Suggestions on Fish for a Newbie w/ a 135g

[greeneyed]

My brother in law recently got a 135 with a wet/dry filter.
Currently we are working on the stand.
Whenever we get that done, he wants to get it set up and running.

He says he wants something colorful and easy to keep.
I am unsure of the water parameters in Mineral Wells where he lives. Maybe Andrew knows?

This is his first tank, so he needs something easy to keep. I thinks he wants something bigger than live bearers though.
My first thought is cichlids, but not sure which are easiest to keep or which have the best ease to keep to color ratio.:confuzeld:

Anybody??:confused:

[dcacjc]

For color and ease I would do Peacocks.

[Shayman10]

I would say Malawi Haps and Peacocks. I like haps because the females are a little more colorful........But, nothing beats a dominant male peacock in color.

Mbuna are also very colorful and busy active fish. IME mbuna are a little more difficult to keep than the Haps and pcocks.....

[kewlkatdady]

I was just going to say Africans....
but yall broke it down to Mbuna and Peacock...


In other words I agree with the above statements whole heartedly.

[AndrewH]

Not sure about MW water parameters. Didn't have a tank when I live in the city (really young) and we lived outta town with a well when I did have a tank.

Simple test kit should tell him everything he needs to know.

http://www.thehobbypalace.com/catalog/images/freshmaster.jpg

This is the one I have & would recommend - $20 if I remember correctly.

[flamenco-t]

I wish I was anewbie with a 135 gallon lol..

Good choice of tank. I'd go with the big tank busters...but i guess I am outnumbered by you african guys lol

stan

[fishyjoe24]

try again those master test kits are more like 30 to 35 bucks. i say silver dollars but there not much color just silver body with a white and orange tail.