Tang community stocking

[jhayes6405]

Hi, this is my first real post here. First of all, this is an awesome site. I've lurked for a while. Thanks to whoever puts the time and effort in here.

I have a Oceanic 50 cube that holds mixed mbuna right now. I want to make it a Tang community tank. With the odd shape of this tank, its kind of tough. My wife has a 55gal mixed tang, that she wants me to take 2 comps and 2 juli off her hands so she can dedicate it to shellies. So I have to take those two, what else would mix in this tank. Both the comps and julis are too young to sex. I cant do cyps because they wouldn't have enough back and forth room. I don't want to do shellies because I have a clown loach(2") and eupterus cat(2.5") that I am extremely attached to. I have no interest in doing Tropheus either. So, what can I add to this tank that will coexist?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[angel]

How about daffodils? They do get aggressive at breeding time but then what doesn't? Brichardi? I'd think they'd be nice to add. The tank is the wrong shape for the mbuna anyway I'd think. They get bigger and need to swim up and down the channel. Your tangs if they're kept to the smaller ones would probably be the better option. What will you do with your mbuna though? Will you set up another tank for them?
Anyone else have an opinion on this one? Sirknight and Jon are very good with what fish goes with what.

[jon carman]

I would do calvus, leleupi, julies, maybe some gobies. I have a ton coming in this week and a lot left over from last order. I have some featherfins, and Xenotilapia that would be great, but they would prefer a species tank.

[jhayes6405]

Thanks for the help.

Angel, the mbuna are being sold to someone 3 hours from me. Still trying to figure out how to transport all these fish without stressing them too much. I had two helianthis in our Tang community tank, but they only lasted two day! All the inhabitants were juveis and the Helianthis dominated half my 55. So, now they inhabit my 10 gal that was going to be a quarantine. I guess I just figured the daffodils would be just as aggresive.

Jon, if I were in nashville I would be all over getting some from you. But, I have to settle for a breeder out of Atlanta. I'm going to take your advice and go with a 1m/2f (hopefully) group of leleupi and a goby or two. If they don't have them large enough to sex, could I get away with some cylindricus or caudopuntatus?

[jon carman]

That's cool, I can ship for cheap if you are in the southeast. I think if you put some good rock in there you would be fine with most of these combos. If the daffodil/ leleupi/ etc. start breeding they will get aggressive, and with that sized tank it could get bad, but if you try go all male you should be fine. I would get them at 1"-2" in groups of 3, and sell/give the females away as they age. If you trust the guy your getting them from maybe he can hook you up with some decent sized males.

[sirknight]

The only other problem you may have is the Calvus getting enough food. The other fish named are fast swimmers and may get all the food before the Calvus can get any.

I would go with what Jon is saying stay away from pairs or trio's and do an all male tank.

Joe

[jhayes6405]

I would like to do that, but all my fish are being raised from juvies. No idea what the sex are

[jon carman]

That will be fine, just as aggression starts you may have to trade/ sell/ give fish away. If you want to have to many of something I would have to many comps or calvus. I have 15 in my 125 that are and inch all the way up to 5 inches. I have 3 daffodil, 2 leleupi, 1 cylindricus, and mbuna, fronts, peacocks, haps, eels, catfish, plecos, all living together in perfect harmony.

[sirknight]

I agree Jon in a 125 your mix can work at least for a while.

However, his tank is something like a 24"x24"x24" that was the reason I was saying that the calvus may not get enough food. The other fish named will be eating all or most of the food before the calvus can get to it. If I were him with that size tank I would make it a single species tank or match same habit fish. I would not mix slow feeders and slow movers with aggressive feeders and fast moving fish.

Also I just saw he has a clown loach. That fish will get way to big for that tank in a short time. Although it could be a good reason to get a bigger tank.

In your tank you can start feeding at one end of the tank and then feed across 72" of surface.

Just my 2 cents


Joe

[jhayes6405]

Heres a manufacturers pic of the tank;

www.oceanicsystems.com/assets/006/12379_400wh.jpg

The demensions are L 30.5 x W 18.5 x H 21. So, I guess cube ish.

I'll make sure the comp gets fed. I usually put flake in by the pinch in front of the water return so its blasted everywhere. I had the same concern in another tank.

I'll post a pic of the tank in the right section once the water clears a bit. BTW, thanks for all the help and suggestions.

[oneyoda]

Nice. I'm getting the 30 cube & stand in cherry from my sister before she moves.