New aquarium

[crittermom]

I'm getting ready to re-do my 20 gallon tank, which crashed a while back (I used some fizzy algae killer tabs and got a huge bacteria bloom...yuck). I'm a few weeks away from stocking it yet, but I saw a tank at a PetsMart that had white sand (I'll use white gravel instead), marine-type decorations, and cichlids. Of course, that was a huge tank, and could stock more fish. I've been reading that you can't keep cichlids in a 20 gallon tank, but then someone told me that I can do 2 or 3. I don't want them to kill each other, so I may look for other similar fish. Now, my question is: what can I use? I've been told kribensis (I have no earthly idea what those are or even where to start looking for them...we only have PetsMart, Petco, and Wallyworld here, and I don't buy from WM) and a couple of other kinds. Is it safe to buy fish online? If so, where do I start? I want a salt-water tank badly, but not the upkeep, and this seems like a good substitute. Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions/help you can give.

 

[freddyk]

I would hardly call this a good substitue for Marine, but then I don't think there is a substitute. Kribs are a riverine African, simlar to new world dwarfs like Rams and Apistogramma. They like planted tanks best.

I think the type of thing you are looking for is mbuna, these guys are rock dwellers so you can do a marine looking rock reef, and their colors are as vivid as you get with fresh water fish. I wouldn't recommend any of these in 20 gallon - despite the smaller size of many of them, they are much too active and aggressive for such tiny quarters. Now if you can upgrade to somewhere around 35 gallons some options would really open up.

 

[Kopix Nation]

Mubunas are a nice cichlid though I can't say much for there intelligence I do beleive they are very colorful. My friend once had some but she was not cut out for fish and they soon parished under her poor care. She is someone who is not very responsible.I think if you got two male and female they could be friends.

claire

 

[crittermom]

I agree, there is no substitute for marine! (Unfortunately, just can't do that without the proper tank, and at this point in time I have neither the space nor the money...someday... ) Long ago, in my other (married; Florida) life, we had 2 salt-water tanks, one we stocked from our LFS and a bay tank, in which we kept things we caught in the bay with a seine. Such fun! Thanks for the comments.