getting started with a 60 gallon aquarium

[olixo]

Hey Everyone,

I'm getting a 60 Gallon Ckento4o 120 next week and I'm planning to rock scape it for hiding places and caves. I'll be cycling the tank before adding any fish.

I've been doing some research and I came across this idea of overstocking to reduce aggression in fish. KGTropicals on YouTube suggested stocking half the tank's volume in gallons, so for my 60 gallon, that's 30 fish.

Now I'm wondering how to introduce these fish to the tank. Should I add them in small batches, but won't they get territorial and established? Or should I add all 30 at once, but that's expensive and a huge change in water chemistry to manage.

I'd love some expert advice on creating a colourful and active tank. I think I'd prefer a tank with a lot of medium-sized fish, up to 3 or 4 inches, rather than a few larger ones.

[willie32]

This sounds like a thrilling project. To start, you need to decide whether you're leaning towards Mbuna or Peacock cichlids. Mbuna are typically kept in groups, so you could consider 2-3 species, and then add some Goby cichlids and Synodontis Catfish for variety. On the other hand, Peacocks can be kept in a similar group setup or you could go for an all-male tank with careful selection, but you'd miss out on the fascinating behaviour of a colony and the intense breeding colours that males display when females are present.

[olixo]

Hey willie32,

I'm really excited but feeling a bit underprepared, to be honest. Birthday present and all, so not much time to prep left.

I'd love some newbie tips, especially since my goal is to create a super colourful and active tank.

I have a few questions - hope you can help me out. I'm not even sure what the difference is between Mbuna and Peacock, so that's a good place to start.

What substrate do you think I should use? Should I go for natural or fake plants? And how about stocking - do I do it all at once or gradually?

Also, my tank will be near a window and gets about 2-3 hours of direct sunlight - is that going to be an issue? What kind of stones would you recommend for the scape?

The Ckento4o 120 comes with an internal filter, so do I need an external one as well? Or will the internal one be enough?

Any general tips for a tank beginner like me? I've also been wondering about the colour of the substrate - does it matter? And should I add a backing to make the tank brighter?

[amaro]

I'm still pretty new to all this, only having experience with a couple of smaller tanks, but I'd definitely recommend going with live plants. To make them thrive, you'll want a light that promotes growth and a suitable substrate - I think gravel should work just fine. As for the color of the substrate, I'm pretty sure it's all about personal preference. One thing I learned from my dad, who's had larger tanks in the past, is to be really careful when choosing a heater. It might be worth spending a bit more money on a reliable one. My dad had a terrible experience with a heater that overheated the tank and didn't have an emergency shut-off, resulting in the loss of all his fish. It's a horrific story that's stuck with me, and it's something I always think about when buying heaters for my tanks.

[coltin]

So I've got a few things I need to know before I start setting up my tank. Can you tell me the dimensions of the Ckento4o 120 - length, width, and height?

Also, I need to know the GH, KH, and pH of my tap water. I'll check with my water supply company or take a sample to the local pet shop to get it tested. I've heard that Rift Lake cichlids need a pH above 7.6 and a GH above 300ppm, so I want to make sure I've got the right conditions for my fish.

I'm planning to cycle the filter before adding any fish, I've read that this takes around 4-6 weeks. I don't want to risk any of my fish dying from ammonia poisoning, so I'm happy to take the time to get it right.

I'd also love some advice on choosing the right fish for my tank. I'll make a list of the ones I like and post it here, so you can offer some suggestions on what works well together.

One last thing, what's the best way to go about selecting fish for my tank? I want to make sure I've got a good mix of colours and activity, but I don't know where to start.

[aquascaper]

Hey Everyone,

I'm getting a 60 Gallon Ckento4o 120 next week and I'm planning to rock scape it for hiding places and caves. I'll be cycling the tank before adding any fish.

I've been doing some research and I came across this idea of overstocking to reduce aggression in fish. KGTropicals on YouTube suggested stocking half the tank's volume in gallons, so for my 60 gallon, that's 30 fish.

Now I'm wondering how to introduce these fish to the tank. Should I add them in small batches, but won't they get territorial and established? Or should I add all 30 at once, but that's expensive and a huge change in water chemistry to manage.

I'd love some expert advice on creating a colourful and active tank. I think I'd prefer a tank with a lot of medium-sized fish, up to 3 or 4 inches, rather than a few larger ones.

Mbuna and Peacocks are both part of the Cichlid family from Lake Malawi. Mbuna are more territorial and love dwelling in rocks, whereas Peacocks are more open-water swimmers. They're not exactly community fish, so it's best to plan for a species tank.

From what I know, Peacocks are dimorphic - only the males have those stunning bright colors. Not all Mbuna have this trait, though.

Since Lake Malawi doesn't have many plants, I'd suggest using lots of rocks and stones. Mbuna tend to dig up plants, and the high pH water isn't exactly plant-friendly. For my own Mbuna tank, I'm planning to cover the entire bottom with rocks. Instead of buying rocks from a fish store, you can find a local source and collect them for free. Just make sure to test them with vinegar - if they bubble up, it's best to avoid them, as they might be limestone.

Caribsea has a great substrate called AFRICAN CICHLID MIX that helps maintain the high pH level.

[olixo]

So I've got a few things I need to know before I start setting up my tank. Can you tell me the dimensions of the Ckento4o 120 - length, width, and height?

Also, I need to know the GH, KH, and pH of my tap water. I'll check with my water supply company or take a sample to the local pet shop to get it tested. I've heard that Rift Lake cichlids need a pH above 7.6 and a GH above 300ppm, so I want to make sure I've got the right conditions for my fish.

I'm planning to cycle the filter before adding any fish, I've read that this takes around 4-6 weeks. I don't want to risk any of my fish dying from ammonia poisoning, so I'm happy to take the time to get it right.

I'd also love some advice on choosing the right fish for my tank. I'll make a list of the ones I like and post it here, so you can offer some suggestions on what works well together.

One last thing, what's the best way to go about selecting fish for my tank? I want to make sure I've got a good mix of colours and activity, but I don't know where to start.

Hey everyone, I just got some info I thought I'd share. The tank dimensions are 121 x 40 x 61 cm, so I know that now. I'm still waiting to find out the exact GH and KH of my water supply, but I do know it's hard. I'll take a sample to the local fish shop soon to get it checked.

I'm definitely going to be fishless cycling this time, I learned my lesson last time. I didn't know I had to cycle before adding fish and it was super stressful, so I'm doing it right this time.

[olixo]

Hey Everyone,

I'm getting a 60 Gallon Ckento4o 120 next week and I'm planning to rock scape it for hiding places and caves. I'll be cycling the tank before adding any fish.

I've been doing some research and I came across this idea of overstocking to reduce aggression in fish. KGTropicals on YouTube suggested stocking half the tank's volume in gallons, so for my 60 gallon, that's 30 fish.

Now I'm wondering how to introduce these fish to the tank. Should I add them in small batches, but won't they get territorial and established? Or should I add all 30 at once, but that's expensive and a huge change in water chemistry to manage.

I'd love some expert advice on creating a colourful and active tank. I think I'd prefer a tank with a lot of medium-sized fish, up to 3 or 4 inches, rather than a few larger ones.

Mbuna and Peacocks are both part of the Cichlid family from Lake Malawi. Mbuna are more territorial and love dwelling in rocks, whereas Peacocks are more open-water swimmers. They're not exactly community fish, so it's best to plan for a species tank.

From what I know, Peacocks are dimorphic - only the males have those stunning bright colors. Not all Mbuna have this trait, though.

Since Lake Malawi doesn't have many plants, I'd suggest using lots of rocks and stones. Mbuna tend to dig up plants, and the high pH water isn't exactly plant-friendly. For my own Mbuna tank, I'm planning to cover the entire bottom with rocks. Instead of buying rocks from a fish store, you can find a local source and collect them for free. Just make sure to test them with vinegar - if they bubble up, it's best to avoid them, as they might be limestone.

Caribsea has a great substrate called AFRICAN CICHLID MIX that helps maintain the high pH level.

I'm getting closer to setting up my tank, and I'm super excited. I've been searching for the African Cichlid Mix substrate, I've seen it in a few YouTube videos, and I think it would be perfect for my tank. If I can't find it in Dubai, what would be a good alternative?

I've got two new canister filters coming in on Monday, one for my fancy goldfish tank and the other for this one. The flow rate is 525GPH, so I'm hoping it'll turn over the water about ten times an hour.

Now, onto the fun part - my stocking list. I've been researching non-stop for the past few days, and I think I've got a good idea of what I want. I'm looking for fish that'll grow to around 3-5 inches max, so I can have a bunch of smaller fish rather than a few big ones. I want a tank with loads of colors, so I'm thinking of getting one or two of each fish. Does that sound like a good plan, or should I get more of each?

I've got my eye on a few fish, including:

- Yellow Lab - I love this fish, so I'm thinking two or three.
- Electric Blue hap - not sure about this one, as they seem a bit aggressive.
- Strawberry Peacock
- Red Peacock
- OB Peacock
- Blue Peacock - might drop the Electric Blue hap for this one.
- Dragon Blood Peacock
- Ruby Red
- Blue Neon
- Jalo

What do you guys think of my list? Any major mistakes?

I've also been reading that I should stock my tank with half the number of fish as the gallon volume, minus 10. So, for my 60-gallon tank, that would be 20-25 fish. Sounds like a lot, but I'm not sure if that's right.

[olixo]

I've been searching for the right substrate in Dubai and I found a few options that came up when I searched for cichlid-friendly substrate. I've got two main options to consider - Classica Marine Aragonite and AkvaStabil Cichlid Sand. The Classica Marine Aragonite seems like a good choice, but I'm not sure if it's the best fit for my tank. The AkvaStabil Cichlid Sand is another option, it comes in white and has a grain size of 0.3-0.8. I'm still on the fence about which one to choose, has anyone had any experience with either of these?

[happyone]

I came across this YouTube video by KGTropicals, and they mentioned this stocking rule - half the tank volume in gallons equals the number of fish, so for my 60-gallon tank, that would be 30 fish. I know it sounds crazy, but just imagine 30 oscars in a 60-gallon tank... lol. However, I've been told to use aqadvisor.com for a more accurate calculation, so I'll definitely check that out.