Coming back.....
- Thread starter ChunkyMonkey
- Start date
I'll be keeping this thread to document the tank aquascaping and growth. In the mean time, I'm trying to plan ahead for the stocking. I observed another thread where I saw the link http://www.aqadvisor.com/ suggested by wespastor for stocking suggestions. On the stocking, it stated to keep Mbunas 100% over stocking for their aggression. So if it's suggesting with 40 cichlids I'm currently at 100%, are they then stating I should have 80?
Here it is stating I'm at an estimated 91% capacity.
That just doesn't seem like much for a 180gal setup.....or is it just me?
Here it is stating I'm at an estimated 91% capacity.
That just doesn't seem like much for a 180gal setup.....or is it just me?
I find that thing to be way off when it comes to stocking mbuna. Also remember that with mbuna you are going to want to over stock a bit to disperse aggression. Bumble bees get pretty big for mbuna and might be throwing off the results a bit. I dunno.
Also a heads up that bumble bees can be pretty nasty and may not like the similar barring of the demasoni. Another thing I will point out is only the males of Met. greshakei are light blue with a red top. Females are brown to a pinkish brown. Better quality females tend to have an orange top. So you'll have 1 male and 6 brown females. If you're fine with that then great!
I'd suggest with your group Ps acei. A nice large school of them would look awesome in a tank that size.
Also a heads up that bumble bees can be pretty nasty and may not like the similar barring of the demasoni. Another thing I will point out is only the males of Met. greshakei are light blue with a red top. Females are brown to a pinkish brown. Better quality females tend to have an orange top. So you'll have 1 male and 6 brown females. If you're fine with that then great!
I'd suggest with your group Ps acei. A nice large school of them would look awesome in a tank that size.
Thanks! Yeah, I remember some of the details regarding numbers for aggression. I didn't know about the female coloring, thanks! I had bumblebees before that were successful with a group of 5 for a little while. I plan on buying at a LFS that has supplied all my previous fish for both cichlids and salt.
I also remember the issues with cichlids sharing aggression with those who share similar colors/patterns, so I definitely will be sure to avoid. With the above list provided by the site, I was just trying to get the % up there for posting here and seeing their suggested numbers.
Good call on the Pseudotropheus Acei. I'm trying to keep the setup from being a single color. I think with the Yellow Labs, Demasoni, Acei, I'd like to find something that would contribute a red tone or even a green. Any suggestions?
I'm also trying to research foam work. Although I'm wanting to try my sand and a lighter slate for a retaining wall efffect, I'm also trying to figure a way to build the back wall for minor tunnels or possibly a cave for spawning. Anyone done similar work? I've been trying to look up pics.
I also remember the issues with cichlids sharing aggression with those who share similar colors/patterns, so I definitely will be sure to avoid. With the above list provided by the site, I was just trying to get the % up there for posting here and seeing their suggested numbers.
Good call on the Pseudotropheus Acei. I'm trying to keep the setup from being a single color. I think with the Yellow Labs, Demasoni, Acei, I'd like to find something that would contribute a red tone or even a green. Any suggestions?
I'm also trying to research foam work. Although I'm wanting to try my sand and a lighter slate for a retaining wall efffect, I'm also trying to figure a way to build the back wall for minor tunnels or possibly a cave for spawning. Anyone done similar work? I've been trying to look up pics.
Well you won't find a green mbuna and no mbuna are really red. You could try cherry red zebras which are an orange/red color. For most mbuna you are looking at blue, black, yellow, orange, purple, or a mixture of these colors.
Yeah def stay away from the Bumble Bees they will diminish your stock once old enough to breed.. As for slate its your call i have seen where hobbyist silicone pieces together for a wall effect but will take a bit of work for a 180gal..
As for the Acei add about 12 to the tank for a nice colony of them and instead of the cobalts you can go with some Red Zebras in the range say about 10..
As for the Acei add about 12 to the tank for a nice colony of them and instead of the cobalts you can go with some Red Zebras in the range say about 10..
Thanks, I was thinking of Red Zebras too. I had some before that we enjoyed. So I'll knock the bumblebees off and go with the Demasoni, Labs, Red Zebras, and Acei.
As for the slate, I don't mind the work, shouldn't be too bad being the tank is only 6'...but I know, easier said than done, lol. I don't know how big the walls are going to be. I'm not too concerned as well, I'm really hoping to take my time in pre-filling construction(hoping being the main point, lol). I'm still on the fence regarding the foam wall. I've seen a lot of great work done for sw setups. I'm looking through everyone's photos on here to get an idea of which way I wanna go. Either a black painted background, or built.....
10-Yellow Labs
15-Demasoni
12-Acei
10-Red Zebras
You think 47 is the limit? Or, is there a higher safe capacity? 180 tank owner said the aquarium should be available this weekend. I need to get a coupld of my buddies and see what we can do to transport it over. Previous owner said it took 4 guys straining to get it moved into his home. No too worried with getting it filled with water as the wet/dry won't probably be done for another two weeks. He's almost done with my sw sump first.
As for the slate, I don't mind the work, shouldn't be too bad being the tank is only 6'...but I know, easier said than done, lol. I don't know how big the walls are going to be. I'm not too concerned as well, I'm really hoping to take my time in pre-filling construction(hoping being the main point, lol). I'm still on the fence regarding the foam wall. I've seen a lot of great work done for sw setups. I'm looking through everyone's photos on here to get an idea of which way I wanna go. Either a black painted background, or built.....
10-Yellow Labs
15-Demasoni
12-Acei
10-Red Zebras
You think 47 is the limit? Or, is there a higher safe capacity? 180 tank owner said the aquarium should be available this weekend. I need to get a coupld of my buddies and see what we can do to transport it over. Previous owner said it took 4 guys straining to get it moved into his home. No too worried with getting it filled with water as the wet/dry won't probably be done for another two weeks. He's almost done with my sw sump first.
Starting out with the above list would be ideal and then later you can tweak it a bit me i would add a couple Haps to the mix maybe some Borleyi, Mloto or Moori just to throw out a few names..
Moori Dolphins would work about 5 of them same with Borleyi but if you choose Mloto stick with only males they can be iffy when breeding..
Moori Dolphins would work about 5 of them same with Borleyi but if you choose Mloto stick with only males they can be iffy when breeding..
I like that Moorii. How about the Moorii Kaiser II?
For a Hap, how about a Haplochromis ishmaeli? Do Haps in general get to 8-10"?? A lot of the places I was looking seemed to show that range in size vs a lot of the Mbuna I saw at 5" or so.
For a Hap, how about a Haplochromis ishmaeli? Do Haps in general get to 8-10"?? A lot of the places I was looking seemed to show that range in size vs a lot of the Mbuna I saw at 5" or so.
