What do I need to start a cichlid tank?

[roydooms]

I bought a 10g tank with stand, filter, substrate and lights for $20. I'm thinking of trying small cichlids for a change and with no plants. Is the tank too small? Which fish can I keep and how many? Is fluval 204 enough filtration? Any lights will be fine? I read that cichlids like hard water. Do I need to buy crushed coral substrate? Do I need rocks to set up caves? Thanks in advance

 

[mfdrookie516]

Not all cichlids prefer hard water, as I'm sure you're aware with your discus In a 10g, you're going to want to look at multis, brevis, or occies. I had some multis in a 10g for well over a year until I sold them. They are fun little fish. All you need is substrate and shells for them.

 

[roydooms]

Not all cichlids prefer hard water, as I'm sure you're aware with your discus In a 10g, you're going to want to look at multis, brevis, or occies. I had some multis in a 10g for well over a year until I sold them. They are fun little fish. All you need is substrate and shells for them.

When I said hard water I was thinking of African cichlids. Lol

Are the fish that you recommended African or south American(am I right with the classifications?)?

Small shells or big ones for the fish to hide?

 

[roydooms]

I like how the small cichilds look like Can they go together? Are the big chain stores selling them?

 

[mfdrookie516]

They are africans (lake tanganyika I do believe). Here's a pic of my old multi setup.

 

[roydooms]

Nice. I'll go with your setup and fishes. Does these cichlids uproot plants or nip at them? Anubias and java fern maybe? I want to try cichlids but I feel like a FW tank with no plants is incomplete. Lol.

 

[mfdrookie516]

Nope, I also had them in this tank: