300 gallon tank

Question
QUESTION: I gradually lowered the level of the 300 gallon tank by half over the last 24 hours...the nitrite level has come way way down...perhaps I overwhelmed the sponges, etc with too much water...I will wait till all the water chemistry tests are within normal parameters and then start gradually bringing the tank up to capacity.  The current fish load is 3 large gold severums, a pair of ngara flametails (these fish are between 3 and 6 inches), 6 juvenile electric blues (one inch) 6 juvenile honduran red points (1-2 inch), about a dozen guppies.  I have a breeding colony of electric yellows, red zebras, ngara flametails (probably about 40 fish altogether) in separate tanks.  I understand that the red points are south american and should be in a different tank (they were fry that my pairs spawned and just ended up in this tank by accident).  Two questions...how vital is it to remove the red points? The tank is large, they are very small and it is very very difficult to try and net them out at this time.  What would be the maximum number of african cichlids to avoid overstocking a 300 gallon tank.  I have provided plenty of caves, driftwood, hiding and spawning locations. I do not want to overstock the tank, but I would like to give these fish the 7 1/2 foot length to establish territories better then in a 90 gallon (four foot long tank),  The cichlids are currently divided between a 125, a 90, and three 55 gallon tanks...or would i be ahead to keep species tanks, electric yellows in one, zebras in one, ngara flametails in one, electric blues in one? I also have a pair of powder blues..Will any of these cichlids hybridize with each other. Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Brenda,
I would not mix African Cichlids with South American Cichlids.  The reason being that they do not thrive in the same water conditions.  The African Cichlids need alkaline water, the South American Cichlids need acidic to neutral.  This is important, even though the Peacock, and Electric Yellow may be less aggressive than other african cichlids, they still needs alkaline water.  To go against this would be like giving a fish a headache for the rest of his life.  The Severum should be in acidic to neutral water, and if you plan on breeding them, they will have to have a tank of their own.  Severums are good parents, and will defend their young.  Like most South American Cichlids they are very aggressive when they have fry.  
The red points are not very aggressive, and should be kept with smaller cichlids.  They are a beautiful fish.  I realize that they would be very hard to remove in a 300 gallon tank.  They should escape the bigger fish that see them as food, you may lose a few.  
Severums grow quite big, up to 10 inches, and a pair of severums need at least 60 gallons of water...so this would be 180 gallons for three severums.  
If you plan on making your 300 gallon an african tank only, be prepared.  They do not have the same breeding habits, and females should be removed when holding eggs in their month.  The male should have at least three females, and more is better, or he will harass the female constantly.  The female Peacock will look after the fry for about 4 days, sometimes more.  She should then be removed, but not returned to the main tank until she has regained her strength.  Returning her to the tank, is taking a chance on her being pregnant again, which will lead to starvation.  The male does not help with the fry.   She eats very little for around 15-20 days, and is very weak after the fry are free swimming.  The same goes for Electric Yellows.  Other Africans such as Leleupi's  or Lamprologus Bricardi's, will form a nuclear family, and defend their young.  In a big tank, they should be able to survive...but other fish in the tank will always see little fish as food.   You must have smaller tanks to care for the fry when spawning African Cichlids, or terrible fights may break out causing death, and injury.  
When keeping African Cichlids it is always a good idea to change the decor every month, so that they do not get too comfortable with their territories, although the ones you have are less aggressive.  
The number of fish for your 300 gallon depends on the size the fish will reach at maturity.  For instance, 5 electric blues need 50 gallons of water.  You will have to judge this.
I am happy to know that your water chemistry is coming along, this is so important.  Once you have reached the right chemistry, keep adding water a little at a time until your 300 gallon is full.
African Cichlids do interspawn, but if they have their own kind, they will mate with their own, but it does happen.  The fry that result from different parents are sterile.
I would recommend one male to 5 females of his own kind because you have the space to do so, and less aggression will be made between males.
As you can see this is lots of observation, but when we have the passion to do this, and the patience, all goes well.  All of us have learned as we go, and are still learning...there is always something to learn, always something new, and interesting, as not all fish act the same way, even if they are the same species. It is a wonderful hobby.  
I hope this will help.
Lynda

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Lynda, thanks so much...I actually am not trying to breed these fish, I am just trying to give them conditions similar to their natural environment and then they will do what nature tells them to...that is why I do not remove the fry..I do have a brichardi 55 gallon species tank...multiple generations peacefully co-existing in the tank...I started with just six juvies, let them grow up and now have at least three or four different size juvies in the tank...someone gave me some adult brichardi but can you tell me if it would be safe to put them in the tank with my existing colony? I was not sure, so put them in a separate 20 until I decide...there are two adult and about six two inch juvies...thanks for all your help and insight...rearranging the tank every month would be very difficult, as I must climb on a ladder to service the tank from above...but I can add rocks to change the territories and can rearrange once every six months? would that work? thanks again for your help

Answer
Hi!
I see no reason why you couldn't add the Bricardi's.  They are very helpful in raising fry that are not theirs.  I have done this a little while back, and to my surprise, they all helped each other out!  Of course their could be exceptions, it is always a throw of dice, but I would definitely try it.  
Like I mentioned to you, you will have to remove the pregnant Peacock, and the Electric Blue when they are pregnant.  You will have no choice, because they are mouth brooders.  If left in the tank, they will get pregnant again very quickly, and then they would starve to death.  Keeping an African tank is something else!  It looks easy, but it is lots of work, and observation.  A sick fish will bring disease to the whole tank.   Males will eventually fight with each other for females, and territories...I have seen tanks, when left without changing the decor, that looked like the valley of death!!   They do get to comfortable with their territory, and they will fight to death if they have to.   These fish are very very aggressive, and territorial.  I would house them in another tank which is easier to get to, and keep South American Cichlids in the big one.  They are aggressive, and territorial too, but much less worry, and you don't have to change their decor very often.  Trouble is when you do get a pair of South American Cichlids, they must have their own tank, so try to buy only females.  The golden severum is one of my favorite fish.  I have bred them, and let me tell you, they must have their own tank.  Since you are not into breeding, try to buy only females, and do not mix the African Cichlids with the South American Cichlid.  I know it is tempting, but it is best not to.  
An African tank is beautiful to see.  If you had only females it would be much easier, but most of the time, it is the males which are the prettier ones, and some are impossible to tell the difference between the male, and the female!  Their are many beautiful South American Cichlids too.   If you do decide to go with South American Cichlids, you could add Rainbow fish which are also very pretty, and add colour to a tank.  This is just a suggestion.  The Red Rainbow, and the Bosemani are really pretty fish, and there are many others.
The Peacock, and Electic Blue are less aggressive, but still need alkaline water.  The Severum, needs acidic to neutral.  We cannot change this, no matter what we do.  They must have the right water conditions for them to be happy.  Water conditions can stress fish, and stress fish get sick.  Treating a 300 gallon tank with medication is nothing to look forward too, believe me!  
However, if you do decide to go with the African Cichlids, make sure to remove the pregnant ones, and do not put them back into the tank until they have regained their strength.  Sometimes, just adding a few rocks every month, will help, or just re-arranging a few.  You do not have to re-do the whole decor, just change a couple of rocks here, and there.
I understand that you would be worried, just do the best you can, and hopefully everything will go well.  When we love fish the way you do, our instinct tells us what to do..it is very odd, but true.  You will feel what is right, and what is not right.
Best of luck..
Lynda