Is this choice inspired or a recipe for disaster?

[finnley8]

I'm currently cycling my new 270-litre tank and with four or five weeks to go, I've been pondering the initial stocking of my first cichlid aquarium. Africans are my preference, and I'm considering adding 20 fish at once to mitigate aggression. This seems like a reasonable number, though I'm open to stocking as few as 12 if that's recommended. The fish will be in the 5-7cm range initially, so overstocking shouldn't be an issue.

I've opted for an all-male tank to maximize colour and since I'm not interested in breeding. I've focused on more peaceful cichlids, narrowing it down to: Yellow-finned acei, Rusties, Ob Alonocara, Greshakei, Yellow lab, White-tailed acei, Placidochromis phenochilus - though they can grow up to 25cm, which might be too big for a metre-long tank, Otopharynx ovatus, Copadichromis borleyi, Alonocara baenschi, and Cynotilapia afra.

I was thinking of getting all of these peaceful species, as they should theoretically coexist without issues. To reach 20 fish, some would need to be in pairs or small groups - I thought Yellow-finned aceis, Afras, Rusties, and Yellow labs could work in twos or threes.

Is this mix feasible? Am I over- or understocked? Do any of these species require females to remain peaceful? Any advice is much appreciated.

[waterworlds]

First off, congrats on choosing African cichlids - they're my favorite for their ease of care and vibrant colors. I'm based in the US, so I work with gallons, and your 270-liter tank is roughly equivalent to 70 gallons. With that in mind, 20 fish seems like a good starting point - I have a 65-gallon tank myself with 40 cichlids, a mix of males and females.

When it comes to size, I'd recommend avoiding any fish that can grow bigger than 6 inches; they require a lot of space and swimming room. The yellow labs are one of my personal favorites, and they look stunning in larger groups.

One thing to keep in mind is that African cichlids are naturally territorial, and even the more peaceful species can exhibit aggression and fight. However, adding plenty of rocks and hiding places can really help to reduce tensions. If you have any other questions or concerns, feel free to ask.

[finnley8]

Thanks for the advice. 20 as a starting point seems quite high, I was thinking of that as the maximum number. I've got 11 species lined up, so maybe I should limit it to two or three of each to avoid overstocking.

Most of the fish I'm looking at are relatively small, 15cm or less, so space shouldn't be an issue. The only exception is the placidochromis phenochilus, which can grow up to 25cm. I'll make sure to include plenty of rocks and hiding places in the tank to reduce aggression.

[waterworlds]

I think starting with 20 and then assessing the aggression levels before adding more would be a good approach, maybe adding 10 more later if all goes well. Do you have a photo of your tank setup, I'd love to see how you've arranged it, especially with 40 cichlids in a 65-gallon tank.

[finnley8]

I'd start out with the 20 then maybe add 10 more later depending on how the others act aggression wise.
Do you have a pic of the tank?

[waterworlds]

No, you don't have to add all the fish at the same time, I've found that when I introduce new ones, I just move the caves and rocks around beforehand, this gives everyone a fresh start, new areas to claim, and the newcomers get a chance to stake their territory. I can rearrange everything back to normal after a day or two, seems to work pretty well for me.

[fruity1]

I'd recommend dividing your cichlids into smaller groups of the same species, three or so per group would work well. This will help reduce aggression as each group will establish its own territory around a specific cave structure. To minimize aggression, it's a good idea to separate these structures using plants or artificial dividers.

When choosing your cave structures, keep in mind that you'll need to move them around during gravel cleaning, which can be a regular task with cichlids. I found that large rocks can be cumbersome, so I switched to lighter artificial structures.

Also, consider whether you want to introduce females to your tank. If you do, you'll need to be prepared for breeding and the possibility of needing an additional tank for the fry. If you're not prepared for this, it might be better to stick with an all-male tank.

You might also want to think about adding some algae-eating fish, like sevelfake algae eaters, to help keep your tank clean.

By the way, what are the dimensions of your tank? A longer tank is usually better for cichlids as it gives them more room to escape aggression. Good luck with your tank, and I'd love to see some pictures soon!

[finnley8]

Consider having a few groups of the same species in your tank, this could help with aggression issues. I found creating separate cave structures, either with plants or artificial sources, can give each group its own territory and reduce aggression. Just keep in mind that these structures will need to be moved around during gravel cleaning. I used to use large rocks but found them cumbersome and switched to lighter artificial structures.

Adding males and females of the same species can create a breeding environment, is that your intention? If so, are you prepared with a separate tank for the fry? When breeding occurs and the fry are reintroduced to the main tank, the population can quickly grow beyond the tank's ability to stay cycled. Your 70-gallon tank should be fine for a while, but it's something to consider.

Also, think about adding some algae eaters like seveflake algae eaters to help keep algae under control. I'm curious, what are the dimensions of your tank? Cichlids need room to escape aggression, so a longer tank is better.

By the way, I think a pleco would be a great addition for algae eating, and they'll also clean up stray food. Yellow labs are also a great choice, and I think they'll mix well with the alonocaras. I've always liked the look of red-top Liongi, they're quite peaceful and would be a great addition to your tank.