New 75 Gallon stocking ideas

[fishandcards]

I am setting up a 75 gallon for my son.  Here is my current stocking plan:

8 to 10 psuedotropheus saulosi (2 to 3 males and 6 to 8 females) - would start out with 12 or so juvies to get the ratio I need
6 to 8 Rusties (2 males and 4 to 6 females) - would start out with 12 or so juvies to get the ratio I need
3 synodonis petricula or multis (alternative is a small school (6) of skunk loaches (I love those little guys))

questions are as follows:
1.  Is my stocking level okay?  There will be plenty of filtration and good water changes.
2.  Is my m to f ratio okay?
3.  Any suggestions in place of the rusties?  I want something significantly different than the saulosi - would like something green or red........
One thought was a couple of Calvus----not sure because they are slow growing (and come from a different lake)
4.  With the stocking I am planning, is there a high chance of hybrids?  I am not planning on being a breeder by any means, but want to know.......
5.  Anyone raising any of these fish for sale in the metro detroit area?  I am probably about 2 months away from stocking (need to finish setting up the tank and cycle it) but would like to plan a little bit ahead.

Any advice or comments is appreciated (even to tell me I am crazy).

[African cichlid Keeper]

Pmed you.

[danielratti]

I wouldn't do the clavus due to the aggression from the mbuba.

[jcunningham0295]

Personally, with mbuna I would find another species to add in as well.  Rusties are good, but in my expierence salousi can be very agressive.  You want to make sure not one can single out another and with saousi you might want to purchase more and sell off extra males beacuse they tend to be very male heavy.  I have 40 2.5" ones I am growing out right now trying to get a good breeding group.

[auratus]

Agree with all and add that fish from Tanganyika have different water requirements . While most fish from lake Malawi will tolerate a vareity of water conditions Tananyikians for the most part will not, are are not recomended for beginers .  Tanganykian fish require hard water, and very clean water .  The hard water is not a problem for many in this area  (  do NOT use softened water..... learned this the hard way) good luck there are PLENTY of other Malawi to choose from sure Calvus are cool.... set up another tank in the future for Tanganyikians in the future . Good luck!!!!!!!!!

[fishandcards]

Okay - So have gotten one no on the rusties.  I was not that set on them, just was the only smallish alternative I had seen recommended else where that was not blue or yellow.  Any suggestions for alternatives?   

Kind of figured that the Calvus would be challenging at the very least.  If I was going to attempt it, I would probably get the calvus let them grow and "own" the tank, then buy smaller saulosi after a few months - don't think the 9 yo will have the patientce for that.

Any other suggestions? 

[jcunningham0295]

I think you would be fine with the rusties in there espically if you added another mbuna species.  Look at white labs.  They should be ok, with rusties and salousi.

[danielratti]

Yeah I'd do rusties...  Maybe try something like a fulliborbi type even.