130Litre Cichlid or Shellies?

[Cromid]

Hey guys, I’ve been looking at getting myself a 130L long tank - dimensions 90cm x 36 x 45.
I’ve a couple of planted tanks with, tetras, rasbora, cories, and some south American cichlids but I’ve wanted something abit different, ideally just rocks and sand substrate and since marine tanks look amazing but are far too intimidating for me, I’ll stick with freshwater

I’ve always wanted to keep Malawi cichlids, yellow labs and maingano, but I'm aware that this tank is probably still too small for even a small group of 6-8, and since I can’t fit a 55g anywhere in my flat, I’ve been reading up on shelldwellers .

Would the footprint of this tank be good enough for a group of these?
and since they’ll stay close to the bottom, any suggestions on other tank mates to occupy the top or should I leave it species only (I’m aware they can become aggressive during mating)

Problem is I have soft and slightly acidic water, which i know isnt what they require. If i were to increase the hardness of the water using crush coral or some cichlid mix sand would this increase the hardness and with it the ph until it’s suitable for them.

or.. failing that
Is there any other fish in this kind of rocky environment you'd maybe suggest i have a look at?

 

[Byron]

Definitely need harder water for rift lake fish, and a calcareous sand substrate--you can buy these, CarribSea manufacturers one (or more), others likely do as well--is one way, along with rift lake cichlids salts for all water changes (mixed outside the tank). Make sure both of these are for rift lake fish, not marine which has sodium chloride (common "salt") that you do not want with freshwater fish. Mineral salts increase GH.

I will leave it for the rift lake experts to comment on fish species and tank size.

 

[Cromid]

Definitely need harder water for rift lake fish, and a calcareous sand substrate--you can buy these, CarribSea manufacturers one (or more), others likely do as well--is one way, along with rift lake cichlids salts for all water changes (mixed outside the tank). Make sure both of these are for rift lake fish, not marine which has sodium chloride (common "salt") that you do not want with freshwater fish. Mineral salts increase GH.

I will leave it for the rift lake experts to comment on fish species and tank size.

Thanks for your help and speedy answers as always Byron!

 

[Beastije]

I can't speak about the water parameters, most of us don't have the parameters we need and we have to adjust them some way, corals, sand, or driftwood, leaves...
However, for tanganyika cichlids, none of the upper swimmers is fit for this length. I had cyprichromis leptosoma and even 120cm length was too short. If you wanted to go with just bottom dwelling shellies, sure, maybe some rock formation and a pair of julidochromis, that can work, but the tank will be half empty, you will be tempted to add some upper level fish there, will bend the parameters or put fish that are not supposed to be in such water and not be happy anyway.
For example multies are amazing in their behavior so they almost make up for it, but they are sand colored, small and stay near bottom (well...sometimes)

 

[Wills]

I think a group of some of the bigger shellies like Caudopunks or Ocellatus would be good in there - maybe adding in some Jullies, Faries or Altos? I really like Tangks but like mentioned above you have to be 100% you want them as you have to be into the behaviour and interest of them rather than purely their visual appeal.

By contrast though given your soft water you could do something like a group of Cupid Cichlids? Highly gregarious and really beautiful and would do well in your tank. You could potentially do a hardscape only tank or minimal planting or just floating plants? Maybe have terrestrial plants growing out the top like a peace lilly?

Make the cupids the focus and then have some smaller schooling fish around them something small like embers or green neons?

Wills

 

[Wills]

Check out this guys youtube channel for info on Tanganykians really awesome fishroom

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAP0V2yC3Bq1PVYvd1Zlpug

Wills

 

[Cromid]

I think a group of some of the bigger shellies like Caudopunks or Ocellatus would be good in there - maybe adding in some Jullies, Faries or Altos? I really like Tangks but like mentioned above you have to be 100% you want them as you have to be into the behaviour and interest of them rather than purely their visual appeal.

By contrast though given your soft water you could do something like a group of Cupid Cichlids? Highly gregarious and really beautiful and would do well in your tank. You could potentially do a hardscape only tank or minimal planting or just floating plants? Maybe have terrestrial plants growing out the top like a peace lilly?

Make the cupids the focus and then have some smaller schooling fish around them something small like embers or green neons?

Wills

Thanks so much Wills, I will definitely have a look at these and do some more research. I’m never in a rush to start something like this and would only want them if I was 100% sure so thankyou for your advice and the alternatives too.