Keeping Tanganyika cichlids, stock suggestions? general tips?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
i say skip the tropheus (personally i've never liked them) and get some frontosa, red fin caudopunctatus, julidochromis transcriptus, and/or black compressiceps

No way frontosa. They need at least a 72" tank.
 
No way frontosa. They need at least a 72" tank.

well i guess it depends on the size the frontosa is purchased at and whether or not a larger tank is in the plan for the future. you could def raise some small ones (1-1.5 inch) for over a year in a 55 or 75 until the mothership is ready ;) but i agree you couldnt have a mature frontosa in a 55
 
Can't keep fronts :( they won't fit in a 48"

The thing is, I can't fit a larger tank than 48" in my room. I could move the tank to the another room, but I won't be able to see it all the time and I don't really want to do that. I will upgrade the tank, then I move to a different place, which is not likely to happen within 5 years.

If I get a bigger tank and move it to a different room I think I might move away from the hobby, since when I am in my bedroom, I do all my studying there and like to watch the fish before I go to bed and turn the lights on with the timer to help me wake up easier in the morning (it's still dark when I wake up).

So bigger tank is not an option. OR I could rearrange my furniture to fit a bigger tank :D (probably not possible, my bedroom is like 9-12sqm.)
 
I am confused with which ones to go. As soon as I sell my 55g I am ordering a 75g with dimensions of 120(48")x40(16")x60(24")
 
I know the fish, I just don't know what I want more to keep.

Choosing form:

A:
Tropheus duboisi (will get 20~ of fry and remove excess males to get 4-6 females per male)
Neolamprologus Leleupi (4-6vnt.)

I loved this set up, seen it on the web

White sand
Black rocks (probably coal, seen it used successfully in aquariums.)
Maybe I'll silicone a few rocks to the back since they are quite light and easily cut.
Maybe a plant or two.

B:
Altolamprologus calvus (4vnt.)
Julidichromis (depends on what I can get) (2-4vnt.)
Neolamprologus tretocephalus (2-4 vnt.)
Paracyprichromis nigripinnis (6 vnt.)
And few shell dwellers.

White sand
White rocks (local)
Black background

Tank: 75g 120(48")x40(16")x60(24")
 
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