Is this OK?

[Ava333]

6' 125 gallon tank. My juvies are maturing and I'm concerned. A lot of my fish are staying up Above the rock work for most of the day in the middle of the tank. So far: only 3 fish with nipped fins and 2 holding females that are doing good.

Here's my questions:
1. Is it normal for so many fish to stay up ABOVE the rocks and plants in the middle of the tank? This doesn't look right to me. (All the fish do cruise the tank frequently. But most end up back in the middle, because 4 males have staked territories on the ends of the tank. No one has to hide by the heater, intake, or output. All but one (youngest) species has spawned.)
2. Would it help to remove the Lions? (They are the most aggressive, claim the biggest territory and do the most chasing. Kinda leaning towards this one.)
3. Will it help to have more rocks/less open space in the middle? Or change the rock work on the on the ends?
4. Would you be concerned if this were your tank? (Is this serious or just "par for the course" with aggressive fish?)

Here's what I've done: pulled 3M Chalosi. Ended up with 5M/3F. 2 females have both spit eggs early; could be because first spawn of too many males to chase them. I've added some Swords to break up sight lines, and a few other plants. Pulled an extra male albino Greshakei.

Fish List: (Most people don't stock Mbunas with Peacocks. They are the largest in the tank, doing great, and 2 males have territories. I will have to sell them if this changes.)
1. Lion Mara Rocks, 3M/2F (seems to work, the 2 extra males keep the Dom busy some)
2. Zebra Manda 2M/4F (these seem fairly mild natured, but can hold their own easily)
3. Elongatus Chalosi 3M/2F (less aggressive than the Lions but holding their own just fine)
5. Albino  Greshakei 1M/3F (holding their own with no problems)
5. Dragon's Blood Peacocks (mix of regular & OB, 3M/3F staying, selling 2 extra males but their not being picked on much, just a lil chasing)
6. Rusty 1M/3F (only in here to keep the "crowd" from getting to small as I pull males)

So 24 Mbunas and 8 peacocks (2 males will be removed). No cross breeding has occurred and the females seem to have enough males of their own kind to keep them happy and they don't SEEM interested in the other males. But I know the risk is there.

Any help/suggestions are appreciated.

[Regalblue]

IMO you don't have nearly enough rock work.   What I like to do for Mbuna is start 3-5" from the front pane & pile up to 2" below the waterline.   (Usually I do it on a 45°angle )

[Ava333]

Thank you. Can you upload a pic for me?

[Regalblue]

I'm not currently keeping any Mbuna, so I don't have any pictures.

[Ava333]

Understandable. Thank you for the suggestion. I've been looking through the tank pics on this site for some inspiration. I can always pile and repile until I get it worked out.

[Ava333]

Update: Dispite more rocks be added to the tank, my dominant male Lion has become even more aggressive. I was gone for about 6 hours and came home to find a dead, badly beaten up, albino Greshakie female. She was a light orange color. Guess that was close enough to get his attention. Between that and him harassing most of the other fish in the tank, I moved him for now. He, or Lions in general, just might be too aggressive for the rest of the tank. I'll have to see how the rest of the Lions act. And add more rocks again.

[Regalblue]

Here. I found this on Google images...

[Ava333]

Oh wow. That's a lot of rock.

[danotaylor]

Not as much rock as previously suggested, but lots of hidey holes...this was my set up for mixed Malawi's (haps & mbuna) in Australia. Another major aggression tamer is numbers...I had 40+ fish in this 100 gal set-up when it was at it's peak. All the best to ya Ava

[Ava333]

Thank you

[Ava333]

Update: I ended up having to rehome the Lion Mara Rocks. I knew that was a possibility, reading up on their aggression level. People with experience seemed to lean towards them being slightly more aggressive than their profile said, but I wanted to try it for myself.

I know it would make sense to sell them and get my money back. I had a chance to sell the entire colony but when I found out he was going to house them with Kenyi, I backed out. I ended up giving them to someone I knew would take good care of them and be willing to get them their own tank if needed later. Sometimes the heart wins over the wallet! I feel good about my decision.