New 38g

[Howie]

Hi all-

I am in the process of of cycling a new 38g tank 36"x12"x19". It is a bit higher than I wanted but I did have a limited amount of space to work with. I used florida crushed coral as a substrate with various rocks (slate and lava) creating many caves. I am using a AquaClear 500 filter and a 150w submersible heater. Current conditions in the tank are as follows Temp: 80 (+/- 1 degree) PH: 8.2 GH 10 degrees. I am not really sure what I should put in the tank. I know I would be looking for cichlids on the small side. I am looking for color and really like Aulonocara. The cichlidrecipe had some good ideas but I am really looking for some additional help. I feel like I have done my research but would like some freindly opinions. Since the tank is high any suggestion on other species that might find the upper section of the tank comfortable?

Regards,
Howie

[SGypsyMermaid]

welcome howie...i think that the aulonocara are probably your best bet for the upper part of your tank. you'd need to house them with the less aggressive mbuna species like labidochromis, iodotropheus. you might also look at the victorian astatotilapia latifsciata. i have found that if i build a big rockpile in the tank, my mbuna use the entire tank, especially if there is floating plant cover, like hornwort or water sprite. have fun stocking your tank! :wink:

[Howie]

4 Labidochromis caeruleus
4 Pseudotropheaus demasoni
4 Pseudotropheaus sp. Red Top Ndumbi

I was actually surprised that my choices would not utilize the whole tank however that has not been the case and that seem quite at home. There are another three fish in the tank that I chose from the above tanks which I was not 100% sure on there identity. The total number of fish in the tank is 15. I was thinking of adding a pleco or a synodontis any thoughts?

Regards,
Howie

[SGypsyMermaid]

perhaps a couple of syno. petricola--they don't get as large as most of the other synos(only about 4 inches).