Minnows are pretty quick and with two 10g tanks you'd be set. I use sponge filters for the fry since I'm lazy and don't like being bothered with the fry food. Though they seem to take ground flake just fine too.

Get 4 4in chunks of 4in diameter pvc pipe and put in 2 males and 4 females in the tank. Put in two chunks of pvc in the breeding tank. The other two are for swapping.

Males will guard the eggs, up until you move the eggs to a new tank, then the males will be ready to go again. The females seem to be egg machines and will pump out eggs as many times as the males go at them.

Not sure how big you want to get them, but it seems to be about 6 months from fry to adult (3in) size minnow. I let 'em loose in the hatchling tanks when they're about an inch though.

Thanks for the info...after doing some research I think I am going to try the minnows. I am going to do the main tank which will be a 20g this will be for the adults. The other two will be 10g tanks....these will be bare bottoms one for new fry the other for larger fry to grow out for feeders. The pvc seems like a good idea, although through reading I didnt see anything about cave spawners. I did read that the eggs will hatch two days after they are layed. I guess it would be best to move the eggs a day after they are laid? Sponge flters in the fry tanks....Water around 68 degrees. Is there anything I am missing? I dont think I will have to worry about heaters.

What I have are fathead minnows - Pimephales promelas. The fish farm sells 'em as crappies.

76ish degrees, pvc pipes, I keep their tub in the plant room, so they get 16 hours of "sunlight" a day so it's like summer lighting all the time. They lay eggs in the pipes and the male guards it.

Too tired to get into full detail right now, but if you can't find anything or need it I can give you more info later.

Not to get off-topic, saint, but how do ya confuse a fathead with a crappie?

WYite

Well I took the easy route and went with guppies....I got 6 females and 2 Males....I think the Plecos will be here tomorrow, so I will have to get stuff situated. I was going to get white cloud minnows but three places had none or they looked sick. I will start a DIY thread soon, it should be fun watching the Cichlids destroy the guppy fry in a few months!

Best of luck Mostlycichlids! Looking forward to the DIY thread.