Is a 240l tank sufficient

[kayora]

I'm set on getting the Juwel Rio 240, planning to get it soon.

http/www.seapets.co.uk/products/aquarium-sup ... beech.html

Initially, I was thinking of discus, but then I saw this amazing malawi tank that was just bursting with life and colour - it really caught my eye.

What I'd like to know is, can I keep malawi cichlids in the Juwel Rio 240? Is 240L (121 x 41 x 55 cm) big enough for them?

If it's doable, how many could I realistically keep in there? I'm definitely planning on building a massive rock wall with plenty of caves and holes for them to explore.

Thanks

[lentoa]

I've got the Vision 260 and I think it gives a better panoramic view, especially for mbuna.

[lentoa]

For stocking levels, I'd say 15 is lightly stocked, 20 average, and 25 densely stocked.
You'll also want to consider your filtration setup - I'd recommend adding an external filter to work alongside the Juwel's internal one, or replacing the internal with two external units for better performance.

[kayora]

I'd love to go all out with filtration, but the cost is a bit steep for me. Thinking of a more budget-friendly option, I was considering a single Tetratec Ex1200 - essentially like having two in one. This could potentially over-filter for a stock of 20 cichlids, I think.

[kalevi]

Honestly, I think 2 externals would be the way to go, it really depends on the species you're looking to keep though. Are there any particular ones you've got your eye on?

[lentoa]

If you're in the market for a new Juwel tank, the internal filters they come with actually sell pretty well on eBay. You'd be looking at a Bio-Flow 6.0 with a 1000l/h powerhead, and the price it goes for would essentially get you a brand new Tetratec or APS external filter.

[kayora]

So you're saying some species are messier than others, right.

I'm quite keen on:
- Electric Blue Johanni - love the colour
- Eastern Blue Johanni - same as above, and yeah, males and females look pretty similar
- Yellow Labs - always been a fan
- Yellow Nape Hap - never had one, but they look great
- Something red - maybe a peacock cichlid?

Also considering:
- Calvus
- Frotosa
- Duboisi

Had most of these before, except the Nape. But I've got a feeling mixing rivers and continents might not work too well.

Is there really no way around having two filters? Can't I just get one good one? The Tetra EX1200 is rated for 200-500L, so it should be fine for my 240L tank. I could stretch to 2400 if I had to, but I'd rather not - it's a bit pricey. Cheers!

[fableon]

I've run a single EX1200 on my previous setup and it was fine, the fish were only small though, about an inch or so, and the tank was under stocked, but I did upgrade to two for my current 260 litre setup.

[lintel]

I run two externals, XE1200, plus a Prime 30. Same setup on my Rio 180.

[kayora]

I've been told cichlids can be quite messy. I'm starting to think two EX1200 filters are essentially equivalent to one EX2400, but I'm not sure if the media capacity is the same. To be honest, I'd rather just get one filter due to space and plug limitations. I've also heard it might be a challenge to fit the EX1200's piping and equipment in the tank. Lintel, I was wondering if you had to make any modifications to accommodate two filters?

Regarding stocking, I've been advised that a single species with both males and females is best kept in groups of four. Is that a general rule of thumb?