[shiner]

I have just sold the last contents of my 60x32hx28w reef tank as electric prices over here in the uk are getting abit steep. The tank has twin overflows and two 4 foot sumps. I am looking at setting up a nice display tank and want some advice.

1. I like the look of peacocks so could you help taylor a setup around them

2. I would not mind a few fry to learn how to raise them so would a few labs etc be ok.

3. Would ozone be of any use in keeping the tank clean

4. What aquascaping would i need, loads of caves etc or a more open tank

Thanks for any help

 

[under_control]

I'll wait for the malawi folks to chime in regarding fish, but ozone isn't needed in the african tank, neither are protein skimmers, etc.

How do you have two four foot sumps under a 5 foot tank? Are they behind?

With a tank this size you will have tons of options

 

[shiner]

thanks for the reply, i guessed i would not be able to use the protein skimmer but ozone used for a couple of hours aday keeps the tank water crystal clear in a reef tank.
There are a few nice tanks on here so maybe i will just copy their stocking list.
Do i cycle fishless using ammonia so i can stock alot of fish in one go?

sorry for all the questions

 

[DNK]

Do i cycle fishless using ammonia so i can stock alot of fish in one go?

You don't have to but it's easy to do and you don't have to worry really about spikes etc when cycling with fish (as you probably already know) and can then add all/alot of fish at once.
Could you add any old filter media/gunge to the tank to give it a good kick start?
Just make sure you have a big kahuna of a filter if you're overstocking.

There are loads of tanks and stock lists in the "Your Tanks" section of this website to inspire you.

 

[DJRansome]

I don't have peacock experience, but have read all posts since I joined. Best odds of success seem to be all male tank or single species tank for peacocks. Since I assume you'd like more than one colored-up fish (peacock females are brown) I'll guess you are thinking all male.

Read the all-male article in the library under Africans for ideas. In general, you want one male of each species and you want to choose males that look nothing like each other. I think people ARE successful with a breeding group of yellow labs along with peacocks.

Aquascaping is some rocks but also some open swimming space. Don't fill the tank half full of rocks like mbuna. I think the tank of the month (click on Your Tanks menu item) has a selection of peacocks, but I'd leave out the tropheus and others who are not Aulonocara if it were me.

 

[shiner]

i hope this will work

10x labidochromis caeruleus "electric yellow"
10x metriaclima callainos "cobalt blue"

would i also be able to keep a pair from each of the peacock groups ok

cheers for your help

 

[gaqua]

i hope this will work

10x labidochromis caeruleus "electric yellow"
10x metriaclima callainos "cobalt blue"

would i also be able to keep a pair from each of the peacock groups ok

cheers for your help

Cobalts are very pretty fish but they can be pretty aggressive, too. I had some that were definitely the biggest jerks in my tank, but then again, they might be better in your larger tank, however I wouldn't necessarily trust them with the much more chillaxed peacocks.

As for peacock groups and pairs, the problem is that most of the time, the females look identical, which means if you plan on distributing any fry, you could have hybrids.

There are a few exceptions. Ruby Reds and Dragonbloods/Fire Fish have colorful females as well as males.

It seems like you want some color and some activity, and you want some fry/breeding action.

From the tank calculator, it sounds like your tank is about 220-230 US Gallons, which is huge.

I'd look into something like this:

MBUNA
10x Yellow Labs (solid yellow)
10x Cynotilapia Afra "Cobue" (blue/purple bottom, orange/yellow top, black/dark blue bars - very pretty fish)
10x Pseudotropheus Acei (purple with yellow tail)

PEACOCK
5-10 - All males of different species

Your Mbuna would be the ones breeding, so your breeding would be plentiful there, and you'd have a nice mix of sizes and colors.

As for aquascaping, the setup I'd use would be having some sand as a substrate, with lots of rocks and caves, but leaving the top 1/3 of the tank open. Leave some open sand as well so they can play around and dig. If your tank is 32" high, you have plenty of height which is why I recommend the Acei and the Peacocks.

Though your tank only has a 5' length, it's got a 28" wide base which gives you a significant advantage when it comes to floor space.

If you want to breed Peacocks, you really do have to be careful with your selection, otherwise you'll get hybrids.

 

[Gibbs]

Gagua has given you good advice

I would add only one harem of peacock myself. Say 1 male and 5 females. That way you are not risking hybridization.
Labs and Acei for sure but i think the Cobue can be substituted for something else if desired. The reason behind my thinking is that although the males color up very beautifully the females are very bland.

 

[shiner]

Thanks for the help

I will post some pictures soon.

 

[shiner]

Sorry just a quick one, With each of the mbuna what ratio male to female shall i keep?

Thanks

 

[hollyfish2000]

With your big tank, you might also consider a hap, such as the Red Empress as a breeding group. These get larger than peacocks, but are spectacular and can hold their own with some of the mbuna (definitely labs and acei)

Don't forget to get some synodontis catfish. Since you want to breed, you probably shouldn't go with multipunctatus, which is a parasitic breeder, but there are other options. Petricola (lucipinnis) looks similar. You could get a nice 5-6 cat group, which will be endlessly entertaining

 

[Gibbs]

For best results 1M/4-5F

 

[Gibbs]

which is a parasitic breeder

What is meant by this?

I agree with the red empress suggestion. Very spectacular fish and probably my favorite :thumb:

 

[cichlidaholic]

Multipunctatus are "cuckoo" breeders...They steal mbuna eggs and drop their own for the female mbuna to incubate.

I would definitely stay away from the Cobalts (M. callainos) if you plan to keep peacocks in this setting. The Cobalts are far too boisterous for the peacocks, and would cause stress and long term problems.

The afra Cobue might be okay in a tank this size, but you want to keep an eye on them. Should you see the peacocks with clamped fins or behaving stressed in any way, you may need to remove them, but in a tank that size, I think you'll be okay.

I would just go all male with the peacocks, and not try to add any females at all.

Kim

 

[why_spyder]

I would go with some Cynotilapia and Labeotropheus fuelleborniin this tank.

As for peacocks - if you don't mind a few bland females, I'd do a breeding group of them. Personally, I like my brown and silver females - they make all the colored males that much more colorful. That and they help convince the male to show his best. :thumb:

 

[DJRansome]

why_spyder, fuelleborni with peacocks? You do have success with the most unusual mixes!

 

[cichlidaholic]

why_spyder, fuelleborni with peacocks? You do have success with the most unusual mixes!

I agree...I would think adding fuelleborni would make for some very stressed peacocks!

Or maybe I always pick out the "bad seeds"!

Kim

 

[why_spyder]

My mbuna don't bother any of my peacocks - and I have a lot of smaller sized peacocks (2" and under). I really don't know why it works out that way, honestly. :-?

Now when I had Labeotropheus trewavasae - that was a different story. They were relentless beaters of everything in the tank.