Self sufficient aquarium?

[Cichlids-r-beasts]

So, 3rd time’s a charm right? Lol

Decided that I’ll be getting a Red devil as a wet pet for my 125g, but I want to make it so that he doesn’t have to be fed everyday. Is that possible? Will live plants be worth a try? I’ll be getting the RD from a baby so maybe he’ll get used to the plants? Maybe have a breeding pair of convicts and some livebearers, so he sustains himself on the young of those? Sunlight for plants isn’t a problem cause my tank gets at least 6-8 hours of sunlight on evenings. Any suggestions guys?
It doesn’t have to be fully self sufficient but at least semi self sufficient, not sure if it’s worth a try. Obviously I’ll still feed him a variety of pellets.
Any help or suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[fishhead0103666]

I don’t believe that a 125 is big enough for complete self sufficiency or even half self sufficiency unless we’re thinking about it in two different ways. If you’re serious about this then perhaps look into aquatic isopods and/or cherry shrimp to be the start of the food chain along with putting in lots of hiding spots that the fish won’t be able to get to for them to live and breed in if you haven’t already comrade.

 

[Cichlids-r-beasts]

I don’t believe that a 125 is big enough for complete self sufficiency or even half self sufficiency unless we’re thinking about it in two different ways. If you’re serious about this then perhaps look into aquatic isopods and/or cherry shrimp to be the start of the food chain along with putting in lots of hiding spots that the fish won’t be able to get to for them to live and breed in if you haven’t already comrade.

Thanks, I was thinking of shrimp as well but my only worry is that the Red Devil will probably feast on them as they’re slow, but with a lot of plants I think it can work since they’d have a ton of hiding places. Not gonna jump into it obviously, but I just wanna see if it’s possible, and if it is, then take my time and go from here.

Just curious, why don’t you think it’s not big enough? I’ve seen smaller tanks made self sufficient.

 

[Deadeye]

A self sufficient tank is a lot easier when you are only working with small fish in a larger system.
I have a 10 with snails, guppies, and shrimp. I never have to do anything short of occasional feedings. In a larger tank, something like a betta could control populations without totally destroying them.

A 125 is not a lot of space once you throw what would be an apex predator in. In almost every case, the cichlid will eat the others faster than they can reproduce.

 

[FJB]

Aquarium self sufficiency apart (I won’t comment on that), most adult aquarium fish don’t need to be fed everyday. But you are talking a baby cichlid, which will indeed need daily food, either produced in, or added to the tank. Once it is close to adult, frequency of needed outside feedings is relatively less.

 

[Cichlids-r-beasts]

Appreciate the responses guys, you all make good points. I’ll just have him as a wet pet then and ignore the self sufficiency stuff. Thanks!