All male 72” long tank choices

[Eric1115]

Ok, thank you everyone for all the help. One more question, do any of your Haps jump out of the tank? My large 7+ plus Fosso just jump out of the tank, luckily my wife happened to be there and saw it, it’s back in the tank and only out for like a minute. Hopefully it didn’t do too much damage. Falling 6 feet down and dry for a minute got to do some damage I imagine.

I do have most part of the the top of my tank covered but the are small part of it not and I am shock it jump through that space.

It’s the dominant male and no one harassed it. Water parameter is good.

Thanks

 

[Eric1115]

Eric I hate to say it but I don’t think there is a definitive answer to your question. Pretty sure you know every tank and every fish is different. Combinations that work In My tank may be a disaster in yours. My personal opinion is stock as you want. The more volume of water the better. But be prepared to move stock as needed.

Ok, I think I will do a 300 deep and just move all the larger hap into it and leave all the smaller and mid size one in the 125.

That would be 10 large fish, is there room for few more, like a Livingstonii, Cuda and Tyrannochromis nigriventer or this is pretty stocked for a 72” 300, I know it’s trial and error everyone’s tank and fish is different but hoping to hear someone who did this with long term successes so at least I know it could work.

Fosso
Fusco
Venustus
Exo
Trout
Gar
Eyebiter
Hawk
Bucco Noto
VC 10

Then that leaves the 125 with 15 fish which I think is fully stocked

Red Empress
Mdoka White Lips
Deep Water Haps
Johnstoni
Spilonotus Mara Rock
Z Rock Yellow Blaze
Albino Taiwan Reef
Star Sapphire
Frieyer White Knight
Azerus
Intermius
Borleyi
OB Red Empress
Protomelas Imperial Tigress
Otopharynx Heterodon Royal Blue


Thanks

 

[A201]

Eric, you could probably shoehorn all 25 Haps in a 300 gal. if all started together as juveniles, and you are up to all the maintenence & adjustments.
I really can't think of anybody on the forums that I follow who have taken on such an XL Hap community.
Some of the big YouTubers have huge tanks with Haps. Hope things work out & post pics.

 

[DJRansome]

 

[Eric1115]

Eric, you could probably shoehorn all 25 Haps in a 300 gal. if all started together as juveniles, and you are up to all the maintenence & adjustments.
I really can't think of anybody on the forums that I follow who have taken on such an XL Hap community.
Some of the big YouTubers have huge tanks with Haps. Hope things work out & post pics.

Ok thanks

 

[james99]

I have a 125, at one point I think I was around 25 fish. This included a good bit of larger fish, like compressiceps, buccochromis, rhampsochromis, fosso, and a few different nimbus. There was also a bunch of smaller guys like peacocks and electra.

You just have to balance the number of fish and space you have, you want the fish to still swim around and have space to look natural. The last thing you want is a tank where the fish are just hovering in one spot and cant move without bumping into others.

You'll also have to do bigger water changes, I was draining all the way down to about 5" of water weekly. Filtration was an fx6, fx6, and rena xp3.

I'm not sure he's still around, but S Steve_C had a 240 that was pretty heavily stocked.

 

[Eric1115]

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I have a 125, at one point I think I was around 25 fish. This included a good bit of larger fish, like compressiceps, buccochromis, rhampsochromis, fosso, and a few different nimbus. There was also a bunch of smaller guys like peacocks and electra.

You just have to balance the number of fish and space you have, you want the fish to still swim around and have space to look natural. The last thing you want is a tank where the fish are just hovering in one spot and cant move without bumping into others.

You'll also have to do bigger water changes, I was draining all the way down to about 5" of water weekly. Filtration was an fx6, fx6, and rena xp3.

I'm not sure he's still around, but S Steve_C had a 240 that was pretty heavily stocked.

Thanks James, I have a sump for filtration with the 125 and do 50% WC twice per week. The nitrate is usually around 5-10 by the time I do WC but the fish are not full grown yet. I am definitely not planning to house 25 fish in a 125 long term but if it worked for you in a 125, then a 300 (will get a sump also) sounds possible and split the 25 between the 125 and 300 definitely sounds workable.

Can I ask how big did your fish got to in your 125 before you switch? I assume you no longer have them since you said you have it at one point?
Were they full adult for juvenile?

 

[Shark75]

I think 25 in the 300 is reasonable. Think it's more about the length of the larger haps and if there's enough swimming room lengthwise. I get what DJ says about length being way more important than height or width and agree to a certain degree. The larger haps like Buccos, Fossies, Champs etc seem to have unlimited energy and need that length to be able to get up to full speed. So when you have a 16 inch fish with that kind of energy in a 72 inch long tank is that enough room? I had a 10 inch Fossie in a 7 foot tank years ago and sometimes I felt like it was too small. The added depth of the 300 at least allows more room so the fish can swim lengthwise and not have to constantly bang into each other like they would in a 125 which is half as deep. Obviously, people are keeping these fish in 6 foot tanks. Not everyone has the money, room or skill to keep tanks much larger than 300 gallons. And that is a nice sized tank as it is. I'm curious as to the long term success people have had with these larger haps in 6 foot tanks and really the all male hap/ peacock in general. Is it a constant stress for the fishkeeper to have to remove fish at the bottom of the pecking order because they are getting injured or sick? When that fish gets taken out does the next weakest one have the same thing happen? Would love to hear about tanks that have been in existence for 5+ years that are for the most part balanced and peaceful. Sorry if I hijacked this thread a little, probably should start my own post.

Edit: when I say peaceful that is relatively speaking as it relates to cichlids

 

[Eric1115]

I think 25 in the 300 is reasonable. Think it's more about the length of the larger haps and if there's enough swimming room lengthwise. I get what DJ says about length being way more important than height or width and agree to a certain degree. The larger haps like Buccos, Fossies, Champs etc seem to have unlimited energy and need that length to be able to get up to full speed. So when you have a 16 inch fish with that kind of energy in a 72 inch long tank is that enough room? I had a 10 inch Fossie in a 7 foot tank years ago and sometimes I felt like it was too small. The added depth of the 300 at least allows more room so the fish can swim lengthwise and not have to constantly bang into each other like they would in a 125 which is half as deep. Obviously, people are keeping these fish in 6 foot tanks. Not everyone has the money, room or skill to keep tanks much larger than 300 gallons. And that is a nice sized tank as it is. I'm curious as to the long term success people have had with these larger haps in 6 foot tanks and really the all male hap/ peacock in general. Is it a constant stress for the fishkeeper to have to remove fish at the bottom of the pecking order because they are getting injured or sick? When that fish gets taken out does the next weakest one have the same thing happen? Would love to hear about tanks that have been in existence for 5+ years that are for the most part balanced and peaceful. Sorry if I hijacked this thread a little, probably should start my own post.

Edit: when I say peaceful that is relatively speaking as it relates to cichlids

YES, that is exactly what I am trying to figure out. Thank you Shark. I obvious care very much about these fish and want to give them the proper home that I can provide within reasonable investment and efforts. I know bigger is always better and I will love to get a tank like what DJ shared, but if I can get away with 300, I wouldn't go get a 500, and if I can get away with a 180, I wouldn't go get a 300, etc. even if I can for these fish. Trying to fit their minimum or better than minimum space requirement, hope I am expressing it correctly. Hope that make sense. Based on what you said, it does sounds like 6 foot tank might be a little short for these large fish and even 7 foot seems no long enough. Then the question becomes is 8 foot or 9 foot really long enough to make them truly happy.

I am trying to find the most affordable and realistic options that I can find that would allow me to keep these fishes long term and thriving. Based on everything I am hearing so far, it doesn't sound like there is an definite answer.

I was looking at 6 footer and 8 footer and didn't realize there are 7 footer. Will check and see maybe there is a away to squeeze a 7 footer in.

I realize maybe I am asking a question that simply has no answer but really just hoping to have someone who the actual experience, good or bad to share.

Thanks

 

[Eric1115]

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Definitely something I would love to have if one day I get a house like this. LOL Would be dream come true but plus few more tanks.