change in tank plans

[KatzeSlaugen]

i was going to setup a 25 gal cichlid tank but as luck would have it i came across a 55 gallon with oak stand and everything i need except a filter. seeing as i dont get my first paycheck for almost a month i decided to wait to set everything up completely but i have decided on its inhabitants! the set up will be a sandy bottom and have lots of shale "caves" (more like houses) along with some larger river rocks thrown in

4 (or 5) rusty cichlids
will move my emerald corys over and but 5 more to bring the school to 11

does that sound good or is it a little light on the stocking?

[rich311k]

Sounds like a plan to me. Congrats on the new tank.

[Dixie]

Glad you got a 55g.. It's really the minimum size recommended for mbuna. I would consider 4-5 rusties way understocked though. I'd choose 2 more species with 5 of each to add also. I don't know how the cories will fare with mbuna. I'd be afraid to try it. Maybe if the mbuna are real young and they grow up with the cories.

[Sharon]

I wouldn't put Cories with Mbuna....

[rich311k]

My apologies I did not realize they were mbuna. Definetly no corys they like completely different conditions.

[rangur1]

jumped over from your other thread,so you are getting a 55? cool.
i am setting up 3 tanks of this exact design. check out "live fish direct"
they have awesome african cichlid stocks , when tank is set up order the 1-1.5 inch size fish and "overstock" tank to suppress aggression on individual fish.
rusty's are an excellent choice,yellow labs,textilus labs

any melanochromis are REAL feisty-be careful combining these.

figure total of 16 fish is good , but you will need to implement good filtration, like 2 aquaclear 110 HOB filters-these fish like current. good luck

p.s.-cory's will need to be relocated to another tank,sorry

[deathtroll]

keep the research going. the wrong stock and the wrong numbers can lead to a lot of problems. and get very expencive I have lost a lot of fish due to not doing my research first. if you can't get your full stock at first get the least aggressive you plan to keep first and the most aggressive last should help reduce a few headaches

[KatzeSlaugen]

My apologies I did not realize they were mbuna. Definetly no corys they like completely different conditions.

well the water conditions would not be a problem seeing as how my school of 12 corys (6 albino and 6 emerald) are living and thriving at 7.8ph and around 17 degrees of hardness. since the dwarf cichlid im looking at likes the same exact thing i dont think it would be a problem water wise i just didnt know if there would be aggression at all

[KatzeSlaugen]

Glad you got a 55g.. It's really the minimum size recommended for mbuna. I would consider 4-5 rusties way understocked though. I'd choose 2 more species with 5 of each to add also. I don't know how the cories will fare with mbuna. I'd be afraid to try it. Maybe if the mbuna are real young and they grow up with the cories.

thank you very much that really helps alot because the biggest tank i have stocked is 29gal and i wasnt sure how many more fish ide be able to fit into a 55. i think im going to skip the cories in this tank then from what all of you have been saying and the ones im currently looking at are about 3/4th an inch long maybe up to an inch in length so theyre still pretty small. who knows if they will still be there though as i dont get paid until the 27th of next month

[bushwhacker]

africans are strange fish... most fish you never want to overstock. with mbuna its almost required.. sorta strange tho, i had 5 in a 75 gallon tank one was gonna be killed. so i took him out and the tank is as peaceful as can be (for an african tank)

[KatzeSlaugen]

africans are strange fish... most fish you never want to overstock. with mbuna its almost required.. sorta strange tho, i had 5 in a 75 gallon tank one was gonna be killed. so i took him out and the tank is as peaceful as can be (for an african tank)

thats strange but it definately is good to know thank you!