[kolopedo]

I am putting together a large Hap tank. It will be stocked with just large predatory haps.

The tank is a 180g 72x24x24 ... filtration is one Eheim 2260(rated for 400g), one Ehein 2217(rated for up to 170g) and four large sponge filters.

So far tank is stocked with:

6 Champsochromis caeruleus .... 4"
8 Dimidiochromis kiwinge .... 2.5"

Will be adding the following ver soon:

7 Nimbochromis polystigma ... 4"
8 Nimbochromis fuscotaeniatus .... 2"

When they reach a larger size I will only keep a trio of each I think. Would like to add a few more ... any suggestions??

Aristochromis christyi or Buccochromis lepturus if I could find them.

 

[Floridagirl]

A 180 is not as big as it seems. I'd do three large species with 1m, 4F if you want to do groups. And I believe there is a risk of crossbreeding with the two Nimbo species. Have you thought of an all male tank? 8-10 large male fish?

 

[juststayinthecave]

A 180 is not as big as it seems. I'd do three large species with 1m, 4F if you want to do groups. And I believe there is a risk of crossbreeding with the two Nimbo species. Have you thought of an all male tank? 8-10 large male fish?

Floridagirl,

Could you please explain that a 180 is not as big as it seems to my wife? :lol:

 

[Fogelhund]

A 180 is not as big as it seems. I'd do three large species with 1m, 4F if you want to do groups. And I believe there is a risk of crossbreeding with the two Nimbo species. Have you thought of an all male tank? 8-10 large male fish?

I agree with the following post. With these big Haps, it is really difficult in breeding tanks to have more than one coloured up at a time.

 

[fox]

Some believe the fusco is mis classified and not a nimbochromis at all. These things have been know to happen in the past as well.

I have a 210 with large Haps, looked big in the brochure but once the fish matured it got small inna hurry. We have a few that are colored up all the time but fact is when the girls go to spawn it is pretty active in there with lots of bumps and bruises.

 

[Floridagirl]

A 180 is not as big as it seems. I'd do three large species with 1m, 4F if you want to do groups. And I believe there is a risk of crossbreeding with the two Nimbo species. Have you thought of an all male tank? 8-10 large male fish?

Floridagirl,

Could you please explain that a 180 is not as big as it seems to my wife? :lol:

If you will explain it to my hubby! :wink:

I just stocked a 5 ft 120, yesterday, and it seems I can fit about 15 6" haps/peacocks, etc., when they mature. You can do more younger fish, but have to pick the ones you really like, as they get larger. I'm going to add a few more (have 17 now) including a Malawi Eyebiter and Venustus that I know I will rehome at some point, but get to enjoy them now!

 

[kolopedo]

I have two 180g tanks stacked one on top of the other. The top tank has 11 LARGE Kapampa fronts in it with now issues as far as bioload goes.

If things het hairy as far as aggression goes, i have 3 120 gallon tanks to split fish up if I have to. I may put the polystigma in their own tank anyways. They are now on the Red List of endangered species and I would like to get optimum success with them.

As far as a 180 being too small, I believe this tank to be the equivelant of a 180:

 

[Fogelhund]

That tank is about 20cm longer than a 180 gallon, but not so much that it makes a huge difference.

Having said that, there is two fully coloured dominant males, and two males with decent colouration in the tank. It can be done, but it can also be difficult.

Six trios just won't work out, and if the Buccochromis are breeding, watch out.... For the best probability of success, pick three species that you want the most, that have the least alike in looks... for example the fusco and Champsochromis have fairly similar colouration when dominant... Then pick some fish that just aren't going to challenge them... such as Yellow Labs, or some Jacobfreibergi type Aulonocara....

 

[kolopedo]

Thanks for the input guys. I will report back what the results are when the fish mature.