Setting Up New Cichlid Tank- First Time- Advice Needed

[JengoJengo]

Should be fine. Especially considering the auratus is female. Keep an eye on her, time will tell.


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Well, its one male, 2 females, but the male is the smallest fish in the tank. SO hopefully that will help.

 

[Freakgecko91]

OP listed three auratus...1 male, 2 females. I will almost guarantee that this will prove to be an issue in the long run. If you're going to try, I'd add a couple more females, or keep only females. Adding a male is a risk


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[JengoJengo]

Ack. Rookie mistake! I was thinking of grabbing 3 more females. Would that be better, or better to return the male?


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[TMRC Exotics]

Auratus will limit your options on other fish. They're one of the most aggressive members of the mbuna family.

 

[JengoJengo]

Shoot.

Well, I guess I need to pick other mbuna species that can hold their own in the tank.




Any suggestions?


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[jmats]

I only saw one female auratus ?


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[TMRC Exotics]

Red zebra, cobalt blue zebra, I believe kenyis could work but I would double check.

 

[PassengerTN]

Auratus can be boogers, but it's the hyper aggression when they mate and spawn that gets wild. Probably limit it 3 species, also high ratios. Kenyi will work. Acei make good dithers.

 

[JengoJengo]

Ok those are good options, I know I saw the red and blue zebras there, not sure about Kenyi and acei, but they had a ton.

What about bumblebee?


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[TMRC Exotics]

I have a bumblebee, just note they reach 8 inches and are supposedly very aggressive, I say supposedly as I and a few others here who own them who haven't had issues. But mines not grown yet.

 

[PassengerTN]

I'll be completely honest, you could add whatever you want in that tank and see what happens. This is what's in my 55

2x Venustus
2x Yellow tail acei
2x bumblebees
2x yellow labs
2x Ngara white tails
1x Demasoni
1x OB Peacock (with no problems!!)
1x Julie Regani
And 2x Mollies

I have no issues, none, zip, zero, nada. The only issue I have ever had was a 3" Acei didn't like the 5" Tinfoil barb so I took the barb out. There is also a Red Ear Slider in there. Again, no issues.

Is it guaranteed aggression will never happen? Nope. But, I am prepared to make the necessary adjustments when it does happen. People ASSUME a peacock would be tortured or stressed but this is not the case. He came from a local breeder around 1.5" and is doing great with the mbuna. Coloring up more and more as the days go by. Same situation with the Venustus (Hap). You're going to make mistakes, every one does. Just be sure to correct the mistakes BEFORE disaster happens. At any given moment I can move a tank and have 3 choices of where to put it.

 

[TMRC Exotics]

Your peacock is half mbuna, that helps. Normal peacocks don't usually fair well unless its with labs or aceis. I learned the hard way.

 

[JengoJengo]

Thanks so much for all the help and advice!

I just love my new guys, and can't wait to add more after the tank stabilizes, which I am hoping will be relatively quickly because I have so much established media in there.

I think I will try and stick with species that can kind of "hold their own" down the road.




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[JengoJengo]

Here's all but one of them today. Seems peaceful now but I know they're still young.

Fingers crossed! I'm gonna monitor the water for a couple/few weeks before I add any more.


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[mikem691]

I'll be completely honest, you could add whatever you want in that tank and see what happens. This is what's in my 55

2x Venustus
2x Yellow tail acei
2x bumblebees
2x yellow labs
2x Ngara white tails
1x Demasoni
1x OB Peacock (with no problems!!)
1x Julie Regani
And 2x Mollies

I have no issues, none, zip, zero, nada. The only issue I have ever had was a 3" Acei didn't like the 5" Tinfoil barb so I took the barb out. There is also a Red Ear Slider in there. Again, no issues.

Is it guaranteed aggression will never happen? Nope. But, I am prepared to make the necessary adjustments when it does happen. People ASSUME a peacock would be tortured or stressed but this is not the case. He came from a local breeder around 1.5" and is doing great with the mbuna. Coloring up more and more as the days go by. Same situation with the Venustus (Hap). You're going to make mistakes, every one does. Just be sure to correct the mistakes BEFORE disaster happens. At any given moment I can move a tank and have 3 choices of where to put it.

You need to rehome the Venustus. I have a hard time keeping nitrates under 20 with 1 10" fish in a 55.

 

[PassengerTN]

I tested yesterday, 0/0/10 and haven't ever been above 0/0/20 even missing a wc. You're welcome to come test yourself I personally don't like Venustus, they were a pick by my wife as they are "giraffe print". They won't stay, just have to convince her to swap them for something different. They're still quite small. Maybe 1" when we purchased and between 2.5-3" now.

 

[mikem691]

I tested yesterday, 0/0/10 and haven't ever been above 0/0/20 even missing a wc. You're welcome to come test yourself I personally don't like Venustus, they were a pick by my wife as they are "giraffe print". They won't stay, just have to convince her to swap them for something different. They're still quite small. Maybe 1" when we purchased and between 2.5-3" now.

Ooooo the wife ok I don't argue with wives. I completely understand that one.

 

[JengoJengo]

So, I am planning on eventually "overstocking" this tank. If I had 15-20 mbuna in the 55, what level of filtration should I be at?

Right now I have a Magnum 350 pro with 2 bio wheels, which is overkill for my current 6 fish, but I'm thinking future here....

I'm planning on trying to get a quieter canister, and then was thinking if I get to that max stocking level, should I get an aqua clear HOB too?


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[PassengerTN]

Ooooo the wife ok I don't argue with wives. I completely understand that one.

Nor do I! Happy wife = Happy life

 

[JengoJengo]

Ooooo the wife ok I don't argue with wives. I completely understand that one.

Good man. I'm a "wife" myself, although I'm the fish addict in the family lol.


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