Color Options

[jimmy3323]

I am a new tank owner. I have a 30 Gallon tank with mostly Africans. Right now it has a bunch of sandstone rock stacked for caves and hiding spots. a few fake plants scattered around. I have a background of rock and green plants. I am looking for my options to add the most color. My better half is wanting lots of color and cant stand the type of rock that is in there now.

I am going to be upgrading to a 75 gallon tank here soon (anyone have one) and would like to set that one up with LOTS of colors and stock fish accordingly. I thought of moving to another type of fish but I really like the cichlids.

Would love to hear your suggestions for decor as well as types of fish.

Thanks Jimmy

[signde]

two good articles:

www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_75g.php

www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php

the 55 gallon one has suggestions for background and substrate color

[bunnie1978]

I think your options with african cichlids are limited to adding fake decorations and rocks... There are of course some very colorful fish. If you like cichlids, but want more color than that, you can do a South American cichlid tank, like apistogramma or angelfish. They are compatible with plants and other colorful community fish like cardinal tetras. In my community tank, the cardinals are the ones that people comment on all the time because of their color.

[signde]

it is certainly possible to do live plants with africans

check out some of marc elieson's tanks:
www.vatoelvis.com/75g_Tang.php

here is some advice on setting up a rift lake tank, there are sections on substrate, decorations, and plants:
www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/rift_lake_setup.php

basically avoid mbuna if you want to do live plants

i know this is probably personal preference but i don't think south american's come anywhere close to african's in terms of color. african cichlids are about as colorful as you can get before you go saltwater. placidochromis phenochilus, labidochromis caeruleus, endless variants of aulonocara, otopharynx lithobates, sciaenochromis fryeri... i've yet to see any south american fish that even come close to rivaling the color of those fish. just my $0.02.

also if you are looking for a 75 you can find them pretty cheap on craigslist.