Stocking Help

[ChrisK]

Got a new 60 gallon for Christmas wanting to stock it with Africans. Looking for some reccomendations on stock. Filtration is a rena xp3 and a marineland 350, planning on having lots rocks, slate, and wood. Any help would be appreciated. :thm:

[Tophat665]

I would recommend fishnet stockings...

I kid. You could do a pretty nice tanganyika community in there. Put big rockpiles at each end and a shellfield in the middle. Get some Julies, some Leleupis or brichardis, and some shellies (Multis or brevis is probably best). Maybe add some Synodontis petricola (get three or more if you can find and afford them.)


Alternately, a breeding group of yellow labs would be stunning , with one of the malawi Synodonts to clean up after. If you scaped the tank so that it had distinct left and right zones, you might even be able to get away with multiple males, and your get some of that really cool cichlid dominance behavior that everyone so loves.

[ChrisK]

Awesome thanks for the reply tophat

[AfroCichlid]

Really depends on what type of Africans you want to keep: Tanganyikan, Malawi, Victorian, Riverine. Once you identify the area, break it down into types. There is a large diversity of fish that can be kept together from Tanganyika. In Malawi, you're better off selecting either Mbuna or open water Haplochromines/ Aulonacara. There are several species from Lake Victoria that can be housed together.
Try the Species Profile search here: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/index.php
Look at the different types of Africans there are and choose your ideal fish. From there, you should be able to get a better list of compatible species over here. I'd select a few " trophy " fish, ones you absolutely have to have. If you want some suggestions, I'm sure there are never- ending suggestions here for African setups.

[efors]

Really depends on what type of Africans you want to keep: Tanganyikan, Malawi, Victorian, Riverine.
Look at the different types of Africans there are and choose your ideal fish. From there, you should be able to get a better list of compatible species over here. I'd select a few " trophy " fish, ones you absolutely have to have. If you want some suggestions, I'm sure there are never- ending suggestions here for African setups.

:iagree:...totally agree! Do this whole homework suggested by AfroCichlid and then here are a lot of experienced friends that will help you to complete your stocking plan and answer all your questions about that plan you decide to continue. Good luck!

[Pittbull]

welcome to the african side young fishwalker now you must fulfill your destiny..


hehehee sorry i love star wars aye, but coolness on the africans my friend you will love them as long as you follow the guidance offered..

[svf]

I would recommend fishnet stockings...


Actually, I was going to say that if you needed stocking help, they are easier to put on if you start sitting down...http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_107v.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=_undefined)





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb112&pp=ZKxdm015YYUS (http://smiley.smileycentral.com/download/index.jhtml?partner=ZSzeb112_ZKxdm015YYUS&utm_id=7920)

[Pittbull]

:lol: heheheehe :lol:



:mwave:

[ChrisK]

Actually, I was going to say that if you needed stocking help, they are easier to put on if you start sitting down...http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_107v.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=_undefined)





Thats why I keep tearing them

[ChrisK]

this is what I decided to go with 3 kenyi(Metriaclima lombardoi) , 4 acei (Pseudotropheus sp.), 2 Red zebras (Metriaclima estherae), 3 female yellow labs (Labidochromis caeruleus) and 2 bumblebees (Pseudotropheus chameleon). Any comments suggestions etc. Heres a link to pictures of it:
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=174036

[Tophat665]

welcome to the african side young fishwalker now you must fulfill your destiny..


hehehee sorry i love star wars aye, but coolness on the africans my friend you will love them as long as you follow the guidance offered..

IT'S A HAP!

That's no Mbuna. It's a Space Station.

I find your lack of Plants disturbing.

[April12]

Cool setup, although I would worry about the rocks leaning against the glass and creating pressure points that could crack the glass. Maybe it's ok if the rocks aren't too big.

[blue2fyre]

Beautiful set up!

[efors]

Hi! Nice looking tank, ChrisK!
A few comments but this is just my honest opinion:
1. In that tank I would start with more juvies; 20 is a good number IMO. Aceis and labs look great in groups of 6 or 7.
2. Having only 2 red zebras and if at least 1 of them is male, can cause a crossbreeding problem with the 3 female labs. I would add more of both or remove the zebras.
3.Remember that kenyi and bumblebee males are aggressive. Just one male and at least 3 females of each should be necessary.
Good luck with your very nice tank!

[ChrisK]

Hi! Nice looking tank, ChrisK!
A few comments but this is just my honest opinion:
1. In that tank I would start with more juvies; 20 is a good number IMO. Aceis and labs look great in groups of 6 or 7.
2. Having only 2 red zebras and if at least 1 of them is male, can cause a crossbreeding problem with the 3 female labs. I would add more of both or remove the zebras.
3.Remember that kenyi and bumblebee males are aggressive. Just one male and at least 3 females of each should be necessary.
Good luck with your very nice tank!
Wow great info efors thanks alot i'm still learning about Africans and all of that info is much appreciated.

[ChrisK]

IT'S A HAP!

That's no Mbuna. It's a Space Station.

I find your lack of Plants disturbing.

I am wanting to add some plants anyone suggest some good low light plant to go in with my "Space Station" :)

[Pittbull]

THE DARKSIDE..

Imperial Forces suggest the following for your Space Station..

For a low light setup in a African tank i would do the Anubias either nana, nana narrowleaf, barteri, hostofilia or coffeefolia..

Java fern, java moss, some vals and maybe some cryptocoryne species and as always it depends on location and what species you have they will either ignore them or shred them so i would start out light and not leap into a fortune with plants until you know they will work with your setup..

[ChrisK]

[quote=Pittbull;1719104]THE DARKSIDE..

Imperial Forces suggest the following for your Space Station..

quote]

:laugh:

Thanks for the suggestions pitbull

[efors]

Wow great info efors thanks alot i'm still learning about Africans and all of that info is much appreciated.

You are welcome, my friend! I'm sure more help from other friends here is coming soon. Plants for mbuna tanks: Anubias and Java fern are very good low light plants; but success depends on how your mbunas behave toward plants. It may work and it may not.
Well, big friend pittbull has said it all about plants.

[Pittbull]

No worries aye "anytime"..

[ChrisK]

what would you guys recomend for a "bottom dweller" for this tank?

[efors]

Synodontis catfishes. Check for S. petricola; my favorite.

[Pittbull]

synodontis ocellifer are cool and is what i have the petricola are sweet as well like efors said..

here is some photos of my syno's

70740


70741


70742


70743

[Coler]

Plants :

You can try java ferns and be pretty much guaranteed success - they're bitter (in fact mildy toxic) and won't be chowed down. You can just plug them into crevices and they will take nicely to the rockwork. Vallis, in my experience, will be continually ate. Onion Plants (Crinium) will look great planted in substrate - in your size tank I'd put maybe two at the back in one corner and one in the other at the back again and they will grow up and accross the water level and give nice depth and break up vertical line of sight between the fish - which helps prevent excessive aggression.

Bottom dwellers - synodontis catfish are best for african tanks. Multipunctatus are, in my opinion, the most handsome of the lot :D