids. And, since most Colorado tap water is already quite hard, you likely won't need to modify it unless you're aiming for perfection.

As for the bumblebees, they do have a reputation, but every fish is an individual, so it's hard to make guarantees. I've got a yellow lab that's a bit of a handful, but I love him anyway. Acei cichlids, on the other hand, are generally peaceful but can hold their own - they've been a great addition to most of my setups. Mbuna are the ones that tend to turn the tank upside down, in my experience, while peacocks are generally more laid-back.

Waveborn said:

kalevi said:



Could do Moby, they to me just seem to always look huge lol (like the biggest 6" fish you have ever seen) Think it's their body+shape. They are quite a chunky, well built fish. 1 or 2 wouldn't hurt in a 50G but they do prefer to be in a shoaling group, love been with their own kind. Its entirely up to floriks, just think it would be much better for him to go with slightly smaller species. Thanks Moby, still learning with these fish all the time .You seem to know your stuff to (which is good )


I've been stalking this forum for months, and I'm still learning. I've got years to go, I'm sure. Thanks for the compliment, but you're way ahead of me, kalevi. I'm hoping to catch some peekers on camera soon - I've got a mom who's getting too thin for a 4" fish, so I need to either move her or strip her soon.