How many cichlids are in this tank

[greenfox]

Hi,

I've got a 40 gallon rio 180 tank, currently home to 14 saulousi and jalos. I'm thinking of adding more mbuna cichlids to the mix. My local shop mentioned the 1 gallon per inch rule, and that mbunas do well in overstocked tanks. I'd love to introduce some more colour, and with my current fish reaching 2" I figure I've got some wiggle room for a few more... maybe some labs.

I'm running two ex1200 filters, so I'm hoping ammonia and nitrate levels will stay in check. Any advice or suggestions would be great.

[rustyfox]

To be honest, I'm surprised you're considering adding more fish to your tank. The dimensions of a rio 180 are 48 inches long, 12 inches wide and 18 inches high - a decent size but not massive.

The one inch per gallon rule doesn't really apply to african cichlids like mbunas - they need more space to thrive. 14 full grown fish in a 40 gallon tank is way too many, I think you're asking for trouble.

[nerdy_9]

I'd still like to know the tank's dimensions, as the one inch per gallon rule definitely doesn't cut it for African cichlids. 14 full-grown fish, in my opinion, would be way too many for a 40-gallon tank. A better rule of thumb is to consider the minimum tank size plus waste production when deciding the number of fish. For cichlids, I'd recommend at least 20 gallons and a massive amount of filtration. A safer bet would be to allocate 5 gallons per fish. If possible, rehoming some of them might be a good idea.

[greenfox]

I've had a lot of discussion since my last post and I also paid a visit to a Mbuna breeder for some expert advice. It turns out my wife was right - length is more important than width, especially for Mbuna since they're mainly bottom dwellers, so height isn't as crucial.

There's no one-size-fits-all rule for stocking, whether it's 1" per gallon or any other guideline - it really depends on the individual tank and breeder. You've got to use some common sense and see how things go, obviously you don't want stressed or dead fish.

The breeder I met said overstocking Mbuna tanks can actually help reduce aggression, and having seen his tanks, which were similar in size to mine, I think I'll be okay with the numbers I'm planning.

The main concern he raised was the impact of waste on nitrate and ammonia levels, but I'm already taking care of that with my over-filtration setup.

Thanks for the advice, but I think this is more of a trial-and-error situation - there's no straightforward answer.

[nerdy_9]

I had a chance to discuss with a breeder and I think I've got a better understanding now. It seems length is more crucial than width for Mbuna tanks, and since they're mainly bottom dwellers, height isn't as important. My wife actually pointed that out to me earlier.

There's no one-size-fits-all rule for stocking, whether it's the 1" per gallon or any other. It really comes down to the individual tank and the breeder's experience. You just need to use some common sense and see how things go.

The breeder I met said overstocking can actually help prevent aggression in Mbuna tanks. I saw his tanks, which were similar in size to mine, and I think I can make it work with the numbers I have in mind.

The main concern is still nitrate and ammonia levels due to waste. But I'm already taking care of that with my filtration setup. Thanks for the advice, but I think it's more about trial and error than finding a definitive answer.