Would Cichlids Work For Me?

[Luketendo]

Ok so I live in south east england which is hard water, I have a 17g (US) tank and I want them to be community (aka neon tetra and upwards.) Is there any Cichlids that are compatable with my conditions? Also are they compatible with Honey Gouramis or would I be better off with one or the other.

Around 25C Temp and pH of 7 would be best.

Also it's a 2 foot tank not 2 1/2.

 

[Mr Flagfin]

I had a community tank jewel 260 while i was in kent, and in it were a pair of yellow cichlids
(something like labidochromis caerulus...look it up !)
Within a few weeks they were excavating the gravel under the bogwood to use as a spawning site.
A few weeks after that.......babies !!!
I guess the fish were happy enough !!!
Just be careful,
Cichlids vary so much in size and aggression, picking the wrong type could prove very expensive (in replacing what they kill !!)

 

[Luketendo]

Those Yellow ones are too big for me .

 

[pica_nuttalli]

It doesn't sound to me like cichlids would work for your tank. The small size would limit it to a dwarf variety, the community setting would pretty much eliminate all the African dwarfs and the hard water means that most of the S. American dwarf species wouldn't work either.

That being said, if your LFS ever gets some German Rams, then you might try a pair of those. Just give it a few weeks in the shop to see how the rams adjust to the hard water before you invest in them.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Most Cichlids are tank bred, and because of this, can withstand various water chemistry!

I would say you could try some type of Dwarf Cichild, like German Blue Ram, or Dwarf Cockatoo Cichlids. Only down side is that all Cichlids are aggressive (even dwarfs) so depending if you get a nastie one he may get a little harsh on the fish. But, on many occasions I have seen them mixed in with neons and other community fish with no problems!

 

[Musho3210]

Its also down to the individual fish.

 

[sheepsheeplamb]

I kept a ~1.5inch Electric Yellow Cichlid with a Neon Tetra, ended up finding the tetra dead with it's back fin shredded a few weeks after putting the 2 together.

 

[rED O]

i would not put cichlids in anything smaller than 33 minuium.i would recamend a 55 for a cichlid tank. i have a 72 rock mubuna tank and is perfect for cichlids

 

[Luketendo]

Apparently Germans Blue Rams need soft water: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=34986.

The Cockatoos are apparently sensitive to Phosphate and Nitrates which are going to be in my fertiliser.

Maybe I should just stay with Gouramis instead.