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Need help planning a new tank

1692 Views 9 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  Darkside
I am planning a new tank and at first was going to do some malawi mbuna, but have changed my mind and am thinking of doing some of my favorite tangs (I say some of my favorites because I am a huge fan of Fronts, but can't do such a large tank.)

I am thinking about a 30 gallon long with

pair of Brichardi (With the longest lyre tails I can find.. maybe Cape Nangu with their little green faces or Magara?)
pair of Calvus Inkfins
3-4 (one male, 2-3 females) Oscillatus
2-4 Syn. Petricola

Hopefully all will breed.

What do you think of this combination and putting them in this tank size???? And what ratio of oscillatus are best?

Also, I am considering going with wild-caught, but unsure. What are the pros and cons of wild versus F1 versus others?

Finally, I am wondering about the substrate. I was going to do sand simply because the oscillatus is so cute blowing sand. Will the others like the sand? And I was planning on black sand to make the Brichardi and Oscillatus stand out, but I am not sure it will do justice to the Calvus? How about if I have a lot of white stone to show off the calvus?

In any case, simply in the planning stage (need to convince my husband of another tank still, but getting closer.) I would appreciate all thoughts prior to my setting it up though.....

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and help....
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I wouldn't really keep the brichardi complex with other fish unless they're really tough. You may be able to keep Calvus with them, possibly the smaller Telmatochromis temporalis and maybe something like a leleupi.

On the other hand I do keep my shellies with synos, but if you want to keep the fry, they must be removed shortly after you spot them, the won't last long in an aquarium full of predators. I find that as long as the fish spawn in shells you'll be able to get viable fry from them.

Paracyps are another option for a tank of that size, they're peaceful (I think they're a bit boring) but a small group can be successful in a 30 gallon aquarium.
The dickfeldi will tussle with the occies, you can try it but you may have more luck with something like J. transcriptus.
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