I just purchased a 125 gallon tank which I will be keeping African cichlids. I am interested in getting a jack dempsey and green terror. What would be some good tankmates for them? What kind of substrate should I use; sand, gravel, or both? I know cichlids like they ph to be high so do I just add some ph upper every week? What would be some good decorations for them; do they like driftwood, flowerpots, slate?? Also, the filter that came with the tank are a magnum 350 and emperor 400, plus an acura 1000 heater..is this enough or do i need more/different kinds? Thank you to anyone who answers i really appreciate it
Answers:
JD's and GT's aren't African Cichlids. African's are another type of cichlids. Here's a link for the African species, and there's one there for other cichlids, also has a compatibility chart on the top right side.
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.
That's a good sized tank, should be able to find a few others to fit in there. I'd recommend getting them while their juveniles if you can. Provide lots of caves and rocks for "territory" for each fish you end up getting.
Use whatever kind of substrate you want. I personally like sand, it looks nicer %26 is easier to clean. Just don't use more than an inch of sand. African cichlids like a higher ph, but whichever you go with, don't get into using chemicals to raise or lower the ph. Most fish can adjust to whatever ph, just be sure to get them used to it slowly.
I'm not sure what the magnum 350 gph rate is. You're going to want at the very least 1250 gph, but I'd go higher if you can.
I think you have done pretty well and have everything under control. I always have liked Oscars but don't remember if they are compatible with cichlids but I think so. They are rather ugly but cool.
Cichlids need to be living with the same species as themselves, or they will just get murdered.
Check up their origins online, and find species that live in the same body of water that they live in.
Study their habitat and try to replicate it in the tank.
Seems like you really care for them. Good luck!
oh. i'm jealous about the tank size.
I'd suggest go with a specific cichlid family or all mixed cichlids will kill each other.
Jack dempsey is known as a OSCAR. it will grow 12 inches, sometimes 14 inches in length, which is good idea to have ONE OSCAR per 70 gallon. if you have 125 gallon two will be fine, Oscar will eat other small fishes no matter what.
But I'd love to give you recommendation, if you have the ROCKS work in your aquascape, I'd suggest go with Mbunas as known as African Cichlids from Lake Malawi, there's are lots of variety of colours, keep in mind one male with four females per spices ratio. For example a group of "Pseudotropheus demasoni" should have "one male with three/four females"
on good note, Mbuna often breeds once a month so you should enjoy seeing baby fry somewhere in the rockwork.
On other scale, to make the water hard just add baking soda and some cichlid salt and have the tester ready to see if the tank water ph is high enough. You might don't need to add anything from your tap water.
This paragraph is edited twice, after realized that you asked for filter size. Remember the rule is that Cichlids are very messy fish, and they requires the water to be circulated about 6 times per hour. here's an example: 125 gallon times 6 equals 750 gallon per hour. I'd suggest go with 1000 gallon per hour. If you feel that your filters don't provide enough circulation you always can add two powerheads, one on the left corner and other on right corner. There is one powerhead that can move over 300 gallon per hour made by Hagen, they also have another one that moves 900 gallon per hour but i never tried that yet. the biggest powerheads are good for wet/dry filters.
I'd suggest go with canister filters, they're much easier to clean and installed back in, there's are lot of cansiters filters out there, i personally like two: Eheim, and Filstar XP Canister Filters. Make sure you get the recently release new filters they hold more water and more filter media and you could custom make your own as well. I think Eheim Pro II series or Eheim wet/dry cansiter filter or Filstar XP3 canister will work best for your tank. Just remember this, 125 gallon tank times 6 equals about 750 gallon per hour.
OH.. i do like Magnum 350 but they are not design to be 24/7 filter to be run all the time. magnum 350 is good idea for polishing the water once a week. Emperor 400 isn't enough for your tank but they are excellent filters (i have one) so i'd recommend add other canister filter combinated with Emperor 400.
I've enclosed African Cichlids' forum website, they have wealth of information, articles and pictures and many ideas on how to make rockwork in your tank.. I'd suggest layer down some eggcrates between half inch to 1" inch if you decide to build some rock work so your bottom won't break. Eggcrate are known as a light covers for tube lighting (florence lighting) sp ? which will even out the weight on the bottom.
Hope my answer helped you a lot.
If u put other cichlids with the Oscars it will be like a " natural selection " in your tank.
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