New Tank

[shootthebunnies]

I have a 55 gallon tank with the following mix in it.

2 - Yellow lab Labidochromis caeruleus (Kakusa)
2 - yellow with black stripe Melanochromis auratus
2 - kenyi Metriaclima lombardoi
2 - Jewel Cichlids
2 - That are blue with yellow edges on their fins
3 - assorted

Tons of slate rock stacked forming natural bridges, river rock filling in the gaps, drift wood and one large pagoda.

One Top fin 60 on the tank, 200w heater set at 78.

Ordering a canister, not sure on which one. Don't have a ton of money so looking at some of the more inexpensive ones.

Any thoughts or ideas? How am I doing so far?
Thanks

[sheamurai]

plenty of opinions and polls on here about "best canister filter" if you run a search.

[shootthebunnies]

I have read quite a few of them and most are steering toward the more expensive.

[Cliff]

sometimes it can be because you get what you pay for

Have you found a few you are interested in yet ?

[nikelodeon79]

I used a Rena XP3 on my 55g mbuna tank and was pleased with it. I'm using the same canister plus several smaller filters on my 75.

As far as how you're doing, sounds like a bit of a dangerous mix so far. Two is never a good number with mbuna species... Do you have males? Females? A mixture?

The ones with yellow edges on their fins are likely Acei.

[shootthebunnies]

Not sure on males or females. Just went to local experts on fish and went with what they recommended and said would be fine together.

I put 6 in at first, waited a week and then put the other 7 in.

Do you feel I need more than 2 of each? Kind of confused.

[nikelodeon79]

With mbuna, you need either one male of each species or one male, four females of each species. Even then, some combos won't work.

If you have two males, the stronger will kill the weaker. If you have a male and a female, the male will harass the female to death.

[shootthebunnies]

I will try and get some pics up and you guys can help me figure out who is who.

[Super Andre]

Sorry but i'm new here, how do I make a new thread. thanks.

[sheamurai]

go the the forum you want to post in, and click the "new thread" button at the top of the page.

[junkers12]

I would becareful with having Jewels in with Kenyi Cichlids. The Jewels are a more peaceful fish and they don't come from Lake Malawi. The Jewels come from the rivers in Africa. Kenyi cichlids are very aggressive. The yellow labs will go with just about anything from the region. I have a tank full of them. I have one Red Jeweled Chichlid and he gets a little roughed up some times but he is large enough to hold his own. Cichlids are quite interesting. When I first stared with cichlids I would have a murder once or twice a week until I figured out what to mix. Don't put any peacocks in with your fish, they will kill them within hours. You should overstock the aquarium a little just to keep the aggression in check. I started going to these forums and talking with local aquariusts and I did learn alot.