Tanganyikan tank, Is it Possible????

[nyinfamous2k2]

Hey, im in the processes of stocking up my 125 gal with juvenile tangs. What my vision is, is to have a nice variation of different tangs. ranging from rock dwellers, free swimmers and shell dwellers. What I have now is about 200 lbs of lace rock built up on boths sides of the tank, splitting the rockdwellers territories with almost 2 feet of open space in the middle for the shellies. (I only have 5 shells for now, ordered 15 more, arive by friday). I like the way its setup I think its good for the rock dwellers but im a little nervous having the shellies in the middle like that, bullies on each side, and swimming over them. (Ive never had shellies and dont know the appropriate setup for them) should I pile all the rocks one one side of the tank and leave a whole side just for them or is this a good setup?
what do you think?

What I have in there as of now: (all fish are between 1 and 2 inches)

1 - Neolamp Cylindricus
1 - 5 bar
2 - Juli. Marlieri
1 - Tropheus Duboisi
1 - Neolamp leleupi
1 - Brichardi
2 - Alto Comps
2 - Triglachromis Otostigma ( dont really know to much about them)
3 - Lamp Brevis (they dont seem interested in the shells at all, they stay in the rocks)
2 - Lamp ocellatus
1 - syno cuckoo catfish
also got 2 non tangs, a red top hongi and a yellow lab hybrid no problems with them at all.
I am planning on adding a school of cyps. in the future as well as other similar fish and
I would like to add a few more shellies if possible

I would like to know if this setup will work for the shellies, if not what changes can I make, I would like to have a good home for all these little guys.

Thanks

 

[mike dunagan]

spread the shells out into different areas. They will not want to be all in the same spot.

 

[swk]

I would scrap the single tropheus for many different reasons.

 

[nyinfamous2k2]

hmmmm if I need to spread them, then I cant keep it the way it is now because the rocks take up all the room on each side the only free space is that 2 feet in the center. Thanks for the info Ill think of different ways to setup the rocks, maybe on large pile in the center with shells on each side or, one large pile on one side of the tank free space on the other with small rocks to divide the space. Is this combination of rock dwellers, free swimmers and shellies, even possible or is it a disaster waiting to happen?

heres a old view of the initial setup, before fish, ive widened up the center and built the rocks taller on each side.

I would scrap the single tropheus for many different reasons.

yeaa, I originally thought Id just give one a try b.c. I was under the impression that they were mostly aggressive towards other tropheus. He has been ok for the past few weeks. Other then the different diet. what are some other reasons he might not work?

 

[SkySouza]

I agree. tropheus have much different needs than most other tangs. If you feed them food with too much meat it's likely that he'll get bloat. Also they don't do well by themselves. They should be kept in groups. I've heard they can get real aggressive as well. I'd just keep an eye on him and not plan on getting more unless you're planning on focusing on their needs as I have been told that they can be kinda frail. Hope that helps and good luck to ya. Someday you ought to try frontosa

 

[nyinfamous2k2]

I agree. tropheus have much different needs than most other tangs. If you feed them food with too much meat it's likely that he'll get bloat. Also they don't do well by themselves. They should be kept in groups. I've heard they can get real aggressive as well. I'd just keep an eye on him and not plan on getting more unless you're planning on focusing on their needs as I have been told that they can be kinda frail. Hope that helps and good luck to ya. Someday you ought to try frontosa

I hear ya. I will take him out if it is a must. But I am pretty carful when feeding He is pretty quick to get first dibs on food so I feed the appropriate food for him first then once he makes his way to the bottom to pick up any extra Ill toss in some meaty food for the others, ofcourse he occasionally snatches some up. But if you guys are telling me it definitely wont work, then I'll take him out. only reason I put him in is because the shop I got him at they have a big 500 gal with all types of african mbunas peacocks haps tangs and they've had one in there sucessfully for years.
Some of the nicest tanks ive seen are a frontosa species tank, but for some reason I am just not drawn to them like most ppl seem to be. idk

 

[RESET]

I like the concept. I am considering a move to cichlids since I am not getting the aro that I wanted. I was considering a shellie/free swimmer combo. I hadn't thought of the Rock dwellers. that looks interesting too. Awaiting more info on the compatibility of the three.

 

[Sethg]

I have a tank with 2 Neolamp leleupi with fry, 1 Juli Ornatus, 3 Gold Head Comps, 5 Gold Lamp ocellatus and 4 Syno Petricola.
There all getting along fine at the moment how ever the Comps will get to a size one day where they could swallow the Occellatus. I had a Bricardi in there as well but he was aggressive so he came out.
As has already been said I could see the Tropheus being a problem.

 

[supanic4]

i like how you have it segregated, it looks nice.

 

[nyinfamous2k2]

I have a tank with 2 Neolamp leleupi with fry, 1 Juli Ornatus, 3 Gold Head Comps, 5 Gold Lamp ocellatus and 4 Syno Petricola.
There all getting along fine at the moment how ever the Comps will get to a size one day where they could swallow the Occellatus. I had a Bricardi in there as well but he was aggressive so he came out.
As has already been said I could see the Tropheus being a problem.

Ahhh thats what im looking for, a success story. how long have you had that tank setup for? what size tank and how big are they? and your right about the comps. luckly they grow crazy slow so I will have time deal with that in the future. I dont want to take the comps out yet b.c. since I am new with shellies I cant predict there survival rate just yet. Surprisingly this Bircardi is alot more timid then others ive had in the past, could be because I have been constantly changing the tank layout, throwing off his territories.

i like how you have it segregated, it looks nice.
maybe check my set up out and see if you can get any ideas,
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=351113
let me know what you think

Thanks it looks alot better now then that pic, since ive thrown a background on re arranged the rocks, the water cleared up and theres fish in it lol
Very nice setup, but its different then what Im trying to accomplish with keeping all three of these types of tangs. Thanks tho . always cool to see a nice setup.