Marconis
Aquarium Advice Addict
I have been reading many different things. Some say minimum for Africans is 50, others say 30. Is it possible to have a 46g cichlid tank? If so, I won't be able to have much variety will I?
46g Cichlid tank---Yes or no?
- Thread starter Marconis
- Start date
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Fishyfanatic
Aquarium Advice Addict
Moved to the Cichlid Forum.
You could, but IMO you won't be able to have a big variety. What is the length of the tank?
You could, but IMO you won't be able to have a big variety. What is the length of the tank?
OP
OP
Marconis
Aquarium Advice Addict
36"
Fishyfanatic
Aquarium Advice Addict
Sure, but I would keep less aggressive species.
OP
OP
Marconis
Aquarium Advice Addict
What do you reccommend?
JustOneMore20
Algae Fighter
I think it would make a nice tank with Africans from Lake Tanganyika. Other folks will have to make suggestions, as I only keep Malawians. 
There are many Tangs that stay small enough for a 46g without being too overly aggressive.
There are many Tangs that stay small enough for a 46g without being too overly aggressive.
Fishyfanatic
Aquarium Advice Addict
Species such as Labs, Socolofi, Aceis, Cobalts, etc would be beautiful in the tank if you were going for Malawi Mbuna. If you are looking more towards other lakes, I don't have first hand experience and hopefully someone else will chime in.
Are you going for a planted tank? If so, Angels would be a nice choice in addition to Rams or Apistos.
Are you going for a planted tank? If so, Angels would be a nice choice in addition to Rams or Apistos.
OP
OP
Marconis
Aquarium Advice Addict
Nope, just fake plants at the moment. I really like the majority of the Malawian's, and my LFS has a nice selection of them.
Fishyfanatic
Aquarium Advice Addict
Check out what kind of stock they have available and what interests you and let us know. There are certain species that I wouldn't keep in a tank that is 36" in length because of their agressivness.
maxwell1295
Aquarium Advice FINatic
A lot of it depends on what colors you like. There are quite a few species that would work well in a tank that size. Ps. Saulosi or Ps. Demasoni species tank would work. You could do a group of 20 Saulosi....just make sure you get a decent M/F ratio. 4 females for every 1 male is a good guideline to follow. You could also do 12-15 Demasoni with a group of 5-6 Yellow Labs as well.
OP
OP
Marconis
Aquarium Advice Addict
What about the Electric Yellow ones? Idk if that is their name but all my LFS's have a nice selection of them.
WaterPond
Aquarium Advice Addict
Fishyfanatic said:
Marconis said:
Those would be the labs which fishyfanatic was speaking of. And dont Aceis get like 7", wouldent they be too big?
JustOneMore20
Algae Fighter
Most sites I've seen say Acei get 6 inches, but I've never kept them, so I don't have experience with them.
I'd stick with the lesser aggressive Mbuna, like Yellow labs (aka Electric Yellows), Rusty Cichlids, and maybe Cobalts (not sure on their aggression level), and/or some Malawian Peacocks. Or go with a species tank of Saulosi or Demasoni.
Socolofis IMO are too aggressive for a 3ft tank.
I'd stick with the lesser aggressive Mbuna, like Yellow labs (aka Electric Yellows), Rusty Cichlids, and maybe Cobalts (not sure on their aggression level), and/or some Malawian Peacocks. Or go with a species tank of Saulosi or Demasoni.
Socolofis IMO are too aggressive for a 3ft tank.
Fishyfanatic
Aquarium Advice Addict
Acei's as far as I know do not grow to 7 inches. We have 4 grown adults and they are about 5". I meant Saulosi, not Socolofi. My mind wandered for a moment there.
Cobalts are not aggressive in the slightest. They are just as peaceful as Labs and Acei's, if not even more peaceful.
Cobalts are not aggressive in the slightest. They are just as peaceful as Labs and Acei's, if not even more peaceful.
OP
OP
Marconis
Aquarium Advice Addict
Alright, I am actually pretty excited that I get to have Cichlids . The Acei's are BEAUTIFUL.
What would be considered overstocking with these guys?
. The Acei's are BEAUTIFUL.What would be considered overstocking with these guys?
DeFeKt
Aquarium Advice Addict
I'm going to have to disagree slightly, a friend of mine has acei 'msuli' around the 7" mark in his 10foot malawi display.
Took him a few years and alot of attention to get them there though.
IME they are not entirely peaceful. They tend to stay generally calm but can have a real mean streak when harrased. Having said that, who knows what characteristics your future fish will have.
Have you considered an all male display? That way aggression is minimalised as breeding display/instinct will not come out, and you get the option of keeping a larger variety.
Took him a few years and alot of attention to get them there though.
IME they are not entirely peaceful. They tend to stay generally calm but can have a real mean streak when harrased. Having said that, who knows what characteristics your future fish will have.
Have you considered an all male display? That way aggression is minimalised as breeding display/instinct will not come out, and you get the option of keeping a larger variety.
OP
OP
Marconis
Aquarium Advice Addict
Yeah I don't mind having all males. As long as I can have nice variety and a peaceful tank idc.
Fishyfanatic
Aquarium Advice Addict
Malawi Mayhem and Cichlid Forum both list max size of 5 inches for regular Acei. I think you'll be good to go. Find out what is available to you and go from there. We had a very hard time coming across Aceis and Cobalts but they are widely available in other areas. Good Luck.
Idealconcepts
Aquarium Advice Freak
I would suggest looking at Tangs since Malawi's tend to be larger and have a greater chance of be territorial and aggressive. I had about 26 juvi malawi in my 135gal, they were about 1.5-2.0 inches each, they were fine until they got larger and maybe once every 3-4 months they find a wipping boy/girl and harrass them to the point they are stressed and sick, I have to remove them and heal them up in the hospital tank for a few weeks and put them back in when I do a larger water change. It's usually a different fish each time and I am able to catch it soon enough.
Idealconcepts
Aquarium Advice Freak
I would suggest looking at Tangs since Malawi's tend to be larger and have a greater chance of be territorial and aggressive. I had about 26 juvi malawi in my 135gal, they were about 1.5-2.0 inches each, they were fine until they got larger and maybe once every 3-4 months they find a wipping boy/girl and harrass them to the point they are stressed and sick, I have to remove them and heal them up in the hospital tank for a few weeks and put them back in when I do a larger water change. It's usually a different fish each time and I am able to catch it soon enough. I mainly have Elec Yellows, Red Zebras, Kenyi, Cobalt Zebras, and another group I can't recall.
