Tank dimensions opinions

[gwand]

For a 55 gallon tank dedicated to African cichlids 3-5 inches and relatively peaceful should I buy 48 inch long or 36 inch tank? Thanks.

 

[Ichthys]

More info needed.
What kind of African Cichlids?
What would the two footprints be?

 

[GaryE]

A larger footprint always helps, but there are so many variables in depth, front to back, etc.

I know what you mean, generally, by African Cichlids. But even with East African Rift Lake Cichlids, there are many species groups and many set ups. Tanganyika? Malawi? Victoria? Kivu? Edward? It's a vast area with many different Cichlids. It's a tiny part of Africa, Cichlid-wise.

Even in Lake Malawi, you have mbuna from the rocks, and peacocks from the more open areas - different types of set ups.

 

[gwand]

A larger footprint always helps, but there are so many variables in depth, front to back, etc.

I know what you mean, generally, by African Cichlids. But even with East African Rift Lake Cichlids, there are many species groups and many set ups. Tanganyika? Malawi? Victoria? Kivu? Edward? It's a vast area with many different Cichlids. It's a tiny part of Africa, Cichlid-wise.

Even in Lake Malawi, you have mbuna from the roc, and peacocks from the more open areas - different types of set ups.

I was thinking Either Labidochromis caeruleus with Iodotropheus sprengerae or Anomalochromis thomasi with Turkana Jewel Cichlid.
Possible 55 gallons tank dimensions. Which do you recommend for this fish combo?
Tank 1. 48x20x13 or
Tank 2. 36x18x18

 

[gwand]

More info needed.
What kind of African Cichlids?
What would the two footprints be?

I was thinking Either Labidochromis caeruleus with Iodotropheus sprengerae or Anomalochromis thomasi with Turkana Jewel Cichlid.
Possible 55 gallons tank dimensions. Which do you recommend for this fish combo?
Tank 1. 48x20x13 or
Tank 2. 36x18x18

 

[Colin_T]

I was thinking Either Labidochromis caeruleus with Iodotropheus sprengerae or Anomalochromis thomasi with Turkana Jewel Cichlid.
Possible 55 gallons tank dimensions. Which do you recommend for this fish combo?
Tank 1. 48x20x13 or
Tank 2. 36x18x18

48 inches long x 20 inches high? x 13 inches wide?

Which species of jewel cichlid?
Most are really aggressive.

 

[Ichthys]

If the 48 is 13 wide, I'd go for the 36. If it's 20 wide I'd go for the 48.

Turkana jewels need hard water. I would not keep them with A. thomasi. The other choices I can't really help you with.

 

[GaryE]

Anomalochromis thomasi is close to being a jewel, albeit a quieter version. It would share the same territorial needs, and there would be competition. Both are open spawners.
Rubricatochromis exsul, the old Turkana, is supposed to be a milder version of the Genus, as you know. I've bought a few Rubricatochromis (ex Hemichromis) that were supposedly milder in behaviour, and they were anything but. I don't know how that plays out in reality, since the other Genus members can be a handful unless the tanks are large and dedicated to them. The point about hardwater is a great one. Even if they were compatible for their needs, thomasi would be miserable in their water, and vice versa.

A fundamental rule for Cichlids other than mbuna is that you never mix two species with the same needs. An open spawner with a mouthbrooder or a cave spawner is cool. With another open spawner is a disaster. Mouthbrooders break rules because other than for a short actual spawning period, they ARE their territories.

A. thomasi could however live with softwater cave spawners. The Cichlids from its region tend to be rough characters, but farther south there are some Pelvicachromis that would work.

I'm a Malawi fish disliker. I don't find the behaviour that great to watch. But they can be crowded, which riverines can't be. I am with @Ichthys on the tank dimensions. Because they can live in close proximity to other mbuna, they could be in a 36. The scaping will be fun. I always prefer a larger footprint if you can get it.

If you go with thomasi, buy them all at once. I would aim for six. It appears likely there is more than one very similar species circulating in the hobby, all under the same name.

 

[gwand]

48 inches long x 20 inches high? x 13 inches wide?

Which species of jewel cichlid?
Most are really aggressive.

Yes on the dimensions. Hemichromis exsul Specie.

 

[gwand]

Anomalochromis thomasi is close to being a jewel, albeit a quieter version. It would share the same territorial needs, and there would be competition. Both are open spawners.
Rubricatochromis exsul, the old Turkana, is supposed to be a milder version of the Genus, as you know. I've bought a few Rubricatochromis (ex Hemichromis) that were supposedly milder in behaviour, and they were anything but. I don't know how that plays out in reality, since the other Genus members can be a handful unless the tanks are large and dedicated to them. The point about hardwater is a great one. Even if they were compatible for their needs, thomasi would be miserable in their water, and vice versa.

A fundamental rule for Cichlids other than mbuna is that you never mix two species with the same needs. An open spawner with a mouthbrooder or a cave spawner is cool. With another open spawner is a disaster. Mouthbrooders break rules because other than for a short actual spawning period, they ARE their territories.

A. thomasi could however live with softwater cave spawners. The Cichlids from its region tend to be rough characters, but farther south there are some Pelvicachromis that would work.

I'm a Malawi fish disliker. I don't find the behaviour that great to watch. But they can be crowded, which riverines can't be. I am with @Ichthys on the tank dimensions. Because they can live in close proximity to other mbuna, they could be in a 36. The scaping will be fun. I always prefer a larger footprint if you can get it.

If you go with thomasi, buy them all at once. I would aim for six. It appears likely there is more than one very similar species circulating in the hobby, all under the same name.

What dimensions would you recommend if I went with Labidochromis caeruleus and Iodotropheus sprengerae? Or is it best to go with a single specie tank?

 

[Ichthys]

If you like those four species equally, I personally would do a single species tank with a handful of thomasi, with no other cichlids. My opinion of thomasi based on my own experience is that they're one of the most peaceful cichlids on the planet. I was actually shocked when I discovered they can be a little agressive.
Give them the tank they want - soft water, open space with lots of places they can disappear behind and have 'privacy',, a little/big shoal of some very small dithers, and they won't disappoint.

I'm biased, of course. A. thomasi are one of those fish that I feel privileged to have known (like Ctenopoma kingsleyi from another recent African thread).
When I bred them many moons ago they were quite like the mouthbrooders in that they didn't need a territory. They were quite happy just sat where they were, with their brood between them. They moved around but slowly, and at any given time their territory was just the next few inches.
Maybe that's just because there were no other cichlids. If you want to see a happy, contented, proud pair of any cichlid with their new family, rather than one that's needing to be hyped up and on the defensive, don't keep other cichlids with them.

 

[gwand]

If you like those four species equally, I personally would do a single species tank with a handful of thomasi, with no other cichlids. My opinion of thomasi based on my own experience is that they're the most peaceful cichlid on the planet. I was actually shocked when I discovered they can be a little agressive.
Give them the tank they want - soft water, open space with lots of places they can disappear behind and have 'privacy',, a little/big shoal of some very small dithers, and they won't disappoint.

My water GH is about 200 ppm. Is that too hard? I’ll take any recommendations on a single species. I am not committed to the four I mention But I’m looking for small.Cichlids that can tolerate my water hardness. Of course interesting behaviors would be a plus.

 

[Ichthys]

My water GH is about 200 ppm. Is that too hard? I’ll take any recommendations on a single species. I am not committed to the four I mention But I’m looking for small.Cichlids that can tolerate my water hardness. Of course interesting behaviors would be a plus.

They're from soft water. Seriously Fish seems to suggest they'll also thrive in hard water, but I'm not sure if I believe that.
Hopefully @GaryE can enlighten us both here. He's already said they wouldn't like Turkana hardness...

 

[GaryE]

I just so happens I've kept them 3 times, two different colour forms of thomasi. On the egg test, they wouldn't even develop at 140 ppm, and I had to bring it down around 100 to get fry.
Generally, if the eggs won't develop in a type of water, then the fish is out of its water.

I have one grumpy leftover female thomasi here, if anyone wants to drive up to eastern Canada...

I bred them 10 years ago, then ordered them again 2 years ago, only to have a shipping mishap. 30 years ago I had a group in 140ppm water. They couldn't breed.

@gwand - if I can make a suggestion...mbuna are pretty. But a dive into Tanganyikans may catch your eye. They are no longer as popular as they were, but they are fantastic harder water Cichlids. There are some small species that are beautiful, and not hard to keep. There are pretty Victorians too, but I was unable to keep them as they aren't aggressive - they are downright violent. Tanganyikans, on the other hand, display some fascinating behaviour, and can be in tanks like you are considering. Neoplamprologus marunguensis... very cool.

 

[Ichthys]

On the egg test, they wouldn't even develop at 140 ppm, and I had to bring it down around 100 to get fry.

MIne spawned successfully in GH 7-8, KH 2. (I'm still using the same water, but I still can't tell you the TDS). They were the form that was being farmed in Singapore in the 1970s.

I've kept them since but no fry were made.

Anton's book (The Cichlid Fishes of Western Africa) says pH needs to be neutral for proper egg development. MIne was about 7.1 - 7.2