New Cichlid Tank! Please Help me Along the Way!

[AtoZ Cichlids]

just picked up a tank with all kinds of goodies free! Anyways the first thing that I am doing is cleaning the aquarium. I believe its just calcium build up but not to sure. I got most of it off but Ive heard that white vinegar should disolve it! is that true?

 

[AtoZ Cichlids]

So excited!!! Heres what I got!

Stress coat
Algae Fix
MelaFix Antibacterial
Fluval Water Conditioner
Small Bowl FW Test Kit
Super Strength TapWater Conditioner
Eco•Start
Fluval Biological Enhancer
ACUREL F Crystal Clear Water Solution
pH UP
Aqueon Water Conditioner
Tetra EasyStrips all in one testing
Water Test Result Strip
Mardel Marplex Virbac Water Conditioner
pH DOWN
Seachem 16.9 fl oz Prime
Seachem 8.5 fl oz Prime
Marine Land pH Regulator
Hikari Algea Wafers
TetraCichlid Flakes
3mm Spectrum sinking pellets
1mm Thera A sinking pellets
Nutrafin Max Cichlid Sinking Granules
Omega One FW Flakes
Hikari Tropical Food Sticks
Hikari Cichlid floating Staple
Water Change Hose with Extra connection
Magnetic power head rated for 60 gallons
3 different sized nets
Automatic feeder
Tons of air hose
Wire brush
Power strip
Plant scissors
Seaweed Clip
Magnet cleaner brush
3 Different size and brands of airpumps
8 small airstones
Huge airstone
300W ELITE heater
200W ELITE heater
Complet Fluval 405 canister Filter
5 gallons of Gravel substrate
Glass cleaning tool
Tons of lace rock
Tons of dry rock
Tons of drift wood
Gravel Filter
3 light fixtures one is blue and white LED
Other decor
Double sided back drop
and tons of misc. parts and pieces
Aquarium
Stand
And im soo ready for this!!!!

 

[brunettebaby4571]

First off let me just say how jealous I am you got all that free!! But the vinegar should work along with some elbow grease I am looking forward to see it all set up! I recently picked up a 55 gallon as well and I'm still not sure what I want to do with it yet.

 

[AtoZ Cichlids]

I wont be able to sleep tonight!

 

[FrankoQ]

Nice find.

 

[AtoZ Cichlids]

Nice find.

Actually, My grandma gave it to me! Shes got birds and snakes and rats and tortoises and turtles and dogs and cats and this tank! I guess it was just to much!

 

[Nimo]

Congrats on the find. Nice! First advice is research all fish you are interested in then ask questions research and ask questions. Remember there are no dumb questions no stupid questions just questions that farther your knowledge. Most of all have fun!

 

[AtoZ Cichlids]

Yup ive been planning this for almost a month! I know whats going in there and I also have experience with them! but yes Thats true research first!

 

[Nimo]

Yup ive been planning this for almost a month! I know whats going in there and I also have experience with them! but yes Thats true research first!

Cool! I use to have mbunas loved them. I have converted to salt now but always take a peek at the chiclid threads

 

[AtoZ Cichlids]

Aquarium Dimensions

12'W x 48'L x 21'H
How many gallons?

 

[Dallascowboys16]

I think thatsa 55 if I'm not mistaken...

 

[AtoZ Cichlids]

Thats what I thought.

 

[AtoZ Cichlids]

Stocking idea so far.

1 Male Demasoni
11 Female Demasoni
1 Blue crayfish

 

[AtoZ Cichlids]

What would be a cool bottom dweller for this tank? Preferably something really active or atleast doesnt hide all the time. Preferably a cat but Im open to about anything

 

[mistersprinkles]

Aquarium Dimensions

12'W x 48'L x 21'H
How many gallons?

That sounds like a 55 gallon.
Great size for a Mbuna tank.

 

[mistersprinkles]

Stocking idea so far.

1 Male Demasoni
11 Female Demasoni
1 Blue crayfish

Might I suggest instead,

3 male saulosi
9 female saulosi

(the male looks like a demasoni, the female is orange. Very pretty fish)

And instead of the crawfish, who will have questionable survivability with mbuna, why not go with some small synodontis catfish like petricola (remember to drop food in for them at night when the cichlids cant see)

Alternatively (though they're very hard to sex), how about

1m11f demasoni

and

1m 4f yellow lab

great looking combo. You could squeeze all those fish in if you did frequent water changes.

 

[AtoZ Cichlids]

The Demos and the cray are a must for this tank. But whats a good M to F ratio?

 

[AtoZ Cichlids]

Its going to be a specie intesive tank? 1 fish maybe 2 fish!

 

[mistersprinkles]

With Demasoni, because they're such a crazy, aggressive fish, the ideal situation would be 1 male, and the rest female.

You can get the crawfish if you want but try to make sure there are caves only he can fit in for moulting time. And feed him at night. Mbuna are pigs. They won't leave any food for him during the day.

Yellow labs go well with Demasoni. Why not get a large group of dems and a small group of labs. You have the room in a 55. Maybe 1 male 4 female labs.

If you want to you can still add a couple of synodontis cats. They go very well with Mbuna. Avoid plecos. Not a good match.

 

[AtoZ Cichlids]

Its strickly one fish excluding the bottom dweller. I know this sounds dumb but its what my father wants! and i agree! soo wht are some cats that you guys like! He wants something jetblack but I say we get a picus anyways what are some cool cats? that wont hide allday