I’m BACK! And I forgot a ton…

[Davidiator]

Man oh man, it has been a long time.

I used to be big into aquariums but then life took its toll and I had to step away. Now, I’m married, got a kiddo on the way, bought a home, and ready to get back into the hobby.

I was hoping for a 150 gallon like my last aquarium but I found a really good deal on a 75 and decided I wanna do something I’ve never done before.

Cichlids, I want to make a mbuna cichlid tank.

Can I see some of your pictures of your mbuna tanks and what you guys stock with them?

I’m hearing a lot of people talk about overstocking the tank to lower the aggression levels, what would be a good stocking list to start with? I understand depending on filtration and water changes there is no set amount but I need a baseline.

I was going to do 15 mbuna and 3 or 4 bristlenose plecos. However after doing some googling I’m finding people are saying the baseline should be 20 mbuna plus some plecos. Do you guys agree?

I currently have a FX4 which I’m thinking should be enough but if it ends up not being I will upgrade to an FX6 and put the FX4 in a second tank we are looking at.

 

[A201]

Maybe start with a big group of Rusty Cichlids and yellow & white tail Acei.

All these Mbuna are relatively peaceful and easily manageable.

Here are pics of some I've kept and a hardscape I constructed.

 

[Davidiator]

Th

Maybe start with a big group of Rusty Cichlids and yellow & white tail Acei.

All these Mbuna are relatively peaceful and easily manageable.

Here are pics of some I've kept and a hardscape I constructed.

View attachment 1572305View attachment 1572306View attachment 1572307View attachment 1572308

Thats beautiful. I am definitely going to do a 3d background though cause that has been a huge love of mine. What’s is the fish on the front left of your last picture? Really lit up ends and orange rear fin.

 

[A201]

If you're referring to the full tank pic, I think you've picked out a Red Empress, which is a Hap.

 

[Davidiator]

If you're referring to the full tank pic, I think you've picked out a Red Empress, which is a Hap.

Is that safe to add with mbuna? Again I’ve never done cichlids before but I wanna do them cause it was all my dad kept when he was in the hobby and I’m hoping this tank will push him into getting his own again.

 

[A201]

You could keep one male Red Empress with the group of
peaceful Mbuna I suggested. Maybe even a male Tiawan Reef Hap, which is also a very colorful smaller Hap.

The full tank pic is my 120g long tank. Quite a bit more room than a 75g.

Many of the aggressive Mbuna species, such as Kenyi & Zebra aren't really compatible with Haps & Peacocks in a relatively small tank. The Mbuna's are just too territorial.

 

[Davidiator]

You could keep one male Red Empress with the group of
peaceful Mbuna I suggested. Maybe even a male Tiawan Reef Hap, which is also a very colorful smaller Hap.

The full tank pic is my 120g long tank. Quite a bit more room than a 75g.

Many of the aggressive Mbuna species, such as Kenyi & Zebra aren't really compatible with Haps & Peacocks in a relatively small tank. The Mbuna's are just too territorial.

Hmm. I might stick to a mbuna and pleco tank. Are bristlenose a decent choice for the mbuna? Small, fast and hidden?

 

[Milingu]

Aggressive Mbuna mixed with at least 8 different haps and some lake Victoria cichlids will not work out on long time. Alone the two male M. lombardoi aka Kenyi in that tank size are a recipe for disaster.

 

[Davidiator]

Aggressive Mbuna mixed with at least 8 different haps and some lake Victoria cichlids will not work out on long time. Alone the two male M. lombardoi aka Kenyi in that tank size are a recipe for disaster.

Thanks. I’m going to stick to mbuna and plecos. I just got a second aquarium from one of the elders at my church. It’s a fully setup planted 55 gallon aquarium that he’s giving me for free, I pick it up tomorrow

 

[tlindsey]

Man oh man, it has been a long time.

I used to be big into aquariums but then life took its toll and I had to step away. Now, I’m married, got a kiddo on the way, bought a home, and ready to get back into the hobby.

I was hoping for a 150 gallon like my last aquarium but I found a really good deal on a 75 and decided I wanna do something I’ve never done before.

Cichlids, I want to make a mbuna cichlid tank.

Can I see some of your pictures of your mbuna tanks and what you guys stock with them?

I’m hearing a lot of people talk about overstocking the tank to lower the aggression levels, what would be a good stocking list to start with? I understand depending on filtration and water changes there is no set amount but I need a baseline.

I was going to do 15 mbuna and 3 or 4 bristlenose plecos. However after doing some googling I’m finding people are saying the baseline should be 20 mbuna plus some plecos. Do you guys agree?

I currently have a FX4 which I’m thinking should be enough but if it ends up not being I will upgrade to an FX6 and put the FX4 in a second tank we are looking at.

Welcome back to the fishkeeping hobby.