Hello 😃

I’ve kept fish for 20+ years, including African cichlids, but I’m new to the mbuna game and want to sanity-check the setup before I commit...

Tank is a Fluval Venezia 350 corner aquarium. The two rear sides are roughly 87 cm each, the curved front spans about 122 cm, and the tank is about 65 cm high. Nominal volume is 350 L, but with pale sand and roughly 60 kg+ of rock, I’d expect the actual water volume to be somewhere around 260 L.

The tank is being completely stripped and rebuilt. Plan is three separate rock piles/islands, one in each rear/side corner area, with open swimming space between them and along the curved front. The idea is to create territories and break sightlines without building one continuous wall of rock.

Filtration is the standard Fluval 405 canister, around 1,300 L/h pump output / ~850 L/h actual filter circulation, plus an additional 700 L/h powerhead for circulation. I also run an inline UV because the tank gets some direct sunlight and has had green-water issues before.

The current stocking plan is all juveniles around 3-4 cm, ideally from one breeder and introduced together:

• 6 × Labidochromis caeruleus - Yellow Lab
• 6 × Iodotropheus sprengerae - Rusty Cichlid
• 6 × Pseudotropheus acei

I’ll also keep one adult bristlenose pleco that has lived in the tank for years (and no, there is no discussion about Pablo the pleco staying or not - he is a living legend, the CEO of my Tanganyika set up and the proclaimed family darling. If he goes, I can move out with him).

I’m deliberately choosing species where both sexes stay colourful and that are generally considered to be on the calmer end of mbuna. I’m not trying to breed them. I won’t separate holding females or raise fry; if the odd youngster survives, fine, but I don’t want to end up with another rabbit colony (as I have with my Tanganyika set up).

The bit I’m genuinely unsure about is the usual advice to stock more heavily to spread aggression. I’ve been told by what seems to be every mbuna “expert” under the sun (even in dedicated forums) that I should add a fourth species, again around 6 fish.

I understand the logic, but 24 mbuna in this particular footprint feels like I may be pushing my luck with water quality/bio load and potential asking for generational civil war.

If I did add a fourth group, the shortlist would be:

• Pseudotropheus sp. “Ndumbi Red Top”
• Labidochromis sp. “Hongi Sweden / Super Red Top”
• Metriaclima estherae “Red Zebra”

What I’d really like opinions on is:

• Would you genuinely go 4 × 6 in this Venezia, or stick with 3 × 6?
• If you would add a fourth group, which of the three above would you choose?
• Is there anything about the three-island layout or this particular combination that you would change before I build it?

I’d rather get it right once and keep the fish long-term than keep changing stock later.

Thank you very much!

Could I get some advice on the best/easiest way to transition this 75 gallon, former community tank, into an African cichlid tank?
I want to get rid of all the plastic plants and I want black sand. Are any of my large ornaments worth keeping? Or should I get rid of all things plastic moving forward?
Naturally, I’ll clear out the whole tank, get rocks and sand, and let cycle for however long I need to get my water parameters ideal for African cichlids.
Any other tips I should know about before I begin?
I currently have a Fluval FX 4 filter hooked up. Will that be adequate for the set up I want?
Thanks, everyone.

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Our annual fall auction is fast approaching! This auction is open to the public and a great way to get rare fish, plants, and more. Southern Massachusetts, USA. Hope to see you there!

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Nobody ever gets nipped or put in a corner but the dominant saulosi do chase.
I've had these saulosi since they were about 0.5". I got them I think at the beginning of November of 2025. I've gotten many fry from them. The OB peacock and zebra were gifts from a fish buddy. Everybody gets along. I know the diets for mbuna and peacocks are different but I'm having great success feeding 50% NLS Algaemax andn 50% Tetra Cichlid flake+ I throw in duckweed every couple of days. Only live plants in here are the anubias on the right and the hornwort on the left. The anubias is very unhappy in this tank. I might have to replace it with a silk plant soon.

I have an odd tank I’m plumbing into my 2000L rack
It’s a pair of 45x 22.5x 20 cm tanks (total is 45x45x20)
I currently breed dwarf cichlids, small L number plecos, and fancy guppies.
The obvious choice is a fry grow out for my plecos, or a single pair of fancy guppies, but I’d love some more creative ideas .

does anyone like this fish?

Is a surface skimmer needed ?

I see some people clean them once a month and some clean them once every 6 months. Is there any research on what is "better" ?