Few Questions... big tank, lots of fish ;]

S

schitt

AC Members
Dec 15, 2009
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Ok, i have a freshwater tank.

Tank includes...

freshwater flounder
4 mono's
40-50 Cichlids .. about 20 different types.
4 barbs
Senegal Bichir
few plecos,
2 yoyo loaches
raphael catfish
2 golden algae eaters
and a gar

before you complain, and jump on me saying i need 3-4 tanks because they will kill each other.. these fish have lived together VERY well for me, none have any signs of attacking each other, or scars from attacks. and i've had them all over a year, some 3-4. and the tank is always clean to.

Questions...

Currently about 1/5th of the tank is sand bottom. for the flounder.. cause he kicks ***.

Whats the downsides of going full sand?
Removing ALL gravel. Cichlids are picking it up and taking it everywhere else anyways.

also, sand bottom pretty much eliminates the under gravel filtration i have, so is there any way to filter the bottom out? or is it just stock and leave up to the loaches and what not to clean it out.

crawdads i doubt would manage.. as the Cichlids would probably pick them off fast.

any ideas... or suggestions besides "get another tank"
 
the UGF dont bother me, i'll drop them in no time. tank size. 150g

from what i've heard the loaches, and flounder will keep it stirred up enough, i may have to pick off algae blooms once in a great while, but with the plants in the tank, i've never had a algae problem anyways, so i doubt that'll happen much.
 
I would use a cansiter filter on that tank instead of a UGF. I think they work way better. Your cichlids and loaches will keep the sand stirrd up for the most part. If you are still worried about the sand being stirred up just used a chopstick and stirr it a bit during water changes. I have sand in my mbuna tank and I love it.


As far as stocking you seem to have something that is working for you. I will say just one thing. The golden algae eaters are known for eating the slim coat off of fish as they get larger. I would keep an eye on that. IMO it's not worth the risk and I would rehome them. They are trouble.
 
Lol, simple, easy answer.. i love it.

Sorry about my first post being a bit rude, normally people jump right on me... complaining, i have too many fish, or they cant live together. so i figured i'd just avoid that.

also 1 more question.

My cichlids breed like rabbits.. what does everyone do with their babies? my cichlids have nother better to do, than make more for me, and give me a workout, tryin to catch'em before the females drop them, or they get eaten.

I was told to take them to the local pet shops and just sell'em.. but my local pet shops are either infested with ick or the guy trys to tell me cichlids only eat veggies. and refuses to feed anything but a cucumber. when i know mine Wont eat that. lol if its not live or spectrum, they wont touch it.
 
What type of cichlids do you have?


I have a group of Syno catfish in my mbuna tank for fry control. I'm not sure how you're other bottom feeders would feel about them. Most synos can take care of themselves.

My mbuna love cucumber by the way :P
 
erm...... arnt monos a brackish water fish ?? and i am suprised that gar and the bichir hasnt eaten those barbs yet too
 
lol, this is where i get in trouble, and yelled at.. some i know the names of.. some i hope are right, some i havent a clue.. and havent been able to find anywhere.

mating pair of Venustus
few mating pairs of kribensis
few mating pairs of manganos
electric blues
electric yellows
hand full of common africans
green terrors

and some im just not sure of lol.
 
Hmm now that I think about I would think a lot of your current fish would enjoy eating some of the babies.

You said you don't want comments on the stocking so I'll just let it be. You seem to have a lot of africans which are also mostly mbuna. Be warned that feeding too much live can cause these fish to get sick and die.

Do you have any pictures of this set up?
 
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