Beginner questions

[vetmedgrl]

Hi everyone. Happy to have found this board, it seems very informative. I have a few questions to throw out. I have a newly cycled 30 gallon tank and am very interested in adding a pair/trio of dwarf cichlids to it. I think dwarf cichlids may be appropriate for my planted community tank. Based on the species I have in the tank now, and water conditions (described below), would it be appropriate to add dwarf cichlids? If so, what species would live well/possibly spawn/be happy/not harrass my existing fish too much? I'd also be hopeful that they wouldn't tear up my plants either. I have a large lava rock with caves and a medium-sized piece of driftwood. I can also add a flowerpot or two if needed.

Water conditions:
GH - 12 degrees
KH - 4 degrees
pH - 7.6-7.8
temp - 80-82 (I don't use a heater, but live in Florida and in the summertime, this is the "normal" water temperature in my air-conditioned house)

Right now living in the tank:
1 Otocinclus (plan on getting 1-2 more)
3 Emerald Cory Cats (juveniles)
4 zebra danios
3 black tetras

My LFS doesn't carry any dwarf cichlids so I'd probably be interested in ordering them in having them shipped to me....

 

[Randall]

Dwarf Cichlid Selection

Dear Vetmedgrl,

Given your harder water and peaceful tankmates, you might look into Apistogramma borellii, A. cacatuoides and Microgeophagus altispinosa. For breeding, you may have to knock down the KH a bit, but all three of these species should do well in your water.

Good luck!

Randall Kohn

 

[Neil]

vetmedgrl,

WELCOME TO THE FORUM

I agree with Randall! The only other suggestion that I might make is to think about removing the lava rock. I have found that rocks that are that porous are nitrate houses. It is difficult to keep the water as clean as we would like it in an apisto tank anyway and anything that is virtually impossible to clean like that should probably be skipped in the tank. The caves are grat, but you can find more appropriate replacements.
Neil