Newb needin lots o' help!

[Rumpy]

Hi Folks,


I have 22-24ish gallon tank that is all but setup. I'm still waiting for the tank to cycle and have been testing the water daily. To say that I'm drowning in information about configuring a fresh water tank would be an understatement :) Anyhow, I am very interested in making my first tank a home for Dwarf Cichlid's. My first feeling was to go with Ram's, however, a couple of things have stopped me. I want to look at all Dwarf's before making a final decision. If anyone can address my questions/concerns below I'd appreciate it:

1.) My tank is planted. This may have been a tactical error for a newbie, but that's where I find myself. How does one rectify the plants need for low surface turbulence and C02 requirments with Dwarf Cichlid's desire for more oxygen in the tank water (Power Head or Air Pump w/ stone)?

2.) What species of Dwarf's are ideal for a newb?

3.) Is there any Dwarf that lives longer than two years? This is what halted my Ram aspirations. I understand that many aquarists (?) become somewhat used to their charges shuffling of the mortal coil with regularity, and I can deal with that. The key is I don't want to deal with it a lot. I'm going to a lot of effort to make sure my tank is a good home. Can any Dwarf cichlid last longer than 2 years?

4.) How many fish? I always read and hear about the 1" per US gallon rule. Is that actually a good rule of thumb? How many Apisto's should I look at if I plan on 6 dithering fish and perhaps a Cory/Loach/Cat? Would it better as a dedicated Apisto tank?


Thanks,


Josh.

[fishboy20]

Your tank is large enough to do a small group of dither fish (6 tetras such as pencilfish, lemon tetras, rasboras, smaller barbs species like cherry barbs etc.), a small group of corydoras (get at least 4 or 5) or loaches (not all loaches are schooling species and a pair of trio of a dwarf cichlid species. As far as a great starter species, I would have to recommend Apistogramma cacatuoides, A. agassizzi, A. borellii (you could probably fit two pairs of these), A. trifasciata, Nannacara anomala, Laetacara species (curviceps, dorsigera) among other species.

The best thing to do is research the species you are interested in before getting them. That way you know what to expect once you own the fish. There are a few other species you can start with but I figure the ones listed above are the easiest to obtain. Hope this helps.

~Jeremy

[ATNC]

Rumpy, I'm pretty new at fish too but for what it's woth my A. Borelli have been thriving and breeding like mad in my planted tank with CO2 injection. The plants produce plenty of oxygen and the CO2 keeps the PH down a bit where they like it for breeding.

I'm told the surface disruption caused by pumping air will counteract adding CO2. Counting on the plants to provide Oxygen has worked for me. Look for the pearling of bubbles as you near the end of the photoperiod indicating that the water is carrying all of the Oxygen it can.

Good advice on the Cory too - great fish but get several if you get any. A lonely Cory will be stressed and behave strangely. A shoal of Corys, though, will also be a threat to eggs/fry if your dwarfs try to breed and, unlike some of the tetras mentioned, tend to occupy the same part of the water column as the dwarfs.

[naggur]

hey josh!

your tank is really great sized and I've 2nd fishboy's addvice, like my self I'm an begginer with fish ( started out with goldfish then tetras and livebreaders but ended with dwarf's). ohw ever what I have read about dwarf's they only live 2 yers. ( the most) some live litle longer than 2. but be carefull when u buy your rams aka dwarfs, some of them will grow up to 4" maybe 5" it's better to have atleast 3 pairs, that is 1 pair of cocadoies, pair of german blue or asian form ( my favorit) and pair of crib. about ditters neon/cardinal tetra is ok I guess due to there size 2".

I hope I could help ya a lill and good luck

ps. cichlids are not an total begginers fish that have ppl told me!

[Rumpy]

Thanks for all of the feedback. It's unfortunate that Dwarf's don't live longer. This is one aspect of the hobby I might have been a tad unprepared for :( It's going to take me some time to decide whether or not I go with Dwarf's as a result. If a larger species of Cichlid lives signifigantly longer I'm going to have a really tough decision on my hands.

Thanks again,


Josh.

[Mike Wise]

With proper maintanence, feeding (not over feeding), and not allowing continuous breeding, most apistos will live 3-4 years or even more. This is as long as most other small aquarium fish.

[fishboy20]

Well the best thing you can do is try to breed them when they are of size (this is the best time to watch some natural cichlid care anyways). And if you always have a fry tank with a few fry in them, you will never have to worry about not having dwarf cichlids. That is always my goal when working with a species. You know you want to keep them! If you want a really long lived species, go with A. hongsloi, they have been known to live 7 years or more.