BUILDING AN AFRICAN TANK

Hey all,

Am building a 55 african tank for my wife....

Am looking for ROCKS for building a 'Cave like' atmosphere. Have red lava rock on bottom, so I'm looking for larger ones now for the back and sides, and some with holes in them to create a natural looking tank..

Anyone out there have some that your not using and want to unload them.

Thx.
Leo in Fairwood/Renton/Maple Valley area... (That's SEATTLE to all you aliens..LOL.)

Thanks for the warm welcome. Yes, I'm pretty excited. Haven't had a decent tank in many years. Actually had two awesome tanks. a 100 and a 150 when I lived in Santa Barbara back in the 80's.... Been in Seattle now since '89... kids are now out of the pad... last one if off at school....

So............................... time to get back in a nice hobby....

Thx again...

We have gotten a lot of people from the WA area latley.

What kind of Africans are you going to do?

I'm thinking of Malawian rock dwellers. Some that won's get OVERLY big. With bright, intense coloring, My wife likes the cobalt blue ones and the bright orange ones.

I'm guessing the Labeotropheus, Labidochromis, Pseudotroheus, and Cynotilapia types. I know, I need to do my research.

I have had bad experience with them to but a few times I made it work. Might want to do bigger peacocks with them.

Good to know. I've had my share of 'aggresive' fish in the past. Had a red devil once that 'owned' an 80 gal tank. Nothing in there but him a huge Pleco and rocks by the end..lol

I'm sure I'll have mucho questions before I begin stocking up the tank. Got to get it built right first.

My experience with red zebras is as long as all the other cichlids are larger and not to docile you can introduce it as a smaller one and let it grow into the tank. I am not saying he wont grow to be aggressive but I have one in a tank with peacocks and halpochromis and he is now there size and they just do the normal chasing. You have to remember cichlids have the mentality of a 4 year old child. They are not dumb. They also have there own personality. For years I have never really had a problem with red top ndumbis but resently I had an over arresive one I had to pull. He wanted to kill everything in the tank but I would never class all to be this aggressive. You also should be aware if you have any females in a tank all males will be more aggressive.
Hope this helps and welcose aboard.

Nelson

Thx Nelson. I appreciate your input.

Yes adding a female into a tank full of males is the same thing as 10 guys in the same room and they toss a female in there. There will be some fights

Ain't that the truth!

Still waiting for someone LOCAL to come up with some ROCKS......................... After which, I'll get back with you guys about what fish to put in the tank.......................

Look for a local quarry or rock yard. Some rock that would work; slate, marble, granite, quartz...