Starting Massive Cichlid Breeding Ground ~2500 gallons

[WJC05]

Im wanting to start a massive cichlid breeding ground. I have set up a ~2500 gallon pond in which I will be putting it several different types of cichlids. Pretty much all large aggressive ones. There will be several breeding pairs going in the pond.

What I would like to happen is these fish breed in the pond and have enough cover for the fry to grow to full size without all of them getting eaten. There will be no skilled predators such as catfish or pbass or anything like that. Im thinking lots of rocks and lots of large fake plants..

Can anyone help me out and maybe give me some tips on keeping the fry from getting eaten in the pond...

Here are some pics.. Rockwork and Filter goes on tommorow...

Thanks

 

[Yakuza-Irezumi]

Section off a corner with eggcrate with plastic window screen over it...........or a well built rock pile with alot of caves.......

 

[Loubard]

Looking good so far!

 

[Bsixxx]

no real way to keep fry from getting eaten but you could try to section off parts of it to do seperate breeding corners
or just go the natural way and just get lots of cover everywhere and just have the parents gaurd them as best as they can

 

[frasertheking]

what sort of lighting you got on that ?

 

[johnptc]

lots of rock piles...lace rock works well....i have had many red devils spawn in my big tank and quite a few reach adult size and its filled with predators !!!!!!!!!

 

[frasertheking]

if you just section a part of the pond with egg create so the fry can swim through but the adults cant fallow

 

[cichniss]

Just setup it up with tons of rock piles, and plants for cover. And a few LARGE rocks here and there. Fry will still get eaten but a good number of them will survive into adulthood. It will be like it is in the wild, many are eaten by predators but many still survive. And since you want have any catfish that will help as well.

 

[Cross127]

Go with what people are saying but if you want to ensure fry surviving to adulthood is setup a plexi glass tank inside the pond for growout and when they grow to size release them. Oh and that is AWESOME! I wish I can get an indoor pond but for now no.

 

[WJC05]

I understand that some will get eaten.. Thats unavoidable, but Id like to have it to where if a pair spawns, maybe 15 fry make it to survive.. Something like that. If more fry survived that would be great, but Id like for something like maybe 15 or so...