Looking to get into African cichlids

[Red618]

Hey new on this side of the cichlid forum as I usually keep the SA/CA. Howe've with a move to a new house coming up and a empty 90 sitting around was thinking about trying a African peacock tank. However I have no idea the ratio or amount I can place in a 90. I have about 90 pounds of old reef rock so I was going to use that. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jsc]

I used old reef rock in mine. It is all male haps and peacocks. It worked great.
For a peacock tank do 1 male to at least 3 females, 5 would be better. Don't mix species of the same color. For example do a group of yellow and a group of red and another group. Or do all males. That would give you the most color and variety.

 

[Hendre]

What I do know is overstock, the more the merrier. I'm sick of African cichlids because that's half of every shop I go to over here. We have a great selection at least. Make sure to do some research on species

Good luck with the tank!

 

[Red618]

Yeah if I went this route it would be a all male tank. Would 15 to 20 males be a good number.

 

[james99]

15 sounds good for an all male tank. Look for peacocks that don't resemble each other, you'll have to go with a few haps to fill up the tank since red, yellow and blue cover most peacocks.

 

[DJRansome]

Yes I like 12 individuals in a 48x18 tank and no look-alikes. I find there are not 12 peacocks that look different (red, yellow, blue, then what?). So I do haps as well. And I like species that mature <= 6".

I'd save the count of 20 individuals for when you have a 72" all male tank.

Do make sure you have an extra cycled tank and a rehoming plan.

 

[Red618]

So maybe do 6 peacocks and 6 haps?

 

[DJRansome]

Whatever mix you can find that is compatible and available.