55 gal suggestions

[RLHam3]

Hey, so I've had a few breeding jewels in a 55 with a 4" senegal bichir up until a few weeks ago when both males died. I cleared out the tank which now just houses the bichir and a pair of bristlenose plecos

I've really been considering turning this tank into an african tank. I have about 200 gallons devoted towards south/central american (specifically cichlids) and have kept and bred fish for the past 8 years or so. I feel that I'm ready to try a larger african tank. When i was first getting into the hobby, i had about 10 mbuna in a 30 gal for about a year and a half who all did fine, until i eventually sold them.

the tank is a standard 55, with a penn-plax cascade canister 100. The substrate is PFS for now, but i picked up 20lbs of crushed coral yesterday. I also have a few peieces of slate, lavastone, porus rocks. (but i can collect/boil rocks from my backyard too) The main thing that I would like to know is what fish/lake should i look at if i'd like to try to leave the bichir in? (the plecos would be relocated)

Like I said earlier, i've only tried africans one time before, so i don't have much experience with these and would appreciate any advice.

 

[RLHam3]

PS- i know that the bichir would eat any young the parents had, but i would be willing to remove the young/pregnant mothers/eggs into grow out tanks. The bichir will eventually go into a larger south american tank when he's big enough

 

[Mokujin22]

Glad you're thinking of giving Africans a spin again.

Some basic setups that would work for a 55:

-Single male Malawi haps/peacocks
-2-3 breeding groups of mbuna
-2-3 breeding groups of small haps/peacocks (limit 1 peacock type)
-1 breeding group of Tropheus
-Tang community (pick 2 or 3 - small Cyps, sand sifters, mild featherfins, shellies, rock dwellers)
-1 breeding group of Vics (maybe two if the are very different and not super angry types)

Just about any of these would work. Each has pros and cons, varying startup costs and levels of activity/color/behavior. Pick something that you're interested in and we'll help you further narrow down species.

 

[RLHam3]

i've been looking at the mbuna on aquabid in the 2-3" range and i like what i see. would some pick at the bichir more that others? She's still kinda small and i'm worried about her eyes and nostrils. I'll try to post a pic...

 

[saeed415]

if ur interested in peacocks, id get a few OB peacocks very nice orange, and black colors..i have 2 right now they seem to be doing fine in my 55g tank which is a mixed african cichlid tank, i also have 2 other peacocks im not sure what the name is but theyre a brownish, and a little black..but anyways goodluck with ur tank.

 

[RLHam3]

anyone have an opinion on Metriaclima greshakei?

 

[Corey123]

Go For Peacock/Hap's their color is great in the males and I find them to be less aggressive, also you can sell males for a good price if you breed them.

And the option past Metriaclima greshakei would be Metricalima Mbenji- Males blue and the females depending on where they are collected can be OB exclusively had a great breeding group two years ago of WC.

Corey