considering an african setup

[flameon9]

Apologies for my lack of knowledge, I'm still learning and not familiar with many fish names. I'm just looking for some advice, really.

My water is hard, pH 7.5, which I think would be great for certain fish. I was even considering adding coflake sand to raise the pH even more, which I think would be beneficial.

I'm torn between Malawis and Tangs - I've read that Tangs and Rainbowfish can be kept together, is that correct? I'm planning to get a 4ft tank for my Rainbows, but if Tangs and Rainbows can coexist, I might use the 4ft for them and the 3ft for my other dwarf cichlids instead.

Is a Malawi or Tang setup possible in a 3ft tank? I'll do some research and see what fish I like - that might help me decide. I quite like Yellow Labs, are they Malawi?

[flameon9]

Just had a quick glance at the sticky topics, and I'm really drawn to a few species - the Labidochromis Caeruleus, or sunnygold lab, the Pseudotropheus Acei, also known as the yellow tail acei, and the Pseudotropheus demasoni. I was thinking, could I possibly keep one male, two females of the first two, and just a single demasoni?

I'm really keen on having a mix of blue, yellow, and green or maybe some red colours in the tank.

[reelpro]

I'd advise against Malawis in a tank smaller than 4 feet, to be honest, 6 feet is more ideal.

I've seen Rainbows and Tanganyikans do well together, so that's a possibility.

[lizette]

Hi Chilli,

As Fishguy mentioned, a 3ft tank isn't ideal for Malawi cichlids - even mbuna require a larger space. The Yellow Labs are lovely, but Demasoni can be quite aggressive, and I wouldn't recommend them for someone new to mbuna. Acei are generally peaceful, but to reduce aggression in mbuna, you need to stock heavily, which is why a 4ft+ tank is necessary.

Personally, I'd say a minimum of 4ft is required for a carefully stocked mbuna setup, and 5ft+ for larger Malawis, especially if you're considering Aulonocara peacocks, which can grow quite big.

Tangs can do well with Rainbows, yes. A 3ft tank would be okay, but it depends on the specific Tangs you're looking to stock. Some Tangs, like the Ventralis, can get quite large and need plenty of space to move around.

Keep in mind that Tangs don't display as much colour as Malawi or mbuna, but their behaviour is incredibly fascinating.

Hope this helps.

[flameon9]

Thanks for the advice, really appreciate it. I was really hoping to keep Malawis in the 3ft, but it seems that's not going to work out. I've had a look at Tangs, but to be honest, they're not really doing it for me. My other half is also keen on the Malawis, so I think we'll have to rethink our plans. Back to the drawing board, I suppose.

[lizette]

I think Tangs are one of those things you either love or you don't. They can be quite acquired taste to be honest.

Why not just stick with your Rainbows in the tank they're in now and get a new 4ft tank for a mbuna setup?

[myric]

I've had great success keeping Rainbows with my Tangs, and I've noticed they're thriving more than they were in my previous community setup. The Rainbows have even started breeding, which I think is a testament to the harmony in the tank. I think you could definitely make a Tang and Rainbow tank work, especially if you want to add some shell dwellers to the mix. By setting aside a dedicated sand area with shells, you can create a unique environment that caters to both species. Just be sure to leave a decent gap, around 8 inches, between the shells and the plants or rocks to avoid any territorial disputes. My Rainbows and shell dwellers do have the occasional standoff, but they're both capable of holding their own.

[flameon9]

Thanks for the advice, both.

Elise, I appreciate your suggestion, but my Rainbows are currently in a 3ft tank and I really want to upgrade to a bigger space for them. The larger species I have, like my Lacustris, are growing rapidly and I think they'll benefit from the extra room in a 4ft tank.

I'll definitely check out some Tangs next time I'm at the LFS - who knows, I might just fall for some. Alternatively, I might consider converting the 50g into a reef tank, we'll see.

Myric, your tank sounds amazing - do you have any photos to share? I'd love to see how you've set it up.

[slyzen]

I'd love to know the tank's dimensions, what's the length, width, and height of it. I'm thinking if you went for dwarf mbuna, you could get a species tank going, I've had no issues keeping my malawis in a 3ft tank.

[zenrow]

If you're after a splash of colour, then Malawi/Mbuna is the way to go, but if you're fascinated by the intricate interactions between species, Tanganyikan cichlids are the ones to watch. Just make sure to provide each Tang species with its own little slice of territory that mimics their natural habitat, and you'll be well on your way to creating a thriving environment.

I've had some great experiences keeping dwarf neon rainbows with my Tanganyikan cichlids - the water parameters were spot on, and the rainbows made excellent "dithers" for some of the shyer species I was keeping at the time.

Let us know how you decide to proceed, and be sure to keep us posted on your progress.