OK, I joined MFK awhile back, but haven't posted yet. So here goes! I guess I really need some good advice on my tanks. I'm raising juvie african cichlids right now, so for all you experts, please advise.
I have a 40 gallon tank I cycled with some mollies a few months ago. Then I added a trio of psuedotropheus estherae (red zebra) and a trio of yellow labs. I waited awhile and added 3 venustus (giraffe) and then 4 ahli (electric blue). This was all on the advice of my LFS, who said to overcrowd them to lessen aggression. So that's 13 africans in 40 gallons...argh. Bear in mind they were tiny, about 1 inch when purchased.
After reading these forums awhile and watching these guys grow fairly quickly, I cycled another 40 with those poor mollies. I then transferred the electric blues (3 females, 1 male) into it. They're about 2.5 inches now. While picking up some plants at a different LFS, I saw a 3.5 inch electric blue in full color. Taking a closer look, I saw his face was misshapen. The lady working there told me he'd jumped out of the tank a few months ago and smashed his face. I just had to take him home, so now I have 5 ahli in a 40 gallon, leaving 9 smaller juvies in the other 40. No aggression problems, and everyone is healthy. So now I'm up to 4 tanks, but you guys don't want to hear about the two 10 gallons I had to cycle for the mollies and their unending fry.
So, here's where I need advice. I have the space to set up a 100 or 150 gallon shortly. Should I get it started or wait a bit to let the juvies grow past 2-3 inches? Also, I saw a thread giving advice on how to convince your wife to let you get more/bigger tanks...but I need advice on how to convince the Hubster that when our daughter goes away to college in 2 years, her bedroom is the perfect size for a tank? (I'm only half joking, guys!)
Thanks for any and all advice in advance.
I have a 40 gallon tank I cycled with some mollies a few months ago. Then I added a trio of psuedotropheus estherae (red zebra) and a trio of yellow labs. I waited awhile and added 3 venustus (giraffe) and then 4 ahli (electric blue). This was all on the advice of my LFS, who said to overcrowd them to lessen aggression. So that's 13 africans in 40 gallons...argh. Bear in mind they were tiny, about 1 inch when purchased.
After reading these forums awhile and watching these guys grow fairly quickly, I cycled another 40 with those poor mollies. I then transferred the electric blues (3 females, 1 male) into it. They're about 2.5 inches now. While picking up some plants at a different LFS, I saw a 3.5 inch electric blue in full color. Taking a closer look, I saw his face was misshapen. The lady working there told me he'd jumped out of the tank a few months ago and smashed his face. I just had to take him home, so now I have 5 ahli in a 40 gallon, leaving 9 smaller juvies in the other 40. No aggression problems, and everyone is healthy. So now I'm up to 4 tanks, but you guys don't want to hear about the two 10 gallons I had to cycle for the mollies and their unending fry.
So, here's where I need advice. I have the space to set up a 100 or 150 gallon shortly. Should I get it started or wait a bit to let the juvies grow past 2-3 inches? Also, I saw a thread giving advice on how to convince your wife to let you get more/bigger tanks...but I need advice on how to convince the Hubster that when our daughter goes away to college in 2 years, her bedroom is the perfect size for a tank? (I'm only half joking, guys!)
Thanks for any and all advice in advance.
