75 Gallon Build

[RedNeck]

Ok I do believe I posted this question in the wrong area before. I am getting a 75gal tank and would like to do cichlids. Im not too sure what kind. This will be my first try with them. Is there a group easier than others? I just got into live plants....are they ok in a cichlid tank? I need noobie help!!!!

 

[Ovid]

Ok I do believe I posted this question in the wrong area before. I am getting a 75gal tank and would like to do cichlids. Im not too sure what kind. This will be my first try with them. Is there a group easier than others? I just got into live plants....are they ok in a cichlid tank? I need noobie help!!!!

It varries from fish to fish and having a 75 gal will help with aggression quite a bit. One common practice is to only stock from a specific lake. I have only kept Africans, so I cannot give any insight to new world cichlids. In my current setup, I don't see too much aggression, and I have a pretty diverse mix:

1 Albino Pseudotropheus Socolofi
4 Labidochromis Caeruleus
2 Pseudotropheus Acei
2 Melanochromis Auratus
1 Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos
5 Pelvicachromis Pulcher
2 Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi (will probably need to remove when they grow more)
2 Synodontis Multipunctatas


I will probably add a female Johanni when I can find one in the area, but most places just keep stocking males. Java Fern is one of the only plants I can have last with my Cichlids. The taste is bad enough that the worst they do with it is dig it up. Everything else I have added in the past gets decimated. Good luck with your setup and don't forget to cycle.

 

[RedNeck]

Update!!!!! Just carried into the house my new 90 gal. tank! I will post pictures when I get it set up. When at the lfs they had electric blue dempsys and rasberry servums. I also would like a pleco......I would like to build off of this base if I could.

 

[RedNeck]

Ok, here is the begginings of the tank. Just started to do a fishless cycle. Im running two emperor 200's and a 300 wat heater. Let me hear any concerns or comments!

 

[RedNeck]

I do believe I would like to build my stock list around a jd...maybe a eletric blue jd if they still have them when my cycle is done. I also want a pleco. Any suggetions to what else to add? Much appritiated!

 

[gman42]

If you want a jd I want get a normal one. The eb jd's are not very hardy. For a pleco I would get a bristle nose plefo because they stay small. I've had a jd and he was an awesome fish. I can't help on the stocking question too much more. I don't know a lot about said cichlids

 

[RedNeck]

Ic. I am learning more about them everyday. I am doing alot of reading and research but that is alot to take in. The guy at the new lfs I found seemed pretty knowledgable but his stocking ideas seemed way to much for a 90 gal. imo. He was talked about oscar, ebjd, rasberrry servums and foil tetras alot with a pleco. I would like atleast 6 fish in this tank and I deff. want a pleco.

 

[RedNeck]

Update on cycle....water temp-80
Ammonia-2ppm
ph-8.0

 

[RedNeck]

Ok....just put the finishing touches on the decor.Heres a picture update....now only if I knew magic to get it to instantly cycle!!!!! I got some books from the store today and the one breaks down the species right down to area....This should help me decide what I want. I know it will have a bn pleco and then I want one center piece fish and a handfull of smaller colorful cichlids.

 

[jetajockey]

now only if I knew magic to get it to instantly cycle!!!!!

Seeded media makes it speed up tremendously.

 

[RedNeck]

The LFS gave me some gravel from one of their tanks....I have it in the pantyhose in the left front.

 

[RedNeck]

Ok.....fast cycle? I just started about 24 hours ago....put in the media from the lfs and dosed ammonia to 2ppm. These are my test readings tonight.
Temp-82
ammonia-1ppm
nitrite-1ppm
nitrate-between 0 and 5
ph-7.8

Im not 100% sure on what to keep doing....should I just let it ride now or do I keep dosing ammonia?

 

[cbourg746]

If you want a jd I want get a normal one. The eb jd's are not very hardy. For a pleco I would get a bristle nose plefo because they stay small. I've had a jd and he was an awesome fish. I can't help on the stocking question too much more. I don't know a lot about said cichlids

Electric blues are not very hardy fish at all. Make sure your cycle is complete before you add one. They are beautiful but expensive.

 

[RedNeck]

I really need some advice on this cycle? Now that nitrites are showing and nitrates are starting do I keep dosing the ammonia?

 

[Keao_m]

Yes you should keep dosing ammonia until its converted all the way to nitrites in one day. I would dose ammonia to 4ppm

 

[RedNeck]

Ok. Thanks...I only did 2 because I read between 2 and 5 but the higher the ammonia the more likely it will alter the ph and stall. I will dose it up when I get home today!

 

[Freakgecko91]

Look into a (possibly, someone else like Jetajockey can probably chime in) royal pleco for that tank, I just think a BNP will get lost in a tank of that size. As for tank mates, a group of convicts may work, however, I've been told they are NASTY when spawning

 

[RedNeck]

Well I like convicts but I don't just want three fish.....I want a colorful, lively tank. I see all these other cichlid tanks just flowing with color.....what are those? african?

 

[Keao_m]

Well I like convicts but I don't just want three fish.....I want a colorful, lively tank. I see all these other cichlid tanks just flowing with color.....what are those? african?

Yes they are African. They are full of color and you can have more in one tank.

 

[RedNeck]

I have 2 emperor 200's hanging on this tank....Was thinking of adding a marienland 360c canister.....Will this combo be plenty or will it still be cutting it short?