What Would You Choose For 220gl Tank?

[trublu]

Hello,

Like others here, im venturing into cichlids for the first time and have just spent way too long on various forums,to the point where ive just confused myself.

I have a 7ft 220 gallon tank that im in the process of setting up and am finding it very difficult to choose a selection of fish for this tank.I'm wanting to go slow with this as to avoid to many mistakes. I want to go for striking colours,but dont want to overlook any possible species,so what would you choose and to "control" aggression how many would you suggest?

Many thanks

Tim

 

[E3ramirez]

hmmm well depends what TYPE of cichlids you want.

 

[trublu]

Hiya,

thanks for reply. Thats my problem, I just keep changing my mind....actually thats not totally true.I guess its not knowing what will go with what and my unfamilarity is giving me headaches. I think I will just go to lfs,and make a list of possibles,and ask advice.This may sound weird but will help expain what im trying to achieve.

When I was a boy I walked into a relatives study to see a massive,cant remember actual size but to an 8 yr old it was huge!!!,possibly 8/10 ft reef tank, back in Sydney Australia,and from that day on ,hooked. I cant afford to set up the 220 as marine so im wanting to create a cichlid set up as close to marine as possible.Does that make sense?

cheers

Tim

 

[dthoffsett]

I'm guessing you're interested in the cichlids of Lake Malawi, what you need to choose is if you like haps (larger generally carnivorous), peacocks (colorful medium size), or mbuna (brightly colored, smaller, herbivorous). So, at the bottom I'll add a few articles for you to browse and see what you are interested in. If you plan to buy your fish from the fish store, I'd suggest writing down all the fish that interest you, then post them on here and we can help you set up stocking.

You have an excellent size tank for cichlids and stocking should be pretty easy once you decide the type you want to go with. Hope this helps. Dawn

[URL="http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-Old-World-Cichlids/27706/The-Mbuna-Aquarium/"]http/www.fishforums.net/content/African-...Mbuna-Aquarium/[/URL]
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/rift_lake_setup.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/rift_lake_setup.php[/URL]
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/lake_malawi_setup.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/lake_malawi_setup.php[/URL]
[URL="http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/haps_vs_mbuna.php"]http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/haps_vs_mbuna.php[/URL]

 

[Colin_T]

go for peacocks (Aulonocara sp) and Protomelis sp, Opthalmotilapia ventralis, Sulpha crested lithobates (sorry can't remember the genus name of it) and a school of synodontis catfish.
Get a male of each type of cichllid and soon you will have a brightly coloured tank without too much aggression.

Avoid mbuna sp (zebras and related species) coz they are a pain.

 

[trublu]

Dawn,

Thanks for replying, since you have a quote by "Hawk Eye" (big mash fan!!) your advice will be good!

I shall read those over the next few days, and will visit local lfs's and make a list. I was drawn to Lake Malwais in the very beginning,so that looks like a good place to start.I must drag myself away from pc,way past bedtime.

Many thanks

Tim

P.s Colin,thanks as well.much appreciated.

 

[Ferris]

In a tank that size - i'd be tempted to go with a Tanganyikan setup. Something centered around a colony of Frontosa with some Calvus and maybe even some Tropheus species. Throw in some native Synodontis species to help create a really nice biotope - Quite challenging but ultimately very rewarding.

I think Mbuna would lose their identity in a tank that large - sure it would look colourful but there might be a lack of individual personalities due to the stocking levels. IMO Mbuna work much better in tanks under 100 gals or so.

 

[WaterBender1995]

personally I'd go for some Benthochromis tricoti (kambwimba) and a big school of Paracyprichromis nigripinnis, maybe some shelldwellers for the bottom strata. But thats just me B)

 

[dthoffsett]

I think Mbuna would lose their identity in a tank that large - sure it would look colourful but there might be a lack of individual personalities due to the stocking levels. IMO Mbuna work much better in tanks under 100 gals or so.

You'll be disappointed in me then. I'm moving towards the end of summer and plan to have a custom 300-500 gallon tank built when I buy a house (size will depend on space available). I'm planning to stock with mbuna, IMO they are far more interesting to watch in larger groups, sure you lose some individuality, but you really get to see their group interaction.


Though I have to say Tim if you can get them, a large Tanganikya tank would be pretty stunning.

 

[the_evil_duboisi]

I would do a "wet pet" with a single Boulengerochromis microlepis........Awesome sharklike fish.

Please don't sue me It may not even be possible

 

[Ferris]

I think Mbuna would lose their identity in a tank that large - sure it would look colourful but there might be a lack of individual personalities due to the stocking levels. IMO Mbuna work much better in tanks under 100 gals or so.

You'll be disappointed in me then. I'm moving towards the end of summer and plan to have a custom 300-500 gallon tank built when I buy a house (size will depend on space available). I'm planning to stock with mbuna, IMO they are far more interesting to watch in larger groups, sure you lose some individuality, but you really get to see their group interaction.


Though I have to say Tim if you can get them, a large Tanganikya tank would be pretty stunning.

haha - me and my big mouth

It's a personal preference thing - if i see a big tank, i just wanna put big fish in it.

Large Mbuna tanks look stunning though - no question!

 

[dthoffsett]

haha - me and my big mouth

It's a personal preference thing - if i see a big tank, i just wanna put big fish in it.

Large Mbuna tanks look stunning though - no question!

I'll make sure I do a journal thread on it and maybe I can change your mind.

 

[trublu]

Hiya,


Have done a little bit of reading and have looked at the profiles here. I'm leaning towards Lake Malawi's and below is a list just from the profiles here.Just need advice on what goes with what. I will put an asterix to my favourite ones.

1.Yellow tail Acei *
2.Electric blue johanni
3.Electric Yellow
4.Jewel Cichlid
5.Kenyi- aggression maybe an issue?
6.Red top Trewavasae*
7.Cobalt*
8.Powder Blue
9.Elongatus Mbenji Yellow Tail
10.Pseudotropheus Demasoni
11.Rusty*
12.Saulosi
13.Elongatus Mpanga
14.Zebra Long Pelvic

Please excuse my spelling, but the above is the first list.Will research alot more,but what do you think so far?

 

[dthoffsett]

1.Yellow tail Acei *
Pseudotropheus acei, excellent species, mbuna, herbivore, fairly peaceful, they spend most of their time in the open towards the top of the tank.
2.Electric blue johanni
Melanochromis johanni, mbuna, herbivore, aggressive, least aggressive melanochromis species, shouldn't be too much of a problem in a larger tank like yours.
3.Electric Yellow
Labidochromis caeruleus mbuna, herbivore, one of the most peaceful mbuna, tolerated by almost all species, even the more aggressive ones.
4.Jewel Cichlid
Hemichromis guttatus,riverine species, carnivore, not compatable with mbuna due to their (the mbuna) high aggression levels.
5.Kenyi- aggression maybe an issue?
Metriaclima lombardoi, mbuna, herbivore, while they are aggressive, they should be ok in a large tank.
6.Red top Trewavasae*
Labeotropheus trewavasae (Zimbawe), mbuna, herbivore, aggressive, again a larger tank gives you a little more leeway.
7.Cobalt*
Metriaclima callainos, one of my favorites, mbuna, herbivore, mildly aggressive
8.Powder Blue
Pseudotropheus socolofi, mbuna, herbivore, mildly aggressive

10.Pseudotropheus Demasoni
Mbuna, herbivore, great species, avoid any other species that look similar (blue background with dark vertical stripes), due to high conspecific aggression they do best in groups of 12+, or just a single specimen.
11.Rusty*
Iodotropheus sprengerae, mbuna, herbivore, another mostly peaceful species
12.Saulosi
Pseudotropheus saulosi, mbuna, herbivore, mildly aggressive
13.Elongatus Mpanga
Pseudotropheus sp. "Elongatus Mpanga", mbuna, herbivore, mildly aggressive

Hope that helps some. -Dawn

 

[Colin_T]

most of the fish in the list are agro. Jewel cuichlids aren't rift lake cichlids either so if you're trying for a biotope tank they will have to come out.