100gallon just starting

[SkiBumm]

Hi everyone,
Recomendations of fish and must haves let me know!!!
My question is what is the best filter and any othe requipment for a great running freshwater chichlid tank ? What are the most important items ?
Specially if I was on a no limit budget. I want an optimal fish tank.
Thank you I'm advanced!

 

[CraigMac]

Most important thing IMO for cichlids is the filter. They are messy fish! The fluval fx-5 is definitely the way to go.

Are you thinking African cichlids? If so, I think a must have is sand for the substrate.

 

[CraigMac]

One more thing......if you are on a no limit budget I suggest getting 2 fx-5 filters....and sending one to me!!!!!

 

[cessnatank04]

I have some electric blue jack Dempsey's. Really awesome looking cichlids and kinda expensive. Well expensive to me. Probably chump change to you.

 

[josh7]

Well I reccomend south american cichlids. I would do 1 large one like a jack dempsey or a Texas cichlid. I would also do 2 medium ones like a firemouth and a convict or a firemouth and blue acara. I would also do some dither fish like 15 tiger barbs. I would also add a large African catfish like a african featherfin for the bottom.

 

[Malawi Freak]

If you are looking at south Americans and not that many then a canister filter will be fine if you run 2 and a powerhead. However, If you plan Africans and decide to overstock you will probably want to look into a sump.

 

[Jason7894561230]

I would do Mbuna! Looks much better in a larger tank!

 

[SkiBumm]

Thanks lots of good info. Any thoughts on rope fish? Or possibly something more badass but similar?

 

[Sharkbait54]

Ornate bichir.

 

[josh7]

I would go with a bichir to like a ornate or sengegal bichir.

 

[Malawi Freak]

Bichir can only be kept with big fish

 

[OBEYtheFISH]

Bichirs are awesome
I have about 12 & kept most of them in my mbuna tank

 

[Malawi Freak]

Bichirs are awesome
I have about 12 & kept most of them in my mbuna tank

Any experiences I had were they would just lay on the bottom. They can get up to 3' long and will eat any small and hurt/slow fish.

 

[OBEYtheFISH]

They won't get that big in captivity
Also wouldn't keep slow or injured fish with them

 

[OBEYtheFISH]

My mbuna were already pretty big
Everyone were ranging the 5"-6" mark

 

[Malawi Freak]

And those mbuna didn't stress out the bichir while chasing the weir dorsal fins?

 

[OBEYtheFISH]

They left each other alone never had any problems
Just in the beginning when I had a smaller fish an ornate bichir caught it

 

[sayan]

U can go wid oscars too. A 100 g tank is almost fine for 2 oscar. I hav 2 albino. They r just amazing pets.I'm in love wid dis guys. And a good canister filter is for sure...

 

[Jenn27]

An Oscar with some Pictus cats or Featherfins, and Silver Dollars (about 3). That is the tank I am working towards, anyway. But, I am kinda in love with Oscars. They are like water dogs.

 

[boadams87]

I've got the fx5 to and love it. It keeps my oscar tank crystal clear.