[Fish_Time]

I am currently fishless cycling my 100 gallon tank and have been looking over the profiles here to decide what I want to stock. The dimensions of my tank are 60" x 18" x 22" and I have a 37 gallon tank that I turned into a wet/dry along with an Eheim 2260 canister for filtration and two Hydor Korilia #3 for circulation. I have sand substrate and plan on quiet a bit of rocks as well as some live plants. The fish I have deceided on are:

Pseudotropheus demasoni x 16
Pseudotropheus sp. "Acei" x 6-8
Iodotropheus sprengerae x 6-8
Labidochromis caeruleus x 6-8
BN Plecos x 4-6
Synodontis multipunctatus x 4-6
these are the two other fish that I am interested in:
Pseudotropheus socolofi (Albino) X 6-8
Pseudotropheus crabro x 6-8

First off do you feel that these are too many fish or do you think I should be fine?
Second while I don't plan on breeding my fish I also do not want to have any Hybrids incase I want to give away some fry, does anybody see any potential problems with my selections?
Third I have 200 watts of light (6500K and 12000K) and I am looking for suggestion on what plants will do well with my fish.
Thanks in advance for all the suggestions and help.

 

[DJRansome]

I'd say too many fish. I'd lose the crabro. The Demasoni numbers are OK but I'd go with the 6 on the other groups, 4 Multis and you only need 2-3 Bristlenose for a 5' tank. I've got one in my 72" tank and she can almost keep up on her own.

I never had luck with plants with my mbuna (I tried java fern), but they are growing like weeds in my Tang tank (Java fern, Crypts and Vallisneria). Tangs don't nibble and they don't dig like mbuna. Look at Fogelhund's tanks, he has great luck with plants in his mbuna tank. Java fern and anubias are commonly recommended.

Sounds like a nice mix. I had the regular Socolofi in with mine until I recently swapped them out for the Cynos.

 

[Fish_Time]

Thanks for the advice DJRansome. The Crabro was my first choice to loose. Does anyone think I will have crossbreeding problems with the 5 remaining Cichlid species? Also, I am torn between the Synodontis petricola or the Synodontis multipunctatus. What do you guys think about each of those cats?
I realize that it my be a loosing battle having live plants with Mbuna but I am willing to gve it a try. What kind of advice can anyone give me on ways to protect the plants from being dug up or destroyed by the fish? I do have a layer of egg crate under my sand (actuallly it is black "T" grade 3M coloquartz) which I could use to help anchor the roots.
Lastly, what kind of fertilizer is good to use with a sand substrate for good plant growth, ie: tabs, liquids etc.

 

[dielikemoviestars]

I think you should be more or less safe against cross-breeding, but it's always a possibility if your gender ratios are off.

Neither Java Fern or Anubias can have their roots buried; they're rhizomatic, so they'll die if you do bury them.

 

[DJRansome]

I have both Synos. I like the Lucipinnis better because I like small fish, but I don't know if I'd want to do without the multi's either. I've only had the multi's a month. I like them both!