250 litre stocking

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Leobarri

Leobarri

Black Skirt Tetra
MFK Member
Jun 13, 2020
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Scotland
So after realising that a 105 litre tank was tiny I've upgraded to a 250 I know still small for you hardcore cichlid guys but on a budget lol. I've done loads of research on lake Malawi and looking at the smaller demasoni etc. Now looking on YouTube and Google there seems a lot of diff numbers on amount u can have in the tank. Can someone pls help on numbers and variety I can have in this size tank. Tank size is 100cm x 50cm x 50cm
 
If you've never kept mbuna, I wouldn't start with demasoni. They can take awhile to get the right ratio and you'll have to constantly watch for extra males, bullied fish, or overly aggressive fish.

Saulosi is an easier option for a smaller tank and will allow you to have 2 colors, since males and females look different.
 
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Because the tank is about 39" long I would stick to peaceful, dwarf mbuna. Saulosi is the perfect choice. Stock by length, not by gallons or litres.
 
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Saulosi was on my list so thanks for advice. Any advice on a good starting amount for that length
 
Do you have the tank cycled? What is your timeframe to get fish in the tank? Are you looking to purchase juvie or adults?
 
Maybe some peacocks you like, snow white socolofi, acei, maingano, think they might not be as aggressive as some others.
 
Looking at stocking in about 2 to 3 weeks as will have to put a order in as it's my local garden centre that stock the fish, plus need ta cycle the tank, I'll use some water from my 105 litre tank to give it a head start. Gonna run an external 1000l/pH filter 300 watt heater, will this b enough?
 
I have never had luck with peacocks in less than 48". Socolofi and maingano are too aggressive for a 40" tank IME. Acei are peaceful but large...recommend 75G or more for them.

Water will not help your cycle, but you could use the filter media from your established tank. If you divide it in half will you have enough to support the fish in both tanks without a cycle?

If you cycle from scratch with no fish and ammonia (always reliable), allow six weeks.

300 watts sounds too much, think in terms of 3 watts per gallon (66 gallons).

Filtration go for 8X to 10X gallons per hour turnover.
 
Adding on to what DJransome said you could also move over substrate and decor exc as that also will contain large amounts of bacteria the water column contains very little
 
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Gone for 7 saulosi 5 normal and 2 coral. If I run a already established filter in it will that b enough to get bacteria up, its an aquael internal plus may transfer rock from another tank. Will run it empty for at least a week anyway. I'm really new to cichlids so learning. Have an acara atm on his own and staying that way as his a bruiser lol
 
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