Starting a 90g african tank

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Gourami Swami

Gourami Swami

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Hi everyone. I am planning on starting a 90 gallon african setup. I have everything but the fish themselves. I though a good number would be around 25 mbuna, does that sound right for a 90? I was planning on going with smaller less agressive species like yellow labs, socolofi, salousi, or zebras.
If i buy these fish small, i was thinking 1-2 inches, would adding a group of maybe 10 at a time be a good idea? I will also have a 10" gibbiceps pleco in the tank and thats it. Would the fish become lost in the 90 gallon, or would it be okay because i add a large group? also i know its generally better not to add large groups at once, but i figured since they would be tiny fish in a 90 gallon it would be a different story.
Also, i plan on cycling the tank with bio spira. Would the 10 tiny fish and the pleco be enough in this large of a tank to keep the bacteria alive?

Thanks in advance
-GS
 
I wouldnt add 10 at a time. Bioloads for new setups no matter how large the tank is can turn bad. If you go by the book...its one fish at a time...when I started my first 60 gallon I went with 3. Then slowly added a few more fish over the months. Good luck....
 
^bad idea. Add 1 mbuna to a tank with fish already in it is a death sentence.

To answer the OPs question I think even 30 would fine for your tank size. You'll want o pick out 4-5 species and get multiples of each species. I would fishless cycle the tank then add all of your fish at once. Otherwise 10 at a time should be fine. Just keep an eye on parameters. Rearrange the decore whenever you add a new fish. That way the current residents are busy reestablishing territories and won't worry as much about the new fish being added. If you want to add a smaller group I would do no less than 5 at a time.
 
Yes I have the Same issue and ideas Im having a hard time deciding to go with tangs or mbunas. I have a Jag with a pleco that out grew my 55 they are in a 125 now. But I would like to have the 55 still up and running. I am under the impression that the Tang set up is not as aggressive as the mbunas. Any ideas On this or for stocking ideas. Right now I have a couple comps and calvus babies in there. 1 julie, 2 blue zebras, and yellow lab in there also. I seem to be okay for they are all like 1.5 inches atm. Should I just stick with tangs for size and temperment. forgot to mention one that i thought was a second julie is auratus. I know they are very aggressive, thought it was a pair of julies but not again 1 is a julie other is auratus. Shoudl i stick with tangs for a 55 with the calvus im definitely keeping the calvus.
 
thanks for the advice, especially blue2fyre. Im going to start with 10 in addition to the pleco & ill just add 10 at a time 2 more times later this month and end up with 30 fish. i think im gonna go with yellow labs, red top zebras, socolofi, and maybe one more species.
 
Sounds great! Now so you know red top zebra females are not the same pale blue the males are. This is a female I use to have (sorry for the bad picture)
beatrice.jpg


For a possible 4th species look into ps acei (either yellow or white tail), or Some species of Cynotilapia afra. Jalo reef is one of the most common and beautiful species. One more suggestion is demasoni, they have to be stocked in higher numbers due to aggression but you could cut back on some other species to make room. It's all up to you :)

Finally this is a fun site to look at. It has lots of species of mbuna along with pictures of males and females.
 
IME, socolofi are very territorial, but mildly aggressive towards conspecifics and even bottom dwellers. Also, IME, the species list you have, the Labs get picked on too much... but it could work out for you by doing what you have planned, each tank and specie is different by personality!
 
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