Starting a African Cichlids Tank.

I've been thinking about starting a African Cichlids and after reading a few post here I'm going to do it. What size of tank do you guy recommend to start with. Is the 1" per gal. apply with cichids. I have alot of reading to do before I get started, any good books I should look for. Any ideas or info. would help.

Thanks Rick

Start with as big a tank as you can, that 150 would work great and you can probably do 4 or 5 species. Book wise don't really know. Most Mbuna like harder water. Much depends on what you want. Some are easy going for the most part some can be a nightmare and kill everything else in the tank given time. The right ratio of male with female defiantly can make a difference. Call me if you want 739-6903

Hi Jim
Were can I fine info. on doing a back ground like you have. I'm thinking about useing the 150 but I'm not sure I have room for it. I need to finish the stand I started befor I got sick.

JimA - does have quite a spectacular tank! That is an awesome background.

Rick, keep us updated if you go that route with the 3D background, would love to see pics.

I got mine from a company called designs by nature and they offer some different types some cost more than others. Mine was actually a complete background cut diagonally and ran 110.00 plus shipping. Some out there run in the 3 to 400s

Couple out there are back to nature, and pangea backgrounds I believe.

if you come to the everett area, come by and check out my nice african collection, that would sure give you some ideas.

From what I have been told for a few fish stores and reading online they like to be over stocked to a certain degree too because that's how they live in the wild. If you don't put males and females together in the same tank then you can have more than one species. I have a few posts on here about cichlid tanks as they were my ex's. He had a pretty good set up going on. Never had much problem with the fish either. Had an air problems with too little being in the tank but it got resolved the same day and the fish were fine. Just user error.