5 ft. long tank

[Mr_Cool]

Looking to get back into the fish hobby. Don't me mad, but I thinking of doing an African Cichlid tank. I think a 100 gallon would be perfect. Anyone got an extra one in the garage or something?

Of course, it would be nice if I didn't have to build a stand and canopy for it. And, a sump and/or canister filter would be nice, too. Let me know what you got.

[Zack]

What lake you shooting for? I personally have always wanted to try a frontosa tank and recently I just tore down my yellow lab species tank.

[Bill S]

I have to tell you. Having a planted discus tank for a couple of years, this tank is probably more work than a FO saltwater tank.

[RayAllen]

Bill discuss tanks are probably the hardest as far as freshwater is concerned and then you throw in plants and its just makes it a bit more harder.

I've kept many African, South american and Central American cichlid tanks in the past. I have to say Africans are probably the easiest and do well in our Hard city water. However, I do not think a 100g tank is large enough for a frontosa tank. Would make a great Mbuna setup or a all male peacock tank.

good luck on you search for a tank.

[Mr_Cool]

I agree with you, Ray. I was thinking about an Mbuna tank. Probably 4-5 different species so there's no cross breeding, a good color assortment, and a ratio of 2 males to 5 females per species. Of course, lots of rock and from what I hear, our city water is really good for Africans.

[Zack]

There are several nice landscaping stores that sell cobble stones that are perfect for mbuna tanks, also canyon lake has a good assortment of holey rock if your willing to make the trip/ get your hands dirty. I agree that 100 gallons is not right for a frontosa, just a personal goal one day :)

[Bill S]

Y'all are right that our city water is perfect for african cichlids AND our holey rock is free.

It also helps that Dave's Rare Fish is here in SA - what a wonderful selection he has. His advice is go through his store, and pick your top few fish. Then he'll tell you which of them gets along, and you can then build the collection around those 2 or 3.

BTW, my discus tank runs off of San Antonio water that has been run through a water softener, then filtered.

[Mr_Cool]

I've already got some holey rock, and I know I can get some more easily. And, I've been to Dave's. That place is awesome. Talk about someone who knows his fish! I also like the fact that he breeds alot of his fish. That way, you really know what you're getting.

Speaking of breeding, that's really what interests me in the Africans. Not that I plan to make money off them. I'd just like to see the whole process of mouthbrooding. I had some South American cichlids when I was in college. A beautiful pair of Salvini's would lay eggs all the time (upsidedown on a piece of flat shale that made the roof of a cave). But, the other fish (a green terror, red devil and a Jack Dempsy) would always get to the eggs before they could hatch. I guess it was kind of hard to defend the eggs when one of the Salvini's had to be upsidedown fanning them most of the time! With this tank, I would be sure to have lots of holey rock with lots of holes for the fry to hide in. I've heard that plastic plants work well for this, too, if the other fish will leave the plants alone and not dig them up.

[rrasco]

Alas! I was trying to get in on this convo yesterday but my charter membership had run out, couldn't reply as a web member. At any rate...wish I had a tank to help you out, but I do have a ton of cichlids still. I still have a victorian tank, a growout peacock/hap tank, an all male peacock/hap tank, and a gibberosa tank. It's true, 5' is too short for Fronts, these guys get huge and dart around like mad men. Mine are currently in a 125 and have been for the last year...they do good in there for now. The general rule was 6' at minimum. They are Mobas....definitely my favorite FW fish in my house.

I don't think there really is much money to be made in the end with breeding cichlids. You can make a little return, but after overhead there really isn't much revenue. Unless you are mass producing fish. Dave is a great guy, one of the best cichlid retailers in the country and he's right here in our back yard. I don't think he has changed his policy so FYI, he's not open for walk ins. Not that he won't let you in, you just have to make sure he is there since his in-store help moved back to Chicago.

Also, something that is worth checking out, HCCC is having a summer auction two weeks from tomorrow, August 12th. It's at the Schertz Community Center. Hopefully a good turn out and always some good fish and good deals. By the end of the auction stuff will be practically being given away, kind of like the frag swaps here. I'm planning to be there, even though I don't really have anything I need, I like the company.