37g stocking help

[Mr.Pleco]

You want the filter to turn over the total volume of your tank 8-10+ times a hour. So you want 370-400 GPH of filtration. A Fluval 405/305 plus your current filter would work quite well.

Well my only problem is another Top Fin 60 at 300 gph is $44 and a Fluval 305 is $180...big difference.

 

[Mogurako]

Well my only problem is another Top Fin 60 at 300 gph is $44 and a Fluval 305 is $180...big difference.

You can find fluvals online for allot less $111 on amazon with free shipping. Canisters cost more yes but are worth it.

 

[Mr.Pleco]

You can find fluvals online for allot less $111 on amazon with free shipping. Canisters cost more yes but are worth it.

I know canisters are worth it, but even if they gph is lower?
Also, I have a UGF. I'm pretty sure I read that it's not really used for cichlids and the fact that if you use sand you won't want to use it.

 

[Mr.Pleco]

I found a common stock for 50g tank.
You agree with it? I'm looking at all the options and I'm going to check out one of the better lfs that I know stocks more of a variety of cichlids than PetSmart or Petco.

1 trio Protomelas
1 trio Aulonocara
1 trio Copadichromis
1 trio Labidochromis or Cynotilapia
4 Neolamprologus (larger species)
2 Eretmodus or 1 trio Haplochromis
2 Julidochromis (larger species)
1 Synodontis Catfish
1 medium sized Plecostomus

 

[Mogurako]

I know canisters are worth it, but even if they gph is lower?
Also, I have a UGF. I'm pretty sure I read that it's not really used for cichlids and the fact that if you use sand you won't want to use it.

Canister hold allot of extra volume and are very versatile, I have a feeling the GPH of all the filters are extremely exaggerated, i have used canisters and HOB. Canisters win it for me every time hands down.The only HOB I really like are the aquaclears.

UGF shouldn't be used with sand.

I found a common stock for 50g tank.
You agree with it? I'm looking at all the options and I'm going to check out one of the better lfs that I know stocks more of a variety of cichlids than PetSmart or Petco.

1 trio Protomelas
1 trio Aulonocara
1 trio Copadichromis
1 trio Labidochromis or Cynotilapia
4 Neolamprologus (larger species)
2 Eretmodus or 1 trio Haplochromis
2 Julidochromis (larger species)
1 Synodontis Catfish
1 medium sized Plecostomus

You are mixing lakes, agression levels and dietary requirements. The peacocks could go together. The Mbuna can go together. The Haps you listed are very aggressive and need a 6' tank. Julidochromis and Eretmodus andcan go together they are from lake Tanganyika. Snyodontis do best in schools.

I would go back and do some more research, also when listing the names we need both parts of the names like " Julidochromis Ornatus"

 

[Mr.Pleco]

Canister hold allot of extra volume and are very versatile, I have a feeling the GPH of all the filters are extremely exaggerated, i have used canisters and HOB. Canisters win it for me every time hands down.The only HOB I really like are the aquaclears.

UGF shouldn't be used with sand.




You are mixing lakes, agression levels and dietary requirements. The peacocks could go together. The Mbuna can go together. The Haps you listed are very aggressive and need a 6' tank. Julidochromis and Eretmodus andcan go together they are from lake Tanganyika. Snyodontis do best in schools.

I would go back and do some more research, also when listing the names we need both parts of the names like " Julidochromis Ornatus"

I found a Fluval 405 on Amazon for $140 so that is a very good possibility.
I've been wanting to get rid of my ufg..the tubes are getting dirty and it's a pain to clean.
I'm about to head to the store to look for sand and see what cichlids are at the lfs. I know the list is broad, I found it online and I wrote down all the names just so I had them when I go. I'll let you know what I find so I can start clearing up the list and get specific.

 

[Mr.Pleco]

After checking out the non chain lfs I found:

Lake Malawi:
Aulonocara sp."Eureka"
Iodotrophues sprengerae "Rusty"
Labeotropheus fuelleborni
Labidochromis sp. "Perlmutt"
Labidochromis caeruleus "Lemon / Electric Yellow"
Melanochromis auratus
Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos
Nimbochromis polystigma
Nimbochromis venustus
Placidochromis electra "Deep Water Hap"
Protomelas sp. "Red Empress”
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
Pseudotropheus saulosi
Pseudotropheus socolofi

There were also a few tanks of "assorted" peacocks. Wasn't sure if those were hybrids or not...

Lake Tanganyika:
Julidochromis dickfeldi
Julidochromis marlieri

Lake Victoria:
Pelvicachromis pulcher "Krib"


Hopefully this helps? I'm still looking at aggression levels and diets.

 

[toddnbecka]

Too big and/or aggressive for your tank:
Aulonocara sp."Eureka"
Melanochromis auratus
Nimbochromis polystigma
Nimbochromis venustus
Placidochromis electra "Deep Water Hap"
Protomelas sp. "Red Empress”
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
Assorted peacocks could ba anything, hybrids or not though most really need at least a 75.
Kribensis aren't from Lake Victoria, they're African river cichlids.

 

[Mr.Pleco]

Too big and/or aggressive for your tank:
Aulonocara sp."Eureka"
Melanochromis auratus
Nimbochromis polystigma
Nimbochromis venustus
Placidochromis electra "Deep Water Hap"
Protomelas sp. "Red Empress”
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei"
Assorted peacocks could ba anything, hybrids or not though most really need at least a 75.
Kribensis aren't from Lake Victoria, they're African river cichlids.

So....
Out of the few that are left, can I make something work?

 

[Mr.Pleco]

Good water for African cichlids. I'd collect a good number of rocks for the scape and stock 3 groups of smaller mbuna.
Saulosi are easy to find, and with the blue males/yellow females add a double shot of color to the tank:
Species Profiles -- Cichlid-Forum

I recently picked up a group of perlmutts, they're another smaller and less aggressive mbuna:
Species Profiles -- Cichlid-Forum

I'm still looking around for the specific variant of the afra I want (there are at least 18, from different collection points), will grab some when I find them for a good price. Here's a general profile:
Species Profiles -- Cichlid-Forum

There are a couple other species you could mix and match, these are what I'm thinking to stock in a 75 with some peacocks after I get the 220 up and running. If you want a really active and eye-popping display you could stock 12-15 demasoni and 5-6 yellow Lab's in the tank. The demasoni are extremely conspecific-aggressive, and need to be kept in a large enough group to spread it around. Stocking 4-6 will result in 1 that has killed off the others. The yellow Lab's aren't nearly as rough, but still mix well with the demasoni simply because they look too different.
Species Profiles -- Cichlid-Forum
Species Profiles -- Cichlid-Forum

Don't know why I forgot about your post. You answered my question...sorry about that.
So can yellow labs mix with salousi, perlmutts, or arfa?
or am I better off with 12-15 demasoni and 5-6 yellow Lab's?

 

[Mogurako]

Lake Malawi:
Iodotrophues sprengerae "Rusty"
Labidochromis caeruleus
Pseudotropheus saulosi


Lake Tanganyika:
Julidochromis dickfeldi
Julidochromis marlieri

Would be ones I think would work in that tank. Rusty and Saulosi or Rusty and yellow lab. Either of the julis but not with the Mbunas.

 

[Mogurako]

Don't know why I forgot about your post. You answered my question...sorry about that.
So can yellow labs mix with salousi, perlmutts, or arfa?
or am I better off with 12-15 demasoni and 5-6 yellow Lab's?

If going with Mbuna I would only put in 10 fish.

 

[Mr.Pleco]

Thanks! My head has been hurting from all this research.

out of rusty and saulosi or rusty and labs, which would allow me to stock more? and how many of each?

 

[Mogurako]

Thanks! My head has been hurting from all this research.

out of rusty and saulosi or rusty and labs, which would allow me to stock more? and how many of each?

Same amount 1 male and 4 female of each, so 10.

 

[Mr.Pleco]

Lake Malawi:
Iodotrophues sprengerae "Rusty"
Labidochromis caeruleus
Pseudotropheus saulosi


Lake Tanganyika:
Julidochromis dickfeldi
Julidochromis marlieri

Would be ones I think would work in that tank. Rusty and Saulosi or Rusty and yellow lab. Either of the julis but not with the Mbunas.

And if I went with Juli's?

 

[Mogurako]

About the same, I would start with like 10-12, they will pair/trio off and kick some out of the group so you may have to rehome some. I would shoot for 6-8 of those.

 

[Mr.Pleco]

About the same, I would start with like 10-12, they will pair/trio off and kick some out of the group so you may have to rehome some. I would shoot for 6-8 of those.

So you think I'd have less problems with Mbuna?
Since I don't have another tank to rehome them too as of now, I'm looking at all angles trying to see how I can rearrange my room and add a 100 or 110g tank.

 

[Mogurako]

You can always have problems with Mbuna too. I say either is a good choice, and who knows maybe all your fish will get along. My julis seem to get along pretty well.

 

[Mr.Pleco]

What kind of filler fish would work with juli's or Mbuna?

 

[Mogurako]

What kind of filler fish would work with juli's or Mbuna?

Mbuna pretty much just by themselves. I guess for the Julis you could go with some fast medium sized tetra that are ok with slightly harder water.