120 Litre Species Tank Setup Advice Needed

[Jimbob_1978]

Hello everyone this is my first post. After keeping marines for several years i`ve come over to the tropical side. I`ve got a lido 120 with the internal filter removed, i plan to get an Eheim ecco for filtration but am undecided as to what to stock. I`d like a species tank with live plants, what are my options for this size tank?

 

[minnnt]

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[Jimbob_1978]

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What breed of puffer would you recommend?

 

[minnnt]

South American Puffers mate. You could easily fit 4 in there along with some Oto's and a nice arrangement of plants. They are completely freshwater so don't need to worry about a brackish setup. Very activ and very friendly towards each other and you.

 

[Jimbob_1978]

South American Puffers mate. You could easily fit 4 in there along with some Oto's and a nice arrangement of plants. They are completely freshwater so don't need to worry about a brackish setup. Very activ and very friendly towards each other and you.

Cheers for the advice, i`ll do a bit of googling and give it some thought.

 

[minnnt]

If you're wanting to add a bit more stock to it though you would probably be better off considering some kind of small Tetra like Neons, Cardinals, Glowlights, Embers, Roseys or Rummy Noses. You could also look into Harlequin Rasbora's or maybe some Endlers?

 

[Jimbob_1978]

Little fish dont really interest me. Been doing a bit of research into the puffers and am very keen. What size filter would I need, are they messy?

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Four SAPs in a Lido120 long term with 61 x 41 x 58 cm dimensions? Sorry minnnt, I strongly disagree with you...

I would not keep a group of SAPs in anything less than a 48"x12"x15", giving them an open long side to swim against a strong current and then a maze of furniture/plants to explore on the back and sides. A larger tank would also open up safer possibilities for adding some speedy tankmates with no long fins, if you wanted to chance puffers in a community.

As for this Lido120, it could make a great home for a species setup of say Persian Killifish; Celestial Pearl Danios; Sawbwa Barbs; Ornate Bushfish; Sumbu Dwarf Cichlids (or any other Tanganyikan shell dweller); Dwarf Flag Cichlids etc.

 

[minnnt]

Tbh, I didn't realise it had that small a footprint tbh. I guess the volume is in the height then. I've got 3 in a 80x30 and they have plenty of space. Even when adult they will be fine. There is plenty of flow and the love to surf it.

The op wanted a species tank, so tankmates aren't really a concern. If you disagree with SAP's then how about Dwarfs?

 

[Jimbob_1978]

Gutted i was warming to the idea of puffers. I`ve now started warming to the idea of dwarf cichlids though. So same question again about filtration.... what size ecco pro should i invest in? And what substrate, i was thinking fine sand on a fertilizer base, pure laterite, for the plants.

 

[minnnt]

You could easily house Dwarf Puffers.

If going Dwarf Cichlids then you would probably only get away with 1m and 2f due to aggression and teritory.

Forgot about the filter. Something with claimed 700lph should be fine if going with eheim. The tetratec ex700/1200 would be great also.

Sand would be best also as most cichlids like to dig. Laterite wouldn't be essential though. A nice, well balanced fertiliser will have more effect.

 

[Wills]

If your going down the Dwarf Puffer route - have a look at the Red Tailed Red Eyes they are a little more community friendly and you could probably get a reasonable school of Micro Rasbora in with them

Though if your going down the Dwarf Cichlid route you could have quite a few more options Any species of Dwarf Cichlid your interested in?

Wills

 

[Jimbob_1978]

Still undecided about what to keep. Dwarf puffers just seem a bit too small. I do like the cockatoo apisto`s. My LFS has told me i could have a single peacock puffer in that tank which is something else for me to consider but i`m concerned it`ll outgrow the tank.

 

[Wills]

Not heard of a Peacock Puffer and google just turns up Marine puffers with that name? Any ideas of other names. There are a few wet pet puffers that you could have in there but they are mainly ambush predators so are not very active....

 

[Tizer]

i just put 10 celestial pearl danios in a 30 litre, they already look a little lost, you would need quite a few in a lido i think to look good.. Mind you, im looking to breed them in the new year, so im not doing it for a community build. You could certainly look at Apisto's in there, a nice hareem of something could be cool, with some dither fish.