Reducing my numbers?

[Joshuakahan]

Hey guys, I have a 120 rift tank and it has about 20 haps 1 mbuna and 2 vics. and 2 larger synos Everything is fine with the tank but because of the load I’m having to do WCs 3-4 times a week. I had a little bit of a health scare last week and decided I should probably cut back on how much I have going on. I was initially going to sell this tank and all the fish, but im thinking maybe I could sell off a lot of the fish and keep around 8. Think that 8 would work or cause too many aggression issues?
Here’s the 8 I would keep
1 VC10 Hap
1 pombo rocks yellow chin hap
1 mbamba mbuna
1 xmas fulu
1 Rubens Red
1 Sunshine
1 Aulonocara Stuartgranti chilumba
1 Malawi barracuda
Plus one of the synos, probably the decorus
Here’s the tank as it is now

 

[DJRansome]

What are the dimensions of the 120? I don't think 8 would work.

 

[Joshuakahan]

What are the dimensions of the 120? I don't think 8 would work.

4x2x2

 

[A201]

Maybe replace the two big Synodontis & replace with a group of Red Tail or YoYo Loaches.
I keep a group of nine YoYo's & four Red Tails in my heavily stocked 120 gal. IMO, Botia Loaches are the best scavengers, keeping the substrate clean & nitrates low.

 

[RD.]

I would remove the synos, and replace them with nothing. Then cut the current feed amount to half of what you are currently feeding, and see how that goes. I suspect that you will see a significant reduction in your bio load. If the fish do ok on the new amount, keep running with that. If not, increase a little at a time as required to keep your nitrates within a reasonable amount between weekly water changes.

 

[Joshuakahan]

I would remove the synos, and replace them with nothing. Then cut the current feed amount to half of what you are currently feeding, and see how that goes. I suspect that you will see a significant reduction in your bio load. If the fish do ok on the new amount, keep running with that. If not, increase a little at a time as required to keep your nitrates within a reasonable amount between weekly water changes.

Thanks, I’m currently feeding them once a day, every other day about as much as they can eat in 5-ish minutes. Do you still think I can cut that in half?

 

[Joshuakahan]

Maybe replace the two big Synodontis & replace with a group of Red Tail or YoYo Loaches.
I keep a group of nine YoYo's & four Red Tails in my heavily stocked 120 gal. IMO, Botia Loaches are the best scavengers, keeping the substrate clean & nitrates low.

Thanks, how often are you having to do WCs with your current 120g setup?

 

[RD.]

Thanks, I’m currently feeding them once a day, every other day about as much as they can eat in 5-ish minutes. Do you still think I can cut that in half?

Yes, cut it down to as much as they can consume in 2 1/2 ish minutes.

 

[Joshuakahan]

Yes, cut it down to as much as they can consume in 2 1/2 ish minutes.

Ok, thanks!

 

[RD.]

........ and lose the cats. Those two changes might surprise you when you test your nitrate levels. .