135g African stock list... opinions please

[mikeross]

I wanted to get some opinions on my current stock list for a 135gal. I know its quite the mix but I was hoping to get a discussion going regarding possible problems that may occur.

The 135gal will house these fish until I can start my next project which is a 300+ gal setup. It will probably be finished within the year. Ideally I would love a 96x36x30 tank, if I can track down a used one; but its most likely going to be a 96x24x30 which is an easier tank size to locate used. So within the year or so I will be moving all these fish into their final home which will be at least a 300gal.

I plan to buy the majority of these fish as juveniles, just big enough to confirm sex. The only fish that will be large are the mobas and blue dolphins… Mobas being about 6-9” and the dolphins around 5-7”, everything else only big enough to confirm males.

8 saulosi 2m/6f
3 yellow tail acei
3 blue dolphin 1m/2f
3 clown loach
3 Moba frontosa 1m/2f
1 Nimbochromis venustus male
1 Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus male
1 buccochromis Nototaenia male
1 Placidochromis sp.Phenochilus Tanzania male
1 Placidochromis Phenochilis mdoka male
1 Protomelas sp.Spilonotus Tanzania male
1 Protomelas taeniolatus male
1 Chilotilapia rhoadesii male
1 Exochromis anagenys male
1 Aulonocara sp.Lwanda
1 Aulonocara Baenschi
1 Aulonocara Stuartgranti flametail

I plan to to start a tank journal with lots of pics of the process. I am currently building a DIY stand, canopy and filtration with a write up with pics to follow. I want to wait till the doors and moldings where on the stand before starting the journal so look out for it.

All comments and suggestions are much appreciated... thanks.

 

[Robulus153]

Don't you hate when you post and get nothing?!

Posting pictures always gets people talking but i understand why you are waiting. I like the list of fish but why the mbuna? I personaly hate their aggression and will never forgive the acei for getting in a fatal fight with my breeding placidocrhomis jalo reef. The only hap i can see as a problem is the Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus which is extremely aggressive. I have two of them and they are the top dogs. They haven't messed with other fish as much as i feared but they still worry me. They say moba's like more company and the dolhphines can be aggressive suprisingly enough. If you wanted to midigate all possible problem child fish i would say drop the mbuna, fusco and be careful of the dolphines which are hit or miss.

 

[GVerde]

I wouldn't put the mbunas either. They will just stress and harass your peacocks and haps causing them bloat. I also would not put the nimbo fusco in there either. Had a couple of them and had to get rid of them because all they did was cause trouble with fighting with all the inhabitants. I also had a problem with a 8" Protomelas taeniolatus "Red Empress". He was fine when he was a juvenile but when he matured he became very aggressive had to get rid of him. Blue dolphins can get aggressive at maturity. Other than that your stock looks fine.

 

[mikeross]

I have had all the above fish, minus the mbuna, in a 6ft tank a few years back with no issues. I wanted to add the acei because I found some really nice local ones. They are a light purple with bright yellow tails... most of the adult ones I see online turn very dark purple which I dont like. They seemed peaceful in the community tank I saw them in. I want the saulosi to add some bright solid yellow into the tank. I am not a fan of yellow labs and like the yellow female saulosi.

Can anyone recommend a yellow african thats a solid yellow and peaceful.

A big priority for me in this tank is different colors and shapes of fish. I didnt want a tank full of blue africans with all similar shapes... thus the stock list. I have some pics of the progress thus far posted on a local website. I will post them up here later tonight.

 

[mikeross]

Here are some progress shots of the stand and canopy build. The picture of the 4' tank is the inspiration for my stand/canopy build... hope to have mine look identical to this one only 6 footer.

I like a marine look with in my african tank. The holey rock I have been collecting for years, same with the dead corals. I know most african keepers frown on the marine look in an african tank but I dig it.

 

[RojoM]

That is crazy! Good looking set up

 

[RojoM]

If you can build a canopy like that would make that tank look incredible. The coral and marine look is different but i see why you dig it