Who Gives A Fish Forums

Hi, I'm in the process of setting up a cichlid tank and I have a few questions. I currently have a convict, a kenyi, and two bolivian rams, but the rams are getting moved out tomorrow because the kenyi's been picking on them. That's not really what I'm here to discuss though. I'm thinking of adding some more cichlids, probably in the 5-8 inch range when they're fully grown, and a bottom feeder. I'm interested in a peacock eel, but I'm not sure how well they get along with cichlids. I'm also planning on switching from gravel to sand if I do get the eel. If the eel isn't a good fit, what other bottom feeders would you guys recommend? Or would you advise against having one at all?

Your convict's from South America, where the water's soft and pH's more on the acidic side. On the other hand, the kenyi's from Lake Malawi, where the water's hard and alkaline - and those guys can be pretty aggressive.

You should probably check your water's general hardness (GH) and choose fish that thrive in it. If it's below 250ppm, I'd recommend going with South American cichlids. But if it's above 300ppm, you might want to look into African Rift lake cichlids instead.

coltin wrote: ↑Tue May 06, 2025 3:44 am Your convict's from South America, where the water's soft and pH's more on the acidic side. On the other hand, the kenyi's from Lake Malawi, where the water's hard and alkaline - and those guys can be pretty aggressive.

You should probably check your water's general hardness (GH) and choose fish that thrive in it. If it's below 250ppm, I'd recommend going with South American cichlids. But if it's above 300ppm, you might want to look into African Rift lake cichlids instead.

I'll definitely separate the New World Cichlids and African Cichlids accordingly.

You've got fish from different regions, which can make things tricky. The Rams are South American, so they prefer softer water. On the other hand, your Kenyi is from Lake Malawi in Africa, and the Convict is from Central America - both of these regions have harder water.

Considering your tank size, I'd suggest choosing a cichlid group to focus on, and then finding a bottom dweller that's compatible with them. If you go with South American or African cichlids, you'll have plenty of options for bottom dwellers. However, if you decide to stick with Central American cichlids, finding a suitable bottom dweller might be a bit more challenging due to availability.