How Many Africans in a 55g?

[Bderick67]

Well this is my first atempt at african cichlids. I get to aquascape and maintain the tank but the wife and daughter will be picking the fish. They want some O.B. peacocks. My question is how many is a good stocking number for this tank. Filtration is a emp 280 and a wet/dry sump rated for 50 to 80 gallons.

Thanks for your help and suggestion.

 

[Druu]

.

 

[RDFISHGUY]

Here is a good place to start:http://www.cichlidforum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php

 

[Bderick67]

Here is a good place to start:http://www.cichlidforum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_55g.php

Thanks, so if I use the below table as a guide;

Lake Malawi Haplochromine Aquarium

Select up to 3 groups (Only 1 male for each group is preferred. 9 fish total for the tank):
• Any Copadichromis species (except for larger species i.e. borleyi, jacksoni, etc.)
• Any Promotelas species (except for larger species, i.e. taeniolatus, spilontus, sp. "Mbenji Thick Lip", etc.)
• Any Aulonocara species (no jacobfriebergi)
• Any Placidichromis species (except for milomo)
• Otopharynx lithobates
• Any Nyassachromis species

This table is stating having 3 males and 6 females? With only one male peacock, correct?

Has anyone done an all male peacock/hap tank or does that end up in disaster?

 

[mike dunagan]

All male is the way to go...

 

[johnny_1993]

do 10-12 all male hap/peacock tank
that is a estimate on that site

 

[Bderick67]

All male is the way to go...

Really, so would 6-7 be a good stocking level? How about adding the fish, should I just do 7 all at once?

I am thinking of getting all the fish and keeping them in a 50g QT tank with the wet/dry that will go on the 55g african tank. Once I have all the fish I'll move them and the filter to the 55g tank.

 

[Bderick67]

do 10-12 all male hap/peacock tank
that is a estimate on that site

Did not see your post before, so 6-7 would be to little, we should go with more if all males?

 

[zerelli]

It is not so easy to put numbers on that. If you go with mbuna you can get all the color you would ever want and can put about 20 small ones in there to start. THey will pick off a few so you will end up with something in the teens I would imagine. bluegrass cichlids sells packages of malawi mixes. He can set you up with a package that would deck it out nicely.

 

[squirt2005]

My first afro tank was a 55 with 2 hob filters at a total of 750 gallons per hour. Heavily stocked with malawi cichlids and lace rock I put 9 semi adults in. You don't need to start off with this much if you put in a ratio of at least 3 females to 1 male per species. They breed like flies on trash. The only reason to go all male is because females are generally dull in color so everyone likes males. Just make sure to do major H20 changes if you underfilter and overstock. I did 50% twice a week. Hope it helps.