New to the world of aquarium addiction...

[ptran]

Very nice. Those are beautiful. I'm learning a lot by looking up these different species. What about a Raphael catfish?

Raphael catfish is South American and probably requires soft water. Synodontis is a better choice with African cichlids.
I use this website to learn about some of the most popular African cichlids. Hope it's helpful for you:

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/african_cichlid_genus_gallery.php

[morpheus]

Welcome to the Box! Just like everyone else is saying, there are lots of people on here willing to give suggestions and advice.

i have seen raphaels kept with africans, but the catfish had to be sizable. they turn into little bowling balls on the bottom at times inhaling everything in sight, but if too small, can get picked on over time.

synodontis do work well in a group.

i have two plecos in my 75gal african colony (mainly mbuna, one outlier being a ~7 inch JD). if anything the larger pleco (around ~6-7 inches) chases them away and doesnt put up with anything. the other pleco is around ~5-6 in. not as flashy for bottom dwellers, but they do the job well.

[mnemenoi]

Synos are found in Malawi as well as spiny eels, though Malawi eels are harder to find. Welcome aboard!

[Vinnynguyen4917]

Welcome aboard .

[TankGirl]

Thanks everyone!

[TankGirl]

I'm trying to figure out what to do about a lid/lights for my 75 gallon.

I know I will be getting an LED light and some sort of lid, but there is this glass panel in the middle that is fixed to the tank. Should I get 2 separate lids for each side then just one LED light all the way across? Or is there some sort of setup sold for this type of top with the middle panel?

Any brands/models I can order online that are good?

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1422324845.854567.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1422324868.803247.jpg

[ptran]

Should I get 2 separate lids for each side then just one LED light all the way across?

Yep. I have a 100 gallon tank with same design, but it came with 2 glass top covers one on each side. So I just sit the 48" light on the glass top.

[TankGirl]

Do you know the manufacturer?

[ptran]

I have Marineland double bright led.

http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Double-Bright-Light-48-Inch/dp/B0032536R4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422335030&sr=8-1&keywords=48%22+marineland+led

[ptran]

I heard that this Beamworks is also very good and affordable price:

http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Aquarium-Lighting-Beamswork-Marine-Reef-p/56427.htm

[TankGirl]

Nice. The Beamworks one is basically better, right?

[TankGirl]

I mean as far as the specs go.

[black_knight]

Unless your doing a planted tank, lighting just becomes an aesthetic thing for the most part. LED ware great because they have a nice shimmering effect and if you have a circulating pump it makes a nice ripple effect. I bought a National Geographics brand 4ft LED with timer for blue and LED, it is more than plenty bright for my Tropheus tank. So bright that the entire bare bottom is green, back walls and all the white rock, which they forage on all day. It's sleek low profile aluminum programable. I got it for $140 if I remember from Petsmart ( I rarely buy stuff from the big chains but lately, I have been. Since its impossible for me to get to LFS of late)

[black_knight]

http://www.petsmart.com/fish/lighting-hoods/national-geographic-trade-deluxe-programmable-led-aquarium-light-zid36-21386/cat-36-catid-300015?var_id=36-21386&_t=pfm%3Dcategory

Actually its selling for over $150. Maybe not the cheapest lights out there, but works well so far.

[ptran]

Nice. The Beamworks one is basically better, right?

I think it is like a Chinese version of Marineland. Check out these reviews on youtube. It is probably one of the cheapest lights out there in same class.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=beamworks+led+review