african-themed aquarium setup

[mirelow]

I've just set up a new 180 litre tank, a Rio, and I'm super excited to start my Africa theme project. I've had a thing for African Butterfly fish for ages, and I'm really eager to give cichlids a try - despite being a total newbie to them. My experience is mainly with bettas, tetras, and guppies, but I'm more than happy to learn.

So, I'd love to get some advice on stocking ideas for my tank. I've always fancied having a pair of butterflies, but what else would complement them well in an Africa theme? I'm really keen on trying out cichlids, but I don't want to rush into anything without some guidance. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

[ridera]

For an Africa-themed tank like yours, I've always been a fan of the classic oddball setup.

You could consider stocking a pair of your African Butterfly fish alongside a few other compatible species. Leopard Bushfish, for instance, would work well in a group of three or four - they're pretty laid-back and can add some nice visual interest to the mid-water area. If you can track them down, Microctenopoma congicum or ansorgii would be great alternatives.

In terms of schooling fish, I think either Congo Tetras or Yellow Congo Tetras would be a good choice - just be aware that they do school in pretty large groups, so you'd want to aim for six or eight of the Congo Tetras, or eight to ten of the Yellow Congo Tetras. Synodontis nigriventris are another option that could work well in a group of eight to ten. I'd probably lean towards one of the latter two options, as I think the tank might be a bit short for P. interruptus in the long run.

As for the tank floor, I think it's best to keep that area pretty clear for your pair of African Butterfly Cichlids - they're generally considered to be pretty mellow for cichlids, so they should do well with a bit of open space. Kribs might be another option, but I think they'd be a bit more of a risk once they start breeding.

[bradyk]

I'd advise against keeping African cichlids with your butterflies, they can be quite aggressive. You'll want to find some peaceful tankmates instead. Also, be careful not to choose fish that are small enough to fit in the cichlids' mouths, or they might just become a snack. And by the way, those cichlids are notorious jumpers, so you'll need to secure your tank lid. They also love to hang around floating plants, so keep that in mind when decorating.

If you're looking for some alternative tankmates, you could try Congo tetras - they're pretty chill. Synodontis catfish are also a good option, and African knife fish can work well too. Cory cats should be okay as well.

[mirelow]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I really appreciate it. I've got plenty of time to do my research since I won't be stocking until August. Leopard Bushfish are stunning, I'll definitely keep an eye out for them, and the Congo Tetras are just as beautiful.

For the hard-scape, I'm torn between rock and wood - any suggestions on which one would be a better choice?

[ridera]

Bogwood is the way to go, especially with plants that break the surface, like anubias - perfect for creating a sense of security for the African Butterfly Fish and a natural environment for the Leopard Bushfish to mimic being a leaf. I was surprised to learn that anubias grows on the water's edge in the wild during Anton Lamboj's talk at the BCA meeting in Redditch last year.

For this setup, it's crucial to choose tankmates that are calm eaters, gentle swimmers, and non-aggressive. The tannin-rich water and the bogwood maze will create a stimulating environment for the bushfish. I've always been fascinated by African riverine fish, and I'm currently working on my own tetra project. I have an African Butterfly Fish and four Leopard Bushfish in my 5x2x2 tank, along with 11 Synodontis nigriventris that will eventually join them in my 48x12x15 tank - but they're taking their time to grow to a decent size.

I'm a big fan of creating a group of African Long Fin Tetras (B. longipinnis) for my 5x2x2 tank, but I'm hesitant as it might mean keeping the bushfish and ABF out of that tank permanently. Congo Tetras (P. interruptus), on the other hand, are a tried and tested combination with these shy predatory fish.

[mirelow]

I completely understand the challenge of matching the temperaments of various fish, especially the Africans - I've heard they can be quite a handful. But honestly, they're just so stunning that I'm willing to take on the task.

I had no idea about the anubias, thanks for sharing that tidbit. I'm definitely going to prioritize getting some massive bog-wood pieces - who needs to eat when you can have an amazing aquascape, right? The plan is slowly coming together, and I must say, I'm getting pretty excited about it.

[swiftfly]

I'd advise against keeping African cichlids with your butterflies, they can be quite aggressive. You'll want to find some peaceful tankmates instead. Also, be careful not to choose fish that are small enough to fit in the cichlids' mouths, or they might just become a snack. And by the way, those cichlids are notorious jumpers, so you'll need to secure your tank lid. They also love to hang around floating plants, so keep that in mind when decorating.

If you're looking for some alternative tankmates, you could try Congo tetras - they're pretty chill. Synodontis catfish are also a good option, and African knife fish can work well too. Cory cats should be okay as well.

African cichlids aren't all rift cichlids, by the way. Just a heads up, Congo tetras are too big for a 180L tank, especially if you want a decent school size - that's a lot of bioload. And, corys aren't even African.

When people say "African", there are four main regions to consider: Malawi, Tanganyika, Victoria, and West Africa. Since you're looking to put butterfly fish in your tank, I'm assuming you want a West African theme. None of the fish you want will thrive in the rift lakes, so keep that in mind.

For a West African setup, you'll need good filtration - I'm talking 8-10x volume turnover per hour, minimum 1440 LPH. The stock filter on the Juwel 6.0 only does 600lph, which is insufficient. Consider getting an external sump to supplement your built-in filter; it's a critical investment, but you can get a decent one for around $50 USD. CO2 isn't necessary, but good flow is. You'll need plenty of plants, lots of wood and rocks to create natural caves, and an open patch of sand on one side of the tank. For substrate, I'd recommend 3-5cm of flourite covered with 10-15cm of sand.

Lighting-wise, go for two length-appropriate T5 bulbs.

For a 180L West African theme tank, I'd suggest the following:

A pair of kribs (Pelvicachromis pulcher, taeniatus, or subocellatus), or any Parananochromis or Lynxochromis parilius. A pair of Anomalochromis thomasi, Hemichromis sp. "Bangui", or Pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi would also work.

For the mid-swimming layer, consider 8-10 Neolebias trilineatus, 8-10 Alestopetersius caudalis, or 8-12 Bathyaethiops caudomaculatus. You could also go for 10-12 Ladigesia roloffi, 12-15 neolebias gracilis, or 15 Aplocheilichthys normani. Aim for a 1:2 male-to-female ratio for all these fish.

For the bottom-dwellers, 5-8 Chiloglanis polypogon (African suckermouth catfish) or 3-5 Synodontis nigriventris (upside-down catfish) would be great options. You could also consider 5-6 Synodontis contracta (Bug Eyed Squeaker) or 3 Synodontis brichardi.

If you have enough surface cover, you could even add a single African butterfly fish.

As for plants, go wild - the more, the merrier! Some great options include Guinea broad leaf, Pistia (Nile cabbage), Anubias barteri, Bolbitis heudelotii (African water fern), African Hygro, Aponogeton boivinkento4us, Crinum natans, and Blyxa aubertii. Aim to keep your nitrates between 5-30ppm, and you won't need to dose any fertilizers.

[mistyk]

I'm Ed, new here, joined coz I read your plans for an African tank and just thought id throw my experience out there. I've had my fair share of African fish, so I figured why not.

First off, I gotta say, Congo tetras might not be the best choice for a 180L tank. They get big, way too active, and need to be in large groups. I'd say a minimum of 6, mixed sex, but even that's a risk. Good Congo tetras ain't cheap, so it's up to you. Maybe African red eyes would be a better fit?

Spotted bushfish, on the other hand, grow up to 6 inches and get territorial, so maybe just one would be a better idea. I've also had good luck with seSnapl bichirs, they grow up to a foot, but they're not too active, so one might be okay in your tank. A large school of true upsidedown catfish would be awesome, but don't get both, they need their space. African vampire shrimp are also a good choice, they grow up to 6 inches.

I've gotta warn you about kribs, though. When they breed, they're highly territorial and will take over your tank. They won't bother the butterfly fish, but they'll batter most other fish. I've had them in my 500L tank, and even with just a single breeding pair, they were brutal. I've been tempted by blockhead cichlids, though, they're unusual and not as fast or agile as kribs, but being cichlids, expect some aggro when breeding.

I know you don't want to hear this, but I think the usual African oddballs need a bigger tank. Knife fish, elephantnose, I've got 'em all, and personally, a 300L tank is the absolute minimum.

My suggestion would be 6-10 African tetra (if you can find something smaller than Congo tetra, I know of African yellow fins and red eyes, but I don't know about their size or activeness), another butterfly or two, 1 spotted bushfish, and 6 or more upsidedown catfish. The bushfish would be the centerpiece, they've got a great personality, comparable to cichlids, and are very friendly with their owner.

Alternatively, you could go for a seSnapl bichir or a pair of blockhead cichlids. They'll require a soft sand substrate and caves, but upsidedown cats just need plants and wood to hang around. They need to be kept in groups to be happy and active.

One thing to keep in mind is that most African fish require subdued lighting, or you might never see 'em from hiding. Floating plants do the trick, though.

African fish are amazing and unique, and I'm planning a monster-sized 850gallon tank to capture a slice of the Congo in my living room.

If you're looking for some African ideas, I'd recommend checking out these links:

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=4153

http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=3616

I've also got a vid of my current African community tank, it's a 500L tank, but I've got a 850gallon tank planned.

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=COkOoOSaog0&lis ... re=mh_lolz

Hope you have as much fun as I have had with African fish. They're expensive, but so worth it.

Any questions, please ask.

P.s. Just a heads up, African fish are a bit of a handful. They love their food, and they're very sensitive to water quality. But hey, that's all part of the fun, right?

[swiftfly]

I'm with you, congo tetras were a default choice due to their widespread availability - every LFS I've been to carries them. I'm familiar with kribensis and their territorial nature, so I figured a heavy dither presence would help distribute the aggression, but that might not be the case.

I've also suggested alternative cave spawners like Parananochromis and Lynxochromis. For the catfish, Chiloglanis polypogon would be my top choice for their algae-eating habits, but they're ridiculously hard to find. I'm trying to limit the bottom dwellers, and the Synodontis are small, fast, and nocturnal, making them a great choice in my book.

If I were to stock a tank using my template, I'd go with 2x Lynxochromis parilius, 2x Anomalochromis thomasi, 12x Ladigesia roloffi, 10x Bathyaethiops caudomaculatus, and 6x Synodontis contracta (assuming Chiloglanis isn't available). And, of course, plenty of anubias and vals.

Ultimately, it's up to the owner to research and decide what works best for them.

Edit: Cichlids do have a larger bio-load due to their eating habits - they're messy eaters. With two sets of jaws, one for biting and the pharyngeal for chewing, they can be quite inefficient. Food particles often exit through the gills, and they might spit out food to re-chew it.

[swiftfly]

I'm assuming you're referring to Steatocranus casuarius when you mention blockhead cichlids - they do require strong water currents and high oxygen levels, which might be challenging in a 180L tank. Plus, they can grow quite large compared to some of the other fish we've discussed.

As for the senegal bichir, I think it might be too big and competitive for the cichlids, and could potentially see smaller fish as prey. Not the best combination, if you ask me.

By the way, I recently found some rare fish on Aquabid - Anomalochromis thomasi, jelly bean tetra, Syno brichardi, and non-annual killies.