55 gallon stocking advice - freshly cycled

1575 Views 21 Replies 6 Participants Last post by cdavitt, May 13, 2011

cdavitt

Discussion Starter · Apr 14, 2011

I am just finishing up cycling a new 55 gallon tank. I am looking for stocking advice. I have a couple types in mind but I do not know if they will all get along. My understanding is that it is best to add 3-4 of each at a time, and hope to get a 1:3 or 1:4 M:F ratio?

I'd like 3 different types with diverse colors....I was looking at yellow/blue/red type of setup. Please let me know if these fish do or do not get along with each other. Also advice on different cichlids that look awesome and would go well is gladly accepted!

I was looking at:

3-4 yellow labs Labidochromis or red zebra Metriaclima

3-4 electric blues Sciaenochromis

3-4 red jewels Hemichromis

Something else with a lof of blue/green?

I would also throw a couple BN plecos in there as well.

Will all these fish get along? Should I add/remove a different type in there? The cooler the colors the better as this tank will be a centerpiece in my living room.

Any other concerns or considerations?

tank: 55 gallon 48x12x18, gravel & lace rock, fluval 405, AC 100, UGF w/ 2 150GPH powerheads

I love this forum. I am so glad I found it. So much information I've been overwhelmed!

thanks in advance!

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

des

· #2 · Apr 14, 2011

Hi,

How long did it take to cycle your tank? What are your ammonia, nitrite, pH readings?

I like the yellow labs and the electric blue. I wouldn't recommend the jewels because they will not get along with the cichlids from lake Malawi. I know they look awesome because I had two.

What about adding red zebras or P. Acei (yellow tails). If you like fish with bars, I like elongatus or demasoni.

I like venutus but I think you need a larger tank than a 55g

cdavitt

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 14, 2011

thanks for the reply. I will take a look at those other fish you mentioned. I will try to avoid the jewels.

the tank has been up and 'cycling' a good 4-5 weeks now. The tank is showing 0 amonia, 0 nitrate, and 10-20 nitrite for the last few days. I've been doing water changes to keep the nitrite down. I live in arizona so the tap water is really hard. It's been around 8 for weeks.

I guess I'll use the profile seclector to see what other fish from Lake Malawi I can go with. Is it better to keep the same types from the same lake as in all mbuna or all haps or all peacocks? Or do they typically get along being from the same lake?

DanniGirl

· #4 · Apr 14, 2011

cdavitt said:
I live in arizona so the tap water is really hard. It's been around 8 for weeks.

Hi! I live up here in Flagstaff and the water is 8.2! -Gotta love AZ, haha! :lol:

cdavitt said:
I guess I'll use the profile seclector to see what other fish from Lake Malawi I can go with. Is it better to keep the same types from the same lake as in all mbuna or all haps or all peacocks? Or do they typically get along being from the same lake?

You can mix peacocks and haps relatively easy. There are a few exceptions but for the most part, Mbuna should be kept together. :thumb:

cdavitt

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 14, 2011

Aat least save $ not having to add to the water to make it harder. lol

I guess I'll look into 2-3 different groups of 4-5 haps or peacocks.

Thanks!

cdavitt

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 15, 2011

btw got my nitrate and nitrite confused. tank shows 0 amonia and 0 nitrate. nitrite has been 1-2...NOT 10-20 lol

toume

· #7 · Apr 15, 2011

I wouldn't mix yellow labs and red zebras. Unless you don't plan to breed--because you'll get hybrids which you shouldn't, responsibly, sell. Even if you let the mom spit in the tank, you can survivors.

DanniGirl

· #8 · Apr 15, 2011

cdavitt said:
btw got my nitrate and nitrite confused. tank shows 0 amonia and 0 nitrate. nitrite has been 1-2...NOT 10-20 lol

Awe, ok, lol

cdavitt

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 15, 2011

I don't plan to breed or sell them. Just looking for a good color mixture.

thanks

cdavitt

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 15, 2011

After another 4-5 hours reading this forum now im leaning towards:

demasoni, yellow labs, and rusties. 4-5 of each to try to establish a 1:3 or 1:4 M:F ratio

any problem with this combo? I figure blue/black/yellow/red would look awesome with this mix

monisaab

· #11 · Apr 15, 2011

the color combination is good but the number of demasoni needs to be upped to around 15 or more...

cdavitt

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 15, 2011

oh really? They need that large of a group? I dont think that woudl go well in my 55 gallon.

What if I did the yellow labs, rusties, and then some other blue-ish cichlid like p.Socolofi? would they get along OK....can I keep groups of 4-5 of thoses?

Other blue ones I was looking at were Cynotilapia afra or even P. Acei

DJRansome

· #13 · Apr 16, 2011

You can do the large number of demasoni and still have the labs and rusties. Demasoni are half the size of the other fish.

cdavitt

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 16, 2011

hmmm thats tempting. So I could ge away with 15 demasoni and 4-5 yellow labs and 4-5 rusties in a 55 gallon? seems like a LOT of fish

DJRansome

· #15 · Apr 16, 2011

I'd shoot for 12, 5 and 5 but start with more as juveniles. No problem!

cdavitt

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 17, 2011

Sounds like this might be the new plan. I love the blues in the demasoni. I am looking for 1:4 for the rsuties and labs....do I need t keep a similar ratio with the demasoni? like 1:11 or 2:10? 3:9?

DJRansome

· #17 · Apr 17, 2011

Any of those might work, but the fish will let you know. I'd just get 15 or 18 and figure at least 3 males will be rejected when they mature in 6-8 months before everyone is content.

cdavitt

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 17, 2011

thanks for the advice. My mind keeps changing but always for the better.

Preference on 2-3 BN plecos or 3-4 syno cats? I figure I need somethign to help keep teh tank clean too?

DJRansome

· #19 · Apr 17, 2011

Synos (5-6 Synodontis lucipinnis) are very cool on their own, but not essential as tank cleaners. If you want a BN for algae, one is plenty for a 55G.

cdavitt

Discussion Starter · #20 · Apr 26, 2011

getting ready to order the cichlids....After another week or so of reading I might not go with the demasoni because of thier higher maintanance needs and aggression.

So I was looking at Cobalt Blue Zebra Metriaclima callainos instead or Pseudotropheus socolofi
or Cynotilapia sp Hara. Try to do the same 1:5 ratio. Would onr of these work without major issues?

I keep having to come up with new choices becuase I cant find all 3 from the same place/breeder. I want to avoid the extra 50-100 bucks for a second shipment of fish from somewhere else. thanks for everyones help so far!

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.