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stealthscope
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PLEASE HELP...lots of questions - 2007/12/01 22:37 Hello,

I have a 55 gal tank and want lake Malawi cichlids. I already have a 10gal tank with plants and guppies but cichlids are nothing like them so I am learning all over again. So far I have spent two weeks researching all I can about them but still have a few questions.

I have decided that I really want Electric Labs and Demasoni cichlids but I don't want the tank to just be blue and yellow. I was wondering if it is possible to have just one male of a slightly larger species (up to 6 or 7 inches) insted of buying a male and females. So that way I would have two groups of fish and a few individual males. If thats not possible or too difficult then what other species would go well with them and have an interesting color?

these are some fish I was considering but am not sure of (I have not done research on all of them yet):
Bumblebee Cichlid
Yellow Peacock Cichlid
Red Peacock Cichlid
Blue Peacock Cichlid (though I think the demasi might attack the male because they are both blue and have stripes)
Electric Blue Cichlid
Red Zebra
Snow White Zebra

About the amout of fish I should get I was wondering if I can get about 5 labs and 6 or 7 demasi (with one male each and the rest all females). Is that a good number? Can I get more fish of a different species?

What kind of filter should I get? All the articles I read all have different opinions and I don't know what to go with.

Lastly does anyone know a good and trusted site for ordering fish online? There are no good breeders in my area and only two pet stores that sell cichlids. Petsmart that has electric labs and two other species that I forgot and this aquarium store but they only have adult cichlids and thats super expensive. I want all small fish.

Thanks for reading all of this
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justin
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Re:PLEASE HELP...lots of questions - 2007/12/03 03:19 As far as color variety is concerned, yes, you'd be good to maybe get a bumblebee cichlid (adds some spots to the mix), and a Red Peacock (adds some red obviously).

You should be ok just getting 1 male from each of these, but be warned the male bumblebee will be aggressive, and plenty of rock-work should be provided for cover and territory.

With the numbers you've specified, you'd end up with 15 fish, which may be just fine for a 55 gallon tank. Just make sure you have a strong filter, and do plenty of water changes.

I do recommend the Fluval 404, I have it running on a 65 and it's the best filter I've used.

Regarding ordering fish online though, I'm in Canada, so my choices are limited. Where are you located?
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stealthscope
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Re:PLEASE HELP...lots of questions - 2007/12/03 16:39 I am in the US, chicago. I found some fish in petsmart but the prices are crazy. $10.00 for a 1.25inch electric yellow.

I got a "Rena External Canister Filter xP2" its for 75 gallons so I think it might be ok.

Now I"m trying to figure out how to cycle the tank.
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justin
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Re:PLEASE HELP...lots of questions - 2007/12/04 13:03 Look in your local buy, trade and sell, you'd be surprised at what you'll find as far as breeders are concerned.

As far as cycling is concerned, just get some guppies, and leave them in there for a week or so. Then add the cichlids, and they'll take care of them.
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