Stocking help for a 450 gallon Mbuna Cichlid tank

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Ari7667

Ari7667

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 2, 2018
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I have been researching for my Lake Malawi Mbuna Cichlid tank and what to stock it with. I have four so far that I am pretty sure will work and I know we want. I was going to take the lazy way out and get a bunch of those four, but then I went to my LFS and saw the beauty in the variety they had and decided it was worth it. If anyone has any help for me as I navigate through the tons of options that would be much appreciated. I am not buying fish now because I am still getting the tank cycled.

So far my plan is (Don't pay attention to the amount)
AquStockImage.php


My PH has been hanging out around 8, and I have a lot of Holey rocks and fake plants in the tank for decor. Hardy, colorful, and a little on the peaceful side would be preferable. Yes, I am going to attempt adding crayfish (I know some say no but I have seen so many cases where it works). Also, my heart is not set on the Pleco choice just that I do want a pleco or two if you have a suggestion of which pleco would work best that would be lovely.

Thank you for your help
 
Your list should work fine for a 450 gallon tank. An addition I might make would be trewavasae. Adds the unique mouth shape to the mix.
The gibbiceps pleco would work fine but I had a huge one that didn't eat much algae. I usually recommend bristlenose because they do a good job on the algae even as adults in my experience. I'd get 3 or 4 of them.
 
Thank you for the advice. I'll look up the trewavasae. I believe the ones I have are all blue and yellow. I liked those colors but wanted more variety. I have the bristlenose in my 180 gallons and they do not get very big. I guess my worry is that because they are small they would get eaten. I could be wrong though. I will look into them some more though. I'd like the pleco for the fun of having them as well for the algae. This tank is too deep to easy get stuff out and clean them often.
 
Gourami Swami said:
Your list should work fine for a 450 gallon tank. An addition I might make would be trewavasae. Adds the unique mouth shape to the mix.
The gibbiceps pleco would work fine but I had a huge one that didn't eat much algae. I usually recommend bristlenose because they do a good job on the algae even as adults in my experience. I'd get 3 or 4 of them.
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I looked up the trewavasae, and there is a variety of them would I be able to use anything within that type?
 
There are plenty of color variants but all of the labeotropheus trewavasae will be the same in care. The bristlenose I have kept with mbuna in a 90 gallon, and it worked out, though in a 450 I could see if you wanted a bigger pleco. The gibbiceps would work too. I wouldn't do any fancy plecos, the africans like a high pH/harder water and most plecos like it low and soft, but the common ones like BN and gibbiceps, common etc are pretty adaptable.
 
Gourami Swami said:
There are plenty of color variants but all of the labeotropheus trewavasae will be the same in care. The bristlenose I have kept with mbuna in a 90 gallon, and it worked out, though in a 450 I could see if you wanted a bigger pleco. The gibbiceps would work too. I wouldn't do any fancy plecos, the africans like a high pH/harder water and most plecos like it low and soft, but the common ones like BN and gibbiceps, common etc are pretty adaptable.
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Oh, nice! I am excited about those guys. Also, I would imagine I could put bristlenose and gubbiceps together? I figured a common pleco would be my go-to if nothing else came up. Guess I like having something different lol.
Thank you.
 
Gibbiceps might bully the smaller BN but in a 450 with lots of rocks I bet they'll be fine. If you don't get much algae you might have to feed them wafers or cucumber etc.
 
Gourami Swami said:
Gibbiceps might bully the smaller BN but in a 450 with lots of rocks I bet they'll be fine. If you don't get much algae you might have to feed them wafers or cucumber etc.
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I'm worried about the size of the gibbiceps. I know we have space but because I am planning on the crayfish and Mbunas I have a lot of rock and there really is no open space on the bottom for the big guy to move around. I was also thinking a crayfish and pleco would probably not be a good mix. Being they are both bottom dwellers.

Here is how my tank is set up.

IMG_0342.jpg
 
That is an 8x2x4'? Setup looks great, tank doesn't look as big but could just be the picture. I don't have much experience with crayfish. Not sure if it would bother the plecos tbh.
 
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