Consolidation of multiple aquariums

[nossalucard]

Hey All,

I wanted to ask if anyone has done what I'm contemplating for this spring. As of late I've found myself tired of dealing with multiple mid size tanks in my fully finished basement, and considering a consolidation to one large tank.

I currently have 2-55's, 1-65, 3-40b's, 2 20L's, 1-75, and 1-29g.

I am considering getting 1- 300Gallon (24H x 120L x 24D), but my concerns are of course will the fish get along. As long as I've been keeping cichlids (+25 years), I always wanted multiple tanks for management of aggression. Well that I've had that for just over a year, I'd really like to see them all together, with adequate hiding places for the smaller ones of course. I tried an "experiment last month and put them all upstairs(OVERCROWDED ON PURPOSE with NO HIDING PLACES) in the 75. That lasted about 3 days, until the big devil decided to start clearing house. Luckily no-one was killed.

StockList:

1 - 7 to 8 inch ? BlackDiamond (Large spot) Tilapia
1- 8 to 9 inch Male Red Devil (In 75 by himself due to SEVERE anger management issues..LOL)
1- 6 to 7 inch Male Flowerhorn
1- 4 inch Flowerhorn
1 - 3 inch Texas (Carpintas)
4- 4 to 6 inch Geophagus Brasillianis (2 have recently bred in 40L by themselves)
1- 3 to 4 inch veiltail convict hybrid (small BUT SNEAKY 'LIL BASTARD)
1- 4 to 5 inch Male Red Devil
1- 4 to 5 inch Female Midas
6- 3-5 inch Firemouths

For filtration, would use the BRAND NEW UNOPENED IN BOX FX5 & FX6 in addition to recently purchased NEW IN UNOPENED BOX Eheim 2262 . I will also have available(for quick INSTACYCLE) 2 -(1 in use now) SunSun 304B and unopened 404B if required, and the 7 currently operating Hydrosponge filters hooked to AP100 airpump.

I would love to have input from those that have tried the same, with good or BAD results.

Thanks!

 

[dan518]

Mixing male and female doesn't work out very often, seen all male, or all female community tanks work, still comes down to luck,

 

[dan518]

I would get your big tank and keep a few of your other tanks up and running then you can add or take out fish till you have a workable stock

 

[nossalucard]

I would get your big tank and keep a few of your other tanks up and running then you can add or take out fish till you have a workable stock

Hey Thanks Dan, I was kinda planing on keeping AT LEAST the 2-55's which are already split into 2 using egg crate lighting diffuser down the middle, and possibly the 65 which is also split the same way.

I may tear the others down, but I wont get rid of any of the tanks right away(except maybe the 20'L's and 29). I also kinda have a "thing" for 40 breeders anyway., they're just the perfect size footprint for juvie cichlids , and setting up mini reef (all softies/clams) saltwater tanks, which I'm considering getting back into as well......eventually.

As much as I like saltwater(Reef and Fowler) too, Reef salt is TOO expensive(to me) to set up anything over 40-75 gallons. I did it once with a 125 for 3 years, and water changes get extremely expensive, even using the Vodka method with a high end Deltec skimmer to help mitigate nitrates(whole ''nuther story).....

I wish we could truly find a way to totally eradicate nitrates EASILY for salt and fresh....

Dreaming, I know.... Maybe one day someone will come up with the magic bullet

 

[Allan01230]

you have some really mild cichlids such as geos and firemouths, Then you have some bruisers red devils midas and flowehorn, I would think you would have promblems as that is what cichlids do. I got more into schooling fish as I was tired of dead fish due to cichlid agression . I do miss my Vieja cichlids though.

 

[dan518]

I know what you mean, year's ago I had a 120 fowlr and that started getting expensive on water change day

 

[ehh]

thats a big tank, it could work out. look at justarn's 300. he has had some rowdy bunches in there without them killing each other.

 

[joe jaskot]

Putting all those fish together in a big tank will be hit or miss. Most likely you will end up with some dead fish, and a couple of bruisers.