New But Planning Huge!

[MrMagoo]

I have had Cichlids for about 5 months now. They are in a 20 gallon. I know not smart but I have 3 small ones. 1 Yellow lab, 1 Red zebra, and one blue one with stripes going down. Well the yellow lab is scared of even flowing water so I am getting a 75 gallon. They fight more than what they should. I have lace rock all around but still. I was thinking some kind of lace rock with maybe crushed coral for the gravel. Then have 4 cichlids, 3 to 4 tiger bards just to be dart fish, 2 clown loaches and yes I know how big they can get, and a pleco. Please I need comments and advice. I love cichlids and so I want a bigger tank. Even on what the 4th cichlid should be would help. Thanks!

 

[Nicholas Groene]

Well I'm crazy about cichlid too, and currently on have 1 9 inch Oscar with a south american catfish, and two large plecos, but I would suggest to go to your nearest pet store and look for breeding "balls" , or "caves" for your cichlids. These are hollow balls that are made for cichlids to breed in, they easily stack on top of each other making what looks like a reef. this is the best I can help you, but your yellow lab should love to hang around them, since they will provide shelter from the filtration system.

 

[MrMagoo]

See I have the lace rock in big pieces and layerd to make odd caves. The red zebra is going crazy. So I am going to just get a bigger tank. Thanks though

 

[dthoffsett]

Mbuna actually do better when overstocked to curb aggression, so for a 75gal tank I would aim for 16-20 adults. Mbuna are also harem breeders meaning a single male will breed with any available females. I'd suggest adding 4 more of each species you have (once you upgrade of course), and then get 5 of another species. With having the extra cichlids you really won't need tiger barbs or any dithers actually.

Here are some articles I suggest you read for more information on keeping them.

[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-Old-World-Cichlids/27706/The-Mbuna-Aquarium/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-...Mbuna-Aquarium/[/URL]
[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-Old-World-Cichlids/98179/Feeding-Mbuna/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-.../Feeding-Mbuna/[/URL]
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_75g.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_75g.php[/URL]
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/rift_lake_setup.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/rift_lake_setup.php[/URL]
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/introduction_list.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/introduction_list.php[/URL]

And for inspiration on your tank layout check out these:
[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-Old-World-Cichlids/169788/Members-African-Cichlid-Tanks/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-...-Cichlid-Tanks/[/URL]

 

[MrMagoo]

Mbuna actually do better when overstocked to curb aggression, so for a 75gal tank I would aim for 16-20 adults. Mbuna are also harem breeders meaning a single male will breed with any available females. I'd suggest adding 4 more of each species you have (once you upgrade of course), and then get 5 of another species. With having the extra cichlids you really won't need tiger barbs or any dithers actually.

Here are some articles I suggest you read for more information on keeping them.

<a href="http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-Old-World-Cichlids/27706/The-Mbuna-Aquarium/" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-...Mbuna-Aquarium/</a>
<a href="http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-Old-World-Cichlids/98179/Feeding-Mbuna/" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-.../Feeding-Mbuna/</a>
<a href="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_75g.php" target="_blank">http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_75g.php</a>
<a href="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/rift_lake_setup.php" target="_blank">http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/rift_lake_setup.php</a>
<a href="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/introduction_list.php" target="_blank">http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/introduction_list.php</a>

And for inspiration on your tank layout check out these:
<a href="http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-Old-World-Cichlids/169788/Members-African-Cichlid-Tanks/" target="_blank">http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-...-Cichlid-Tanks/</a>

Thanks so much but with so many being there, Wouldn't that be a killing spree for space?

 

[fry_lover]

it's actually not that much more than 1" per gallon, maybe a little more, so even 16-20 adults (if assuming 4-5" each average) is not that high a stock for 75 Gallons.

I mean even if you had x20 Adults at 5" or x15 Adults at 6" thats basically what, 1.25" per gallon? Not that i pay much attention to such formula's, but its a stretch to even call that "over stocked", as long as filtration and water changes are adequate.

 

[MrMagoo]

it's actually not that much more than 1" per gallon, maybe a little more, so even 16-20 adults (if assuming 4-5" each average) is not that high a stock for 75 Gallons.

I mean even if you had x20 Adults at 5" or x15 Adults at 6" thats basically what, 1.25" per gallon? Not that i pay much attention to such formula's, but its a stretch to even call that "over stocked", as long as filtration and water changes are adequate.

True but what about the way they are with the aggression? It would be slaughter with no place to call their own.

 

[fry_lover]

it's actually not that much more than 1" per gallon, maybe a little more, so even 16-20 adults (if assuming 4-5" each average) is not that high a stock for 75 Gallons.

I mean even if you had x20 Adults at 5" or x15 Adults at 6" thats basically what, 1.25" per gallon? Not that i pay much attention to such formula's, but its a stretch to even call that "over stocked", as long as filtration and water changes are adequate.

True but what about the way they are with the aggression? It would be slaughter with no place to call their own.

thats the logic behind it, if the fish have no place to call their own, they can be less likely to claim a place and then defend it, its kind of like taking the choice away LOL

It doesnt always work that way though, much of fish keeping is simply down to individual fish personalities

 

[MrMagoo]

it's actually not that much more than 1" per gallon, maybe a little more, so even 16-20 adults (if assuming 4-5" each average) is not that high a stock for 75 Gallons.

I mean even if you had x20 Adults at 5" or x15 Adults at 6" thats basically what, 1.25" per gallon? Not that i pay much attention to such formula's, but its a stretch to even call that "over stocked", as long as filtration and water changes are adequate.

True but what about the way they are with the aggression? It would be slaughter with no place to call their own.

thats the logic behind it, if the fish have no place to call their own, they can be less likely to claim a place and then defend it, its kind of like taking the choice away LOL

It doesnt always work that way though, much of fish keeping is simply down to individual fish personalities

So what would work with many fish. The problem would be ich and stuff I would think. See I am still new and really needing to be pointed in the right way. I want it to be something to show off with color, looks, and personality. If I get too many if one gets sick they all will.

 

[CathyGo]

Illness isn't as common as you would think in a larger established tank. Save your 20 gal for a hospital tank so if any problems come up you can just treat the sick fish.

 

[dthoffsett]

Mbuna are very hardy fish as far as illness goes, as long as you have excellent filtration (with mbuna you want your filter(s) to turn over your tank 10 or more times per hour) and you do 30-40% weekly water changes, it's highly unlikely you'll see any illness.

And overstocking with mbuna actually reduces the chances of them killing each other, the concept is that if you have many fish a weaker one will get lost in the crowd and not constantly chased. However, if you keep only a few in the tank the most dominate one will likely stake out most of the tank as "his" and will terrorize the others. With lots of fish in the tank that is less likely to happen, having lots of rocks will help as well.