Downsizing tanks?

[jred]

So unfortunately due to super bad apt I am having to move and will have to consolidate down fish wise (fortunately a friend is letting me store equipment at his house so I don't have to sell off all of that). I have mostly mbuna and my plan is to keep my breeding group of maingano (8-9 fish) and a trio of acei or rusties. Right now the fish occupy a 65 gal but I am planning on moving them into a 40 gal tall. Do you think there would be enough room for a dozen fish or so? Will the fish adjust to the smaller living space (given I will be selling the remainder of the fish?) is there anything that could ease the transition?

Thanks for any input, it would be greatly appreciated. 

[African cichlid Keeper]

40 tall is to small for Mbuna cichlids. They need a minimum of a 75 gal.

[Regalblue]

I wouldn't suggest anything smaller than a 75 & even that is pushing it for your intended stock.

[Steve]

I had about 15 Mubna (mostly adults) in a 55g for about 2 years. It was not ideal by any means, but they were healthy and no one got murdered during thing night. I do agree with Blair though, knowing what I know now I would not do anything smaller than a 75g for ideal conditions for mbuna, but if you are forced to downsize then a 48" 55 is "doable". I would not suggest a 40" tank though, there's just no room for escape and someone will for sure end up dead every few weeks.

[Regalblue]

I would not suggest a 40" tank though, there's just no room for escape and someone will for sure end up dead every few weeks.

a 40 high is 30" wide

[Steve]

Oh jezz, I thought he meant 40" wide...30" wide, I for sure would say no way

[jred]

Ya I have been trying to track down a 40 gal breeder cause I saw some posts on other forums about people keep a dozen or so dwarf mbuna in them. Then a friend offered 40 tall but I never checked the dimensions. Ya that footprint is not big enough. I think I can get my hands on a 55 gal so maybe I will go that route instead. However it looks a bit older and doesn't have the center brace, would that matter since the tank is 20" tall? Thanks for the quick responses guys.

[Regalblue]

What's your budget?  Pruess has 75s for $100+tax

[African cichlid Keeper]

Ya I have been trying to track down a 40 gal breeder cause I saw some posts on other forums about people keep a dozen or so dwarf mbuna in them. Then a friend offered 40 tall but I never checked the dimensions. Ya that footprint is not big enough. I think I can get my hands on a 55 gal so maybe I will go that route instead. However it looks a bit older and doesn't have the center brace, would that matter since the tank is 20" tall? Thanks for the quick responses guys.

40 breeder is still to small. You need a 75 gal. You can get way with a 55 gal.

[jred]

What's your budget?  Pruess has 75s for $100+tax

Is that brand new I presume? that's actually a very good price. But unfortunately its not about the price its about the water volume, I am moving back home so I can save money to buy a house with the fiancé but my mother is worried about the water volume. I talked her into letting me have a 50 gal (since 50s don't really exist anymore I will just round down on the 55 haha) so that's why I am consolidating. I don't want to upset her too much so I will abide by her rules but once I get my own space again I will keep in mind about Pruess - is that the reg price or is there a sale on? Thanks again guys and gals

[Regalblue]

Yes, that is new.
  Couple quick notes... wouldn't a new 75 be safer than a used 55?  & not condoning lying to your mother, but would she actually measure the tank and do the math? 
 Like you said... they don't really make 50s anymore.  Oops!  Rounded up to 75.

Sorry,  I'm an enabler & a bad influence , Lol! 

[mibwb]

If you had a basement no problem with weight...how about temporary braces under the floor?
What about keeping tank at your fiances'. I know about abiding by Mom's rules, if they were so (easy or fair) to live by no one would leave home....or is that the idea, to make you want to leave