Newbie

[rphox2003]

I'm new to L numbers although I've had cichlids for around 10 years.

I had to buy a 70cm (70 liter) tank for a cichlid that I thought was holding. When it turned out to be a false alarm, I decided to try a few Ls.

As I'm new to the species, I'd like opinions on the tank. In both tanks, I do a 20-30% water change and vacuum the gravel every week. Although as you can see I don't have any gravel in the L tank. I think it will be easier to keep clean that way. I'm debating on whether to replace the THR with some driftwood.

Any and all opinions are welcome.

[rphox2003]

A couple more questions:

• Can I add any more fish?
  Do I need anything to move water around? (I'm not a big believer in airstones.)

[Richard B]

Hi there and welcome to PC.

Lots of different people will probably give you different advice but the most important thing is to firstly understand what L number you are on about. Some species require wood in their diet which means a change in your tank decor. Do you want to breed the fish you will keep? Some species will definately appreciate water movement.

If we establish the species, the advice will be specific to those fish and their needs

[PseudaSmart]

Welcome to the forum. It is a nice group.
You are smart to ask questions before jumping in. Most newbie posts start with 'help I bought this fish and know nothing about it.' One thing to remember is that these type of fish are bottom dwellers and are used to having cover and places to hide. If you skip the gravel I would recommend painting the bottom of the tank black so they at least feel like they are resting on something. The other recommendation is to have the back of the tank covered to again provide a place to hide. If a fish is stressed you will never see their true colors or habits. From inside an aquaium the front glass can look like the edge of a cliff. An old trick to breed some types of cories is to put the tank on the floor so they can see the floor.
Good Luck!

[rphox2003]

@RichardB: Thanks but as you can see by my signature, I already have 4 Ls in the tank - all S.American. The L333 was purchased almost 3 weeks ago because I think it's fairly rare where I live and an lfs had 2 for sale (approx 4 cm). It's so small that I've only seen it 3 times since I got it. Should I be worried?

@PseudaSmart: The tank is on a dark brown table so the bottom is covered. The back has a black background and the THR provides plenty of places to hide. (see above comment about my L333). I guess I could add gravel, but from my Discus experience, I've learned it is easier to maintain without. I will start looking for a good piece of driftwood or maybe something to use as caves. Because the tank is small, I don't want to clutter it up too much.

Any thoughts on the max number of fish I can keep in there? In this version of my cichlid tank, I have 23 fish in 230 liters, which many will say is way over-stocked. But I like a full looking tank and it spreads the aggression - I haven't lost a fish in over a year.

[rphox2003]

I bought a nice piece of driftwood, which I'm now soaking. So in a few days I'll take out the THR and put in the wood.

Also:

• I'm still undecided on adding gravel. Any thoughts?
  Should I add a small filter to move the water a little?
  How many Ls can the tank support?

Thanks in advance.