Is a 20 gallon to small to make a cichlid tank?

[joeyjoelyjoepro]

Hi all, I was wondering if I could make my 20 gallon into a cichlid tank because they look really really really Cool but I don't have a bigger tank.
Thanks

 

[sinibotia]

Hi all, I was wondering if I could make my 20 gallon into a cichlid tank because they look really really really Cool but I don't have a bigger tank.
Thanks

What do you mean by a cichlid tank? There are many kinds of cichlid that are perfect for a 20 gallon but you can't really do an african cichlid community if that's what you mean. Do you have a 20 gallon long or a 20 gallon high?

 

[Nils]

Like Sini said, depends on what type of cichlid. You could definitely do a pair of Bolivian rams or german blue rams. There are lots of other cichlids out there, like the rams, shell dwellers, checkerboard and a lot more. We can help you more once you specify

 

[joeyjoelyjoepro]

I don't know much about cichlids but, I was just wondering if my tank was big enough. The tank is longer than it it is tall so it is probably a long. I still need to do lots of research but what what cichlids would be able to fit?

 

[sinibotia]

I don't know much about cichlids but, I was just wondering if my tank was big enough. The tank is longer than it it is tall so it is probably a long. I still need to do lots of research but what what cichlids would be able to fit?

Both a 20H and a 20L are longer than tall. A 20H is 24 inches long and a 20L is 30 inches long. This actually makes a big difference as to what you can keep.

If you have a 20 long here are some ideas:
Cookie Cutter - 20-gallons (long)

Here are ideas for a 20H:
Cookie Cutter - 15-gallons or 20-gallons(tall)

In a 20 high, but not a 20 long, you can do a pair of angelfish.

Some of the ideas for a 20L will work with a 20H with some modification so if you find anything you like just ask.

 

[joeyjoelyjoepro]

It would be a tall then. I was thinking I might be able to build my own aquarium with some old glass I have lying around and making something like a 60 gallon or something which I would make a wood frame around because it is brittle, the glass I mean. What do you think? Do you guys and gals have any more advice for starting a cichlids tank?

Thanks

 

[Mebbid]

It would be a tall then. I was thinking I might be able to build my own aquarium with some old glass I have lying around and making something like a 60 gallon or something which I would make a wood frame around because it is brittle, the glass I mean. What do you think? Do you guys and gals have any more advice for starting a cichlids tank?

Thanks

If you're going to be building a 60g tank then you need pretty thick glass, I would imagine it would need to be quite a bit thicker than stuff that's laying around. It would need to be at least 3/8 of an inch thick.

My advice: start slow and do your research on each species of fish before you buy them.

 

[sinibotia]

Honestly you should start with the 20 gallon. Building a tank is a pretty big undertaking. There's a lot you can do even with a 20H. I have two different 20H's with one kind of cichlid in each. One has a spawning pair of angelfish and the other has a colony of shelldwelling cichlids.

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[joeyjoelyjoepro]

If you're going to be building a 60g tank then you need pretty thick glass, I would imagine it would need to be quite a bit thicker than stuff that's laying around. It would need to be at least 3/8 of an inch thick.



My advice: start slow and do your research on each species of fish before you buy them.

The glass I would be using is about 1/2 to 3/4 in. Thick but it is brittle so I would have to brace it with some extra wood. I also might just build something like a 40 though.

 

[keegster803]

Hi all, I was wondering if I could make my 20 gallon into a cichlid tank because they look really really really Cool but I don't have a bigger tank.
Thanks

I'd Google, ram cichlids, apisto cichlids, and shell-dweller cichlids. Come back with more refined questions from things you researched and were interested in, and we can give you a lot more help.


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