I've been in the marine reef coral aquarist for 15 years. After 3 kids and about 20 different tanks, it's time to settle for something simpler than salt water.
So I couldn't resist when I saw a deal for a 450 gallon 10x3x2high. I love the colorful and active fishes so cichlid is the way to go. It's currently plumbed with a wet dry filter going into a sump with ceramic porous tubes. a Tunze 6015 with controller, a Koralia K4. The return pump (I have 3 and testing them all): eheim 1262, Sicce 1073.040 and Magdrive 12b. All around 950gph spitting out through two 1/2 loc-lines. Black background, black bottom and right side where the wall is also black. Two corner overflows with 1" and herbie drain.
Please excuse all the questions with obvious answer...sorry I'm a noob. A few questions:
1. Do I need sand and rocks or can I keep bare bottom?
2. How much water flow do cichlids need?
3. How many cichlids can I have?
4. Is there an order or preference I should introduce the new fish?
5. What kind of lighting is required?
6. Should I get live or fake plants?
thanks for understanding this novice.
So I couldn't resist when I saw a deal for a 450 gallon 10x3x2high. I love the colorful and active fishes so cichlid is the way to go. It's currently plumbed with a wet dry filter going into a sump with ceramic porous tubes. a Tunze 6015 with controller, a Koralia K4. The return pump (I have 3 and testing them all): eheim 1262, Sicce 1073.040 and Magdrive 12b. All around 950gph spitting out through two 1/2 loc-lines. Black background, black bottom and right side where the wall is also black. Two corner overflows with 1" and herbie drain.
Please excuse all the questions with obvious answer...sorry I'm a noob. A few questions:
1. Do I need sand and rocks or can I keep bare bottom?
2. How much water flow do cichlids need?
3. How many cichlids can I have?
4. Is there an order or preference I should introduce the new fish?
5. What kind of lighting is required?
6. Should I get live or fake plants?
thanks for understanding this novice.