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30 gallon tank

4K views 22 replies 4 participants last post by  FISHSD 
#1 ·
Hi i'm new to forums
I have a 30 gallon tank thats been set up for about 3 weeks. I have a redtail shark, its been in there for a week and a half. I just got a electric yellow/ yellow lab and am planning on having 3 total. I was told to take the shark out or he would be killed. ANy suggestions of reccomendations would be great.
THANKS
 
#2 ·
Red-tail sharks and mbunas are incompatible. While the yellow labs aren't exactly as aggressive as the other mbunas, the issue still goes to the establishment of territories. Red-tail sharks are quite aggressive and will try to establish their territory.
 
#4 ·
FISHSD said:
so this is an issue of territory and not that the redtail shark cant handle itself with the electric yellows??
I find yellow labs to be rather peaceful and not very aggressive. Your red-tail shark is liable to bully them out of their hiding places.
 
#6 ·
FISHSD said:
ok well right now i have a redtail and just bought a electric yellow which was fine yesterday, but now seems to chase the redtail. They are both a little over 2 inches, but the redtail might be a bit bigger.
I would monitor them if I were you.:) Right now, they may be okay but the aggression might just increase as they mature. Cichlids love to establish their boundaries and will not appreciate being driven away which the red-tail sharks are liable to do or so at least in my experience.:)
 
#8 ·
FISHSD said:
I think i know the answer to this but if I were to get rid of the redtail could i have electric yellows and around 3 red zebra cichlids??
You can. Filtration must also be increased to cope with the added bioload.
 
#10 ·
FISHSD said:
a 30 gallon isn't too small for around 6 cichlids??? a redtail probably would get destroyed in a tank like that too right.
Oh, I mean you can if you remove your shark. Overstocking with Lake Malawi cichlids is okay to reduce aggression but there will always be disadvantages and that includes overstocking a Lake Malawi biotope
 
#12 ·
FISHSD said:
somebody said it would raise their aggression since there wouldn't enough territory.
Like I said, there are always disadvantages in almost everything. Please read this link. I can't explain well with the writer's block I am feeling.:shock:
http://www.duboisi.com/malawirec.htm
 
#14 ·
FISHSD said:
k that helped but why would other people say not to do this??
Overstocking often causes serious health issues because at this point, contagious diseases are easily transmitted especially with fish that are all too often harassed and it is difficult to keep down the nitrates to below 40 ppm unless you have sufficient filtration and doing water changes on almost daily basis.
 
#16 ·
FISHSD said:
so you have to put alot of work into it, and by daily you mean??
You have to put a lot of effort in maintaining your nitrates below 40 ppm by doing frequent water changes if you wish to overstock. Lake Malawi cichlids produce a lot of wastes
Do you mean two filters or like a filter meant for a 60 gallon tank for a 30 gallon?
I would prefer the former so that in case, one is not working the other will hopefully continue working thus preventing any possible mini cycles which can harm your fish. Do prefer some airpumps and battery-operated ones in case of power outages. Your fish are liable to gasp from insufficient oxygen during power outages.
 
#18 ·
FISHSD said:
well i dont know how much work im willing to put in. I will do it least a water change every week maybe twice but i doubt that is sufficient enough.
Monitor your ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH nevertheless.

Good luck.;)
 
#20 ·
A 30g tank may be ok for a grow-out tank, but the best size for a GOOD mbuna tank is 125g-135g. Something in the lines of 5-6 feet long.
I have kept African cichlids for many years and have found that by jamming the tank beyond the normal realm of theory that aggression is less than when abiding by the "rules". I jam the tank beyond normal accepted boundries and filter it VERY heavily. I currently have a 300g Malawian tank that must have around 300+ fish in it. It is filtered with (4) Marineland 1140 powerheads over a undergravel filter, (2) Magnum 350 canister filters, (2) Emperor 400's, and (2) Fluval 4+ internal power filters. Substrate is Eco-complete Cichlid Gravel and the Magnums have a crushed coral added to their media containers. Decorations consist of lace rock to form caves and hiding places for the fish.
 
#21 ·
So what are you saying that it might be able to keep 3 electric yellows and 3 red zebras until they get bigger?? Will it be okay to keep 3 electric yellows in there permanently and maybe with a redtail shark, in your opinion?? I am probably going to get a 75g or 90g tank in a few months but no fer sures on that.
 
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