75 Gal(uk) Oscar Tank.

[kniesh]

Hello guys, sorry about this, since I scrapped the Oscar idea I have struggled for possible inhabitants that I really want, so it looks like I'm back here for more advice. I really dont want to mess this up an kill innocent fish because 'I didn't check'. I also don't want to just stock the tank with a host of fish I will become bored with and want to trade in after a couple of months. I think we've all been there and it's not at all fair on the fish. With that in mind I am here to enquire about Jack Dempseys. I know I mentioned them earlier in this post and was told they weren't really suitable with an Oscar. Since I scrapped the oscar and from what I read the JD is smaller would I then be able to keep this with, say;

1xBlue Acara
1xMale Convict
1xFiremouth
1xJellybean Parrot (in another tank but I thought it would be nice in this one)
1x severum
1xRainbow Cichlid

Obviously I am just throwing ideas about here and haven't really set my heart on any of these but i would quite like the Blue acara and the JD. I keep reading differing stories about the JD but most profiles so far have said 8". Again any suggestion welcome, sorry for the repetativeness.

 

[LisaLQ]

I'd skip the severum because it will get too big for the tank with all the other fish in there, and the rainbow cichlid as it will be bullied - but the others would be fine I'm sure

 

[kniesh]

Thx Lisa you have been a great help so far and i know i am probably boring you all by now. Taking them out leaves me with;

1xBlue Acara
1xMale Convict
1xFiremouth
1xJellybean Parrot (in another tank but I thought it would be nice in this one)
1xJack Dempsey

Is this now fully stocked because I would like to put maybe 3 Hoplos in and possibly 4 Silver Dollars, if there isnt sufficient room then I would probably have to accept Rainbows although I would prefer Dollars. I think this would complete a lovely looking tank in all areas.

I wouldn't be opposed to taking out the Firemouth an possibly the convict if I really must.

 

[ox5477]

Thx Lisa you have been a great help so far and i know i am probably boring you all by now. Taking them out leaves me with;

1xBlue Acara
1xMale Convict
1xFiremouth
1xJellybean Parrot (in another tank but I thought it would be nice in this one)
1xJack Dempsey

Is this now fully stocked because I would like to put maybe 3 Hoplos in and possibly 4 Silver Dollars, if there isnt sufficient room then I would probably have to accept Rainbows although I would prefer Dollars. I think this would complete a lovely looking tank in all areas.

I wouldn't be opposed to taking out the Firemouth an possibly the convict if I really must.

I think the tank looks good as is. You might be able to get away with the rainbows or dollars but I wouldnt risk it. There might be some aggression issues between all the cichlids so not point in putting the rainbows or dollars in the middle of that. Plus, I would like a larger tank if you planned on putting them in anyways, even though you could prob get away with them in that sized tank.

also, what size is the parrot? because even though they arn't the most aggressive, it is always good to buy a tank at the same size/age. You have more chances for success if you buy them all from babies and if you get babies for everything except the parrot, the parrot could terrize all the little guys. But sounds good none the less

 

[kniesh]

Thx, yeah I plan on getting everything at around 2" if possible, unfortunately the Parrot is probably already 4-4.5" and he is quite aggressive towards 2 smaller Male convicts I am holding in my 40 gal (they are going to be rehomed, hopefully in here). I think it is a lot more personal buying your fish as young as possible and rearing them up into adult size, got to be a lot more satisfying than buying nearly fully grown specimens. I have done the same with my 40gal, all fish bar the Parrot are about 2-3" and I cant wait to watch them growing.

Do you see this being a problem with the parrot then, because if so I can keep him in his current tank, all seems well in there?

 

[jayjay]

I'd skip the Parrot as well, I personally don't like them.

I don't understand how the tank is too small for a severum either but oh well.

I'd do -
1xBlue Acara
1xMale Convict
1xFiremouth
1xSeverum
1xJack Dempsey

Then be very wary of aggression; you could possibly get away with some kind of syno. or plec to clean up a bit.

EDIT - Is your tank actually 4'x2'x2'? If so it's 120g (US).

 

[kniesh]

sorry no I just write 4x2x2 because it is easier, I will stop this now as it has led to confusion, it is actually 48"x24"x18". It is 75 uk Gallons, not sure what that is in US sorry. Thx for the replies, I know that with Cichlids it is going to be more about the personality of the fish as to whether certain combos work so I guess I wont know untill they are a bit older and wiser. Hopefully they will sort out a Hierarchy while they are juviniles an this should prevent any aggression. If not I have the 40gal which anything in danger can sit in untill I can rehome him which shouldn't be too hard as I have a very good LFS and although it's small he does hold some big fish for customer he has with enormous tanks so he would take anything that didn't work. Much as I dont want to do that, it is there as backup.

I am almost certainly going with your list now JayJay and I will be looking to add maybe 2 Bristlenoses for cleaning. I am presuming of course these are compatable in here, but I'm pretty certain they are. Gonna deliberate over the Dollars as I really want them, but as you say I don't want to course any undue stress.

 

[LisaLQ]

Severums can get to 12", in the 75g with another smaller cichlid or two maybe, but not with all the others. Not enough room.

 

[jayjay]

It would be 90g (US) I have the same size tank. I use US gallons as well, not many use UK. In my 90g, there are severums, blue acara, rainbow cichlids, a senegal bichir, clown loaches etc. Have a look at my profile. It does need to be moved around though, new tanks will help slightly and some need to be given away probably.

Having a spare tank is always a good idea as well.

Lisa, they 'can' but often don't get to 12". I don't understand how people say oscars which can get to 16" and make a lot of waste are suitable for a 75g, then go a severum isn't. There is a pinned topic saying how you could get a severum in a 55g, not ideal but you can.

 

[ox5477]

With those other fish I wouldn't put a sev in. It's like putting an Oscar in with them, not good. Alone yes it would be perfectly fine, but not with the additional stocking. And yes JayJay, I don't like parrots either but if kniesh wanted them, wasn't gonna stop em. I'd go with the list jayjay suggested except for the sev. But two bristle nose would make a great addition!

 

[LisaLQ]

It would be 90g (US) I have the same size tank. I use US gallons as well, not many use UK. In my 90g, there are severums, blue acara, rainbow cichlids, a senegal bichir, clown loaches etc. Have a look at my profile. It does need to be moved around though, new tanks will help slightly and some need to be given away probably.

Having a spare tank is always a good idea as well.

Lisa, they 'can' but often don't get to 12". I don't understand how people say oscars which can get to 16" and make a lot of waste are suitable for a 75g, then go a severum isn't. There is a pinned topic saying how you could get a severum in a 55g, not ideal but you can.

Everyone has their own opinion. I personally wouldn't put that many fish in a 90g. I have an 180g with two baby sevs, two herotilapia multispinosa, 6 boesmanni and a few plecs in. I think I'm heading for overstocked.

I would say a pair of sevs need a minimum of 100g. As this tank is 75g and has other fish in, I wouldn't recommend it for a sev. If a Rio 300 is 70g, that's a tank I've had, and believe me, you couldn't fit a 12" fish in it along with several others. Well, you could, but it's not a case of could I, more should I?

People may recommend a 75g for an oscar. I would say it was the absolute minimum - some would say 55g was. Either way - there's not enough room for either an oscar or a sev in that tank with the other fish in.

I didn't expect everyone to agree, especially not someone who's trying to prove their tank isn't overstocked either

Like I said, everyone has their own opinions - that's what discussion boards are for. What you may feel works for you may not actually work for the majority - and while sevs getting to 12" isn't always the case - it is a possibility and a possibility that should be planned for - not hoped for! If my sevs were staying around 6" for example - I wouldn't go round telling folks not to worry about them getting bigger because mine didn't, I'd be worrying whether I was doing everything right or not.

 

[kniesh]

Thx alot guys, tbh the severum was a suggestion made but I wasn't really all that keen on it although it does look nice. In looking round so far at the fish possibilities the one fish that stands out to me is the Green Teeror which stands at 8". Now earlier on in the post I know I was told not to keep a GT and a JD with an Oscar because they would be too aggressive. As the Oscar has now gone what would these fish be like together? I've just looked again and the GT pictures in the profiles are simply amazing. This would leave the tank looking like this now;

1xBlue Acara
1xMale Convict
1xFiremouth
1xGreen Terror
1xJack Dempsey

Now that, to me would make a great looking tank if it is possible. That Green Terror could be the best looking fish I've seen.

 

[kniesh]

Just a quick question about fitration aswell please. I know I am gonna need an external filtration system but could toy recommend one. I have just had an e-mail off PFK about some quite good savings on some so I will probably order that in the next few days. Thx.

 

[ox5477]

You don't necessarily need external filtration. HOB filters will work perfectly fine on a tank that size. If you started getting upwards of 120 to 150USG + then I would say start looking into external filtration. Many quality filters exist that can process the amount of of water that your tank would need. roughly atleast 4x the volume of the tank is good filtration. but i usually do more so I like around 6x atleast. So, when buying a filter, make sure you go by the gph/lph instead of what size tank the box says it can go in, because they will usually put it at a max tank size just barely 4x turnover.

 

[kniesh]

Can I presume the JD an GT will be ok together then. I have to say the GT is the best looking fish I have ever seen in a tank, including marine. Cant remember ur name sorry but u have it as ur avator.