Too low.... tank?

[Piotr Koba]

I've visited my friend today, and saw a beautiful group of medium sized Cichlids - C. amazonarum, A. diadema, and A. metae. He's keeping them in 50cm high tank. My first thought after seeing such nice fish, was obviously "I have to have them" But, I'm planning new tank shelf for 30cm, or even only 25cm high aquariums. So, my question is: Do I need for medium sized Cichlids (not only Acaras, any other not-so-aggressive 15-20cm in lenght species from both SA and Africa) tank higher than 30cm? Or they would feel uncomfortable in so low aquariums? The highest tank I can build for my shelf is 35cm.

Thanks in advance.

[Bas Pels]

I think - your question is very unspecific - most cichlids would not mind 30 cm of water. They would mind, howver, too small a tank. So use of a 100 * 50 * 30 cm tank for C amazonarum and so would be no problem

However, many cichlids come from far deeper water - therefore, I hope you will not provide too much light

[dogofwar]

Most of my tanks are 12" (~30 cm) deep so that I can stack three levels high in my fishroom.

I haven't had issues with acaras and the like being happy or breeding in them.

I prefer deeper tanks for deep bodied fish like severums, festivums, Uaru, etc.

Matt

[Piotr Koba]

Thanks much for replies!