African cichlid fish is famous among aquarists due to its coloration and energy. However, tank stocking is a little riddle. This article will solve this puzzle with an equation that counts all necessary parameters. The relationship between rocks and fish is also part of the discussion.
Cichlids are one of the most common aquarist’s choices. It’s a puzzle to calculate the perfect cichlid stocking in the tank. Several aspects affect their stocking density, i.e., species, aggression, rock space, swimming space, adult size, and tank size.
Cichlids are the biggest vertebrate fish families. There are about 3,000 different cichlid species. African and American cichlid species share a big chunk of this vertebrate family. There are about 1,500 different African cichlid species. The size of African cichlids varies among the species. You can find 1-inch to 1-meter (3 feet) long species with different needs and abilities. Numerous African cichlids are mouth breeders.
African cichlids are known for their aggression. Rocks are one of the best solutions to control it. Rocks help to set the territories, provide food, and give a natural look to the tank. However, it’s critical to calculate the ratio of open swimming space and rocks in the tank.
Usually, three African cichlid species are closely attached to rocks, i.e., Mbuna, Peacock, and Hap cichlids. Rocks occupy about 50 to 75% of Mbuna tanks. A Cichlid tank is distinguished for rocks.
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It's hard to find a good fish for the top of the tank in a 30 gallon...most of your fish will be hovering around the rock work and bottom.
If you don't go for the caudopunks... I really like the idea of *N. Caudopunctatus*...they are feisty for their size and they will not disappoint. I had some "multies," but I personally found them boring.
Caudopunctatus can be kept with the multis, I would increase the rock pile though. The caudopuncts are opportunistic shell dwellers, they prefer rocky caves but if not available or not enough, they will live in shells. Which is where you might run into problems, if they end up fighting the multis over shells.
Even for a 30g there's so many choices... Heading to the fish store this weekend to pick up the new inhabitants so trying to get as much info as I can before going in.
I wouldn't do comps or calvus in a 30, but the shell dweller *Altolamprologus* "sumbu dwarf" is a mini comp that only gets 3 inches and a really cool fish...just a little on the shy side.
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You could always just get a pair of *Neolamps* like *Brichardi* or *Pulcher* and watch them proliferate like single-celled organisms. The brichardi are a little too aggressive for the multi's in my experience. Your tank will fill with fry in no time, but no other fish will be compatable.
I love *Paracyps* and they might work with a Julie in a small tank; however, the Julie might own that little rock pile. Thanks, I can add bit more if I decide to get julies. *Julidichromis Regani* "Kipili" have always been one of my favorite julies. They do get 5" eventually, but they have really nice color...There are some nice transcriptus and they are around 3 inches like ornatus.
An example of a well-aquascaped African Cichlid tank with plenty of rocks and caves.
Top 10 African Cichlid Tank Essentials Every Aquarist Needs
Tank Lighting
Lights help to maintain the tank ecosystem. Other than essentially, lights help to bring energy and colors to the tank. A full spectrum light creates a daylight condition in the tank. These lights highlight the all-blue, yellow, red, and orange species. They are also suitable due to their energy-efficient, long-lasting, and adjustability properties.
If you have deep color cichlid species, i.e., blue, purple, green, etc., in your tank, it is great to install actinic blue lights. These lights highlight their deep coloration. If you have some red, yellow, or other matching shade cichlid species, e.g., Red empress, Yellow Labs, etc., red LEDs will highlight them. These LEDs help to intensify their coloration. However, only red lights lead to an artificial look in your tank.
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RGB LEDs are one of the best lighting options, as these lights offer customization. These lights act as full-spectrum LEDs. They offer a daylight vibe in the tank. Some fluorescent lighting exclusively intensifies the fish coloration.
Different types of aquarium lighting can enhance the colors of your African Cichlids.
Algae Control
The synodontis won't do much for controlling algae, they are scavengers and don't have the right type of mouth for really scraping surfaces. As Hendre suggests, removing algae by hand is probably best. I use a sponge and toothbrush.
Alternative Fish Species
Now that we've covered quite a few options for your 30-gallon tank, you'll want to find a reliable vendor if you choose to shop online.
Beautiful, active, and relatively peaceful when compared to other Rams, the German Gold Ram is a great fish for a 30-gallon aquarium. These fish require a warm-watered tank, and hobbyists will be required to provide a sand-based substrate due to the fish's propensity to dig in the substrate.
Also known as the Cockatoo dwarf cichlid, Apistogramma Cactuiodes is named after its cockatoo-like tail and dorsal fins. Males display a brilliant display of red, orange, and yellow, and due to their temperament, hobbyists can care for these fish in a community tank setup. Due to their popularity, these fish are frequently bred, making them quite affordable.
Turkana Jewels are beautiful cichlids, but only juveniles can be cared for in a 30-gallon tank. If you have a larger aquarium at the ready, keeping a pair of turkana jewel juveniles in a 30-gallon tank is a sight to behold. These fish are pursued for their bright orange coloration, and they do well in a semi-aggressive community aquarium setup.
Reaching a maximum size of 1.5 inches in length, hobbyists can keep up to 12 of these fish in a 30-gallon tank. These fish are peaceful and will appreciate a large variety of aquatic plants in an at-home aquarium. Sparkling gouramis are stunning fish to keep.
Cherry Barbs are often pursued for their bright red coloration. Hobbyists will want to keep at least 6 of them, as they do best when kept in small schools. The fish is known for its peaceful temperament but requires plenty of hiding spots and natural vegetation.
Although the Electric Blue Acara is quite large, hobbyists can keep 1 of these fish in their 30-gallon tanks. It's not surprising as to how the fish got its common name. The fish sports a bright blue coloration, similar to the Electric Blue Jack Dempsey, but not nearly as aggressive.
Hailing from the Amazon Rainforest is the Apistogramma agassizii. This fish can be found living in slow-moving waters, and the coloration of the species can vary significantly from fish to fish.
The Blue Emperor Tetra is a line-bred color morph, descending from the more common Emperor Tetra. The fish displays a beautiful violet/blue coloration and is known for its active personality, often swimming throughout the tank in search of new food sources.
Perhaps the most commonly kept fish on our list is the Neon Tetra. It's a classic aquarium fish, pursued for its bright red and blue color. The fish is hardy and easy to keep.
Native to China is the White Cloud Mountain Minnow. The White Cloud is an active, coldwater fish, and displays a playful personality in an at-home aquarium. Less commonly seen is the Gold White Cloud Mountain Minnow which displays an orange/gold coloration compared to the all-white color seen in the more traditional white cloud.
Another coldwater fish is the Platinum Blue Medaka Ricefish. These fish are incredibly tiny, and adults will only grow to be about 1.5 inches in length.
Platies are relatively common in the hobby, as these fish have been crossbred to produce a wide variety of different colors. One such example is the Bumblebee Platy, a small fish with a bee-like coloration.
Although this fish is one of the more expensive on our list, the Queen Arabesque Pleco commands a high price for a reason. This pleco sports a unique zebra-like pattern, making this fish frequently in demand by those who are in the know.
Next up on our list is yet another Pleco, the Green Dragon Bristlenose. There are two variants seen in the hobby, a short fin version and a long fin. We cover the differences in more detail in our care guide: Green Dragon Bristlenose Pleco: Care, Size, Lifespan & More, but the gist of it is that the long fin version is significantly harder to find.
Not only does the Green Phantom Pleco have one of the coolest names in the hobby, but it also has an appearance to match. Green Phantom Pleco's sport a lemon-lime coloration, and hail from the same region of the world as some of the hobby's most popular aquatic plant species: Cabomba, Alternanthera, Bacopa, Salivina, and the Green Phantom all can be found in the wild in South America's Rio Orinoco.
Arguably the most controversial fish on our list is the Platinum Parrot Fish. This fish has been crossbred to develop an odd appearance. Hobbyists appreciate the fish's upturned mouth, which gives the fish a perpetual smile. Unfortunately, crossbreeding has resulted in a low life expectancy for the fish, but we'll leave it up to you to decide whether or not the fish is right for you.
The Kribensis Cichlid is a classic fish, and has also landed on our list of best fish for a 20-gallon aquarium. The species has been recommended to hobbyists new to cichlid-keeping for decades, and for good reason.
