Help with stocking list

[jimpru]

We'll I think my cycle is nearing completion if not I will still work on it some more but I am now starting to look at a stocking list for it. The tank is a 220gal (72L X 24W X 30H). For filtration I have 2 Eheim 2217 and 2 Ehiem 2262.

I was thinking of stocking it with the fish below and wanted to see if anyone sees any issues I may encounter in doing so. Also suggestions on the number of fish is appreciated as well. Recommendations for other fish to add is also greatly appreciated

Altolamprologus calvus (Black)
Aulonocara Chiloelo "orange band"
Labidochromis caeruleus (yellow Lab)
Aulonocara maylandi sulferhead
Cyrtocara Moorii
Aulonocara Red Regal peacocks
Lethrinops sp. Mbawa Black Fin
Pseudotropheus sp "williamsi blue lips"
Aulonocara Lemon Jake "Undu Reef"-
Aulonocara German Red peacock
Aulonocara stuartgranti ngara
Aulonocara sp. Lwanda
Aulonocara kandeensis
Copadichromis melas
Scientific Name: Astatotilapia nubila

Thanks

 

[notenoughtanks]

For Haps divide tank by 4 that's your max ( hap only )

Peacocks divide by 1.5 max # of peacocks

Mbuna divide tank by 2

Just a rough formula to go by ..

 

[notenoughtanks]

Used this for my 75 gal mbuna tank I have 30 fish in there been doing fine

Granted my max is 37

 

[Mogurako]

For Haps divide tank by 4 that's your max ( hap only )

Peacocks divide by 1.5 max # of peacocks

Mbuna divide tank by 2

Just a rough formula to go by ..

Very very rough.....

OP your stock list seems very disjointed. I suggest choosing lake tanganyika community, Mbuna, or Haps and peacocks. Then build a list from there.


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[notenoughtanks]

Very very rough.....

OP your stock list seems very disjointed. I suggest choosing lake tanganyika community, Mbuna, or Haps and peacocks. Then build a list from there.


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Yea these are the max amounts I never go to the max ... But just to get somewhat of an idea of what op can do .. How ever with 220 I would do CA cichlids lol

 

[jimpru]

Very very rough.....

OP your stock list seems very disjointed. I suggest choosing lake tanganyika community, Mbuna, or Haps and peacocks. Then build a list from there.


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Thanks I was thinking of a Hap and Peacock setup but really like some of the other species as well. This will be the first cichlid tank I have setup up and most of the fish will have to be ordered on line due to my location. So starting early and will go from there. I was thinking of 35-40 but not sure if I need 2 of one type and 4 of another so was hoping for some feed back on that as well. I want some fish with a lot of color (blue, black, yellow, rust). Different body styles is always a plus.

 

[Mogurako]

Thanks I was thinking of a Hap and Peacock setup but really like some of the other species as well. This will be the first cichlid tank I have setup up and most of the fish will have to be ordered on line due to my location. So starting early and will go from there. I was thinking of 35-40 but not sure if I need 2 of one type and 4 of another so was hoping for some feed back on that as well. I want some fish with a lot of color (blue, black, yellow, rust). Different body styles is always a plus.

Haps and peacocks would be your best bet then. Similar temperaments (depending on the fish) , dietary needs. If you're stocking peacocks get confirmed males otherwise you'll be stuck with a brown/silver fish. Order 2-6 of each, some won't survive due to power struggles. Shoot for about 20-25, but that number depends on allot on the fish chosen.


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[ralfieboy]

I would remove the Calvus, Nubila, Williams Blue Lips, and Auloncara Orange Band. You may be okay with the yellow lab. One male of each and I would suggest paying a premium to get males. You may wish to add a Protomelas Species or Placidochromis Species. Say Phenoculus Mdoka White Lips, or Tanzania, Deep Water Hap, Spilotonus Tanzania, Taiwanee Reef, Copadichromis Verdyuni, Otopharynx Yellow Blaze Lithbates. Another suggestion would be a group of Synodontis Multipunctatus 4 minimum or a couple of Synodontus Decorus. Be prepared that the Lethrinops will not colour up until it is dominant. 30 to 40 fish will work. Remember they will grow.
To reduce cost, I have several aquariums where I grow the fish out and add them when coloured up. 220 is a nice size. Have fun.

 

[jimpru]

I would remove the Calvus, Nubila, Williams Blue Lips, and Auloncara Orange Band. You may be okay with the yellow lab. One male of each and I would suggest paying a premium to get males. You may wish to add a Protomelas Species or Placidochromis Species. Say Phenoculus Mdoka White Lips, or Tanzania, Deep Water Hap, Spilotonus Tanzania, Taiwanee Reef, Copadichromis Verdyuni, Otopharynx Yellow Blaze Lithbates. Another suggestion would be a group of Synodontis Multipunctatus 4 minimum or a couple of Synodontus Decorus. Be prepared that the Lethrinops will not colour up until it is dominant. 30 to 40 fish will work. Remember they will grow.
To reduce cost, I have several aquariums where I grow the fish out and add them when coloured up. 220 is a nice size. Have fun.

This great input and very much helpful. The tank finished cycling today so now I just need to get serious about the fish.

So a few more questions. Since I will be adding upto about 40 fish or so is it best to add them all at once (believe I know the answer but thought I would ask) or ad them a few at a time. If so how many does everyone recommend? I have a tight budget and due to location I will have to order the fish from somewhere to get some decent ones so suggestions are appreciated.

 

[ralfieboy]

This great input and very much helpful. The tank finished cycling today so now I just need to get serious about the fish.

So a few more questions. Since I will be adding upto about 40 fish or so is it best to add them all at once (believe I know the answer but thought I would ask) or ad them a few at a time. If so how many does everyone recommend? I have a tight budget and due to location I will have to order the fish from somewhere to get some decent ones so suggestions are appreciated.

Not sure where you are located. Old World Exotics is a place where many Canadians get fish from the US. They have all been pleased.

I would not get that many fish at once. You will have spikes in your water parameters. I would break it down to four shipments and place each after you are sure that they are healthy. Maybe one to two weeks apart.

 

[jimpru]

Thanks for everyone's help. After much thought here is what I believe I am going to go with. Please review it and let me know if there is something I am missing that may give me problems.

AulonocaraRubescens Albino
AulonocaraDragonblood
Aulonocarajacobfreibergi (Undu Reef) Lemon Jack
AulonocaraJacobfreibergi Otter Point
Aulonocarakoningsi Mbenji 'Blue Regal'
AulonocaraLwanda
Aulonocara masoni
Aulonocaramaulana Bicolor 500
Aulonocaramaylandi
Aulonocara Red Regal peacock
AulonocaraRubescens
AulonocaraStuartgranti Maleri
Aulonocarastuartgranti Ngara Flametail
Aulonocarastuartgranti Regal
CopadichromisAzureus
Copadichromismelas Mloto- Midnight
Cyrtocaramoorii Blue Dolphin
Naevochromischrysogaster
NyassachromisBoadzulu Kanchedza
OtopharynxLithobates
Placidochromiselectra
PlacidochromisPhenochilus Tanzania
Protomelasmarginatus
ProtomelasTaeniolatus
SciaenochromisAhli
Copadichromis Verdyuni
Spilotonus Tanzania
Aulonocara German Red peacocks
Lethrinops sp. Mbawa Black Fin
Phenoculus Mdoka White Lips

Thanks in advance fo rthe input

 

[ralfieboy]

Thanks for everyone's help. After much thought here is what I believe I am going to go with. Please review it and let me know if there is something I am missing that may give me problems.

AulonocaraRubescens Albino
AulonocaraDragonblood
Aulonocarajacobfreibergi (Undu Reef) Lemon Jack
AulonocaraJacobfreibergi Otter Point
Aulonocarakoningsi Mbenji 'Blue Regal'
AulonocaraLwanda
Aulonocara masoni
Aulonocaramaulana Bicolor 500
Aulonocaramaylandi
Aulonocara Red Regal peacock
AulonocaraRubescens
AulonocaraStuartgranti Maleri
Aulonocarastuartgranti Ngara Flametail
Aulonocarastuartgranti Regal
CopadichromisAzureus
Copadichromismelas Mloto- Midnight
Cyrtocaramoorii Blue Dolphin
Naevochromischrysogaster
NyassachromisBoadzulu Kanchedza
OtopharynxLithobates
Placidochromiselectra
PlacidochromisPhenochilus Tanzania
Protomelasmarginatus
ProtomelasTaeniolatus
SciaenochromisAhli
Copadichromis Verdyuni
Spilotonus Tanzania
Aulonocara German Red peacocks
Lethrinops sp. Mbawa Black Fin
Phenoculus Mdoka White Lips

Thanks in advance fo rthe input

The German Red Peacock is the same fish as the Rubescens. The Otter Point is too aggressive.The Marginatus or Taeniolatus aka Red Emress are similar and the sub dominant will not color up. The Blue Regal is presume you mean the Cobue or the Chilumba. If so very similar to the Masoni. The Ahli will be pretty aggressive. I believe the Red Regal you mean Red Shoulder. If so they are also aggressive compared to the other Peacocks. The Dragonblood may give you trouble as well.
I just got a juvie Naevochromis that I am growing out. Cool fish. I will have to check out the Nyassachromis. That is the only fish that I do not recognize.

 

[Mogurako]

I know it's a 220 gallon but seriously consider toning down the amount of species in your stock list unless you're counting on a good chunk of those male peacocks getting killed do to aggression.


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[jimpru]

I know it's a 220 gallon but seriously consider toning down the amount of species in your stock list unless you're counting on a good chunk of those male peacocks getting killed do to aggression.


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Mogurako, Can you elaborate on your comment a little further. i.e How many species do I need to limit it to? How many of each species? Which ones are the aggressor? Something similar to what Ralfieboy did. He reviewed the list and made some recommendations on how to improve my stock list and identified which ones I may have trouble with. Which is greatly appreciated by myself and probably others who are in a similar situation as I constantly read post on this topic. Some of the fish I added was based on information in another post similar to mine. Each time someone makes a recommendation I go research it and consider it with the information I have at the time. Problem is there is conflicting information on different sites that sometimes makes it difficult for a novice or beginner in the cichlid community (such as myself) to understand. So when this happens I ask the questions from the experts here and this far have gotten some great assistance and information. I am smart enough to know that what looks good on paper doesn't always work out in reality. So I ask questions and consider the information provided before making my final decision. You seem to have a great wealth of knowledge in this area given the number of post that you have. Therefore, if you could elaborate further and point out the areas I may want to reconsider it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks to all for the assistance with my list. I have been putting this tank together for about 18 months now so I am glad that the end is finally near.
PLEASE keep the recommendations coming.

 

[Mogurako]

Ok while I don't keep Haps or peacocks anymore I have in the past. I will be making recommendations based on what I learned while breeding peacocks, keeping haps in a 125g and helping my friend stock/maintain his 8' 240g with Haps/Peacocks.

I see you have a 220 gallon tank but you should stock it like its a 180 gallon, those extra 5" don't get you anything besides a little relief on your bio load.

Before I dive to far into a potential stock list do you plan to buy all the fish at once or piece it together? Do you have spare tanks for grow outs?Also are all those fish you mentioned available for you to purchase locally/online?


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[Mogurako]

After sifting through what you listed,plus adding a couple suggestions, and cross referencing with what is available. I came up with this list:

Peacocks
-Aulonocara koningsi Mbenji 'Blue Regal'
- Aulonocara masoni
- Aulonocara maylandi
- Aulonocara "Rubescens"
- Aulonocara sp. "Stuartgranti Maleri" (Chidunga Rocks)
- Aulonocara stuartgranti "Ngara"

Haps
-Cyrtocara moorii Blue Dolphin
- Placidochromis Phenochilus "Tanzania"
- Protomelas Taeniolatus "Namalenje"
- Lethrinops albus "Kande Island"
- Lethrinops sp. "Mbasi Creek"

I would pick 3-4 types of peacocks and stick with 1 male 2 female groups or 4-6 males.

Then 3 groups of 3-5 of the suggested haps and 1 male Protomelas.






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[jimpru]

Ok while I don't keep Haps or peacocks anymore I have in the past. I will be making recommendations based on what I learned while breeding peacocks, keeping haps in a 125g and helping my friend stock/maintain his 8' 240g with Haps/Peacocks.

I see you have a 220 gallon tank but you should stock it like its a 180 gallon, those extra 5" don't get you anything besides a little relief on your bio load.

Before I dive to far into a potential stock list do you plan to buy all the fish at once or piece it together? Do you have spare tanks for grow outs?Also are all those fish you mentioned available for you to purchase locally/online?


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Thanks, Most of the fish I will have to buy online (due to my location not many LFS in my area. Nearest one is about 2 hours away) and this far they have been available. Quality and method of shipping is to be determined at this point.
As suggested before and I agree I will be buying them separately and introducing them into the tank in groups of 6-10 depending on where I am purchasing them from. At a rate of about 1-2 Weeks apart.
I currently have a 55 Gal that I have setup that will be used as my grow out tank and here in the near future I will be tearing down my 75 Gal and re-doing it for chiclids as well. The only reason that I have done so thus far is that I have some Bristlenose Pleco's in it that just had some babies so I have been reluctant to disturb them right now. It is currently setup with some tetras in it as well that I will be looking to relocate here soon as well.

 

[jimpru]

The German Red Peacock is the same fish as the Rubescens. The Otter Point is too aggressive.The Marginatus or Taeniolatus aka Red Emress are similar and the sub dominant will not color up. The Blue Regal is presume you mean the Cobue or the Chilumba. If so very similar to the Masoni. The Ahli will be pretty aggressive. I believe the Red Regal you mean Red Shoulder. If so they are also aggressive compared to the other Peacocks. The Dragonblood may give you trouble as well.
I just got a juvie Naevochromis that I am growing out. Cool fish. I will have to check out the Nyassachromis. That is the only fish that I do not recognize.

Thank you for the great review. I have done some more reading and believe I will follow your suggestion and start ordering some fish next week or so. Going to remove the ones you identified as possible trouble makers and get some fish in the tank.

 

[Mogurako]

Did you look at the list I posted?


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[Mogurako]

The German Red Peacock is the same fish as the Rubescens.

Aulonocara "German Red" and Aulonocara "Rubescens" are not in fact the same fish. Rubescens has been line bred from the Maleri Island race of Aulonocara sp. ''Stuartgranti Maleri". German Reds have been line bred from the Chipoka race of Aulonocara sp. ''Stuartgranti Maleri".

In short line bred fish from two different locational variants of Aulonocara sp. ''Stuartgranti Maleri"





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