Completely Lost.

[kniesh]

So I finally get my 75gal (uk) tomorrow, 4x2x2. I have been after this for what seems like an eternity, going over all the possible stocking suggestions a million times. Now I have decided I don't want to home just 1 Oscar alone, so that's gone. I have totally gone back to square one now. I have already got a 40gal catfish tank so that kind of tank doesn't seem feesable either now.

I have just come up with this as a suggestion, any comments or help would be great as I am losing the will to live here.

4xSilver Dollars
6xHoplo Cats
1xAlbino Red Finned Shark
5xRainbowfish (undecided on type)

Thats it so far so any comments very welcome please.

 

[Breeze7050]

That sounds pretty good to me, but Im no expert! You could probably up the number of silver dollars to 5. Just rememeber you have to have a lid - these guys are skittish and will jump right out!
Rainbowfish are great! I love them, they should do great in a tank like this.
Im not very familiar with hoplo cats, maybe you could drop the number to 3 and get a group of loaches?
The albino RF may become aggressive, they have a tendancy to do so, so Im not sure if he would be off-putting to your silver dollars.
There's my opinion and it's just that!

 

[D4N]

ye i would up the number of silver dollars to 6
Mine are very skittish (Dosn't help when my dad is in the garage with his fav tool the hammer! The garage is next to my room as well)
oh yea i hope you not planning on a planted tank because these are vegetarian and will eat them
Some people have been OK with plants but not me.

Dan

Edit: Spelling

 

[kniesh]

Thx, I will deffo up it to 6 Silver Dollers, I hadnt ever givenn these much thought really but quite looking forward to getting them now. I think the Shark an SD's will be ok as people keep them with Oscars so should have no problem.

I still think that the tank is missing a 'centre piece'. I know all of these fish are nice and I may move my clown loaches once they are much larger but thats a long way off yet. Any suggestions for a centre piece would be very well recieved, I am at a loss. I am actually liking the sound of this tank the more I think of it though.

 

[willtang3000]

yes silver dollars and cichlids go very well so that is deffinately on the list for you and I would suggest some form of a cleanup crew such as clown loaches as they are lively and do well with all types of fish

 

[kniesh]

Ok, so I have came up with this list but I am still looking for that one stand out centre piece, any suggestions?

1xConvict (maybe2 females)
5xBoesemans Rainbows
4xHoplo Cats
1XRed Finned Shark
1xPakistani Loach
6xSilver Dollar
4xPictus

According to the think fish community creator all is well and I still have enough room for a decent centre piece fish(s). Please help, I am now definately out of ideas.

 

[Breeze7050]

IMO I would drop the pictus to 3 and add a few more loaches - they do MUCH better in groups. If you just get one, chances are he will hide all day and be lonely.
Convicts don't do much for me, I think you can get a better looking cichlid, but I am no cichlid expert, so I don't know about water conditions ect on those guys.
You may be getting close to over-stocked, if that's the case you could drop to 3 hoplo. For sure thought, up the number of loaches or scratch them off your list!
This is hard work isn't it!!

 

[HODDY]

kniesh,I think you might find a 4ftx2ftx2ft tank is 100g.Because i might be getting the same size tank.Ive also been told it is 125g but thats abit to big i think.Dont take my word its just what i think

 

[kniesh]

Thx, I have my stocking in the think fish thing and according to that I'm not even 2/3 full. I was thinking on dropping the Hoplos all together actually as I have them in my other 4ft but I couldnt think of anything else. I wthin I will look around for a suitable school of loaches instead, they have a good choice in the Maidenhead aquatics close to me but I have never really paid them any attention till now. Thx for ur help.

Yeah Hoody you are probably correct, mine is 48"x24"x18" which is 75 but just easier to write as 4x2x2.

Still looking for this 1 stand out centrepiece fish btw if anyone has any ideas.

 

[KathyM]

Rainbow Cichlids are lovely smallish cichlids that would do well in a tank that size. I have a pair here and they're fantastic. They grow to a maximum of 5-6" (mine are smaller) and they're very peaceful.

Our male

Our female (bad pic, sorry)

The one thing I would say though is that SDs can really frighten other fish unless they're "well 'ard". Our old ones used to be so frenzied at feeding times that they frightened the poo out of our other fish, even our old oscar. They also grow so big that your tank may look a bit daft with your centrepiece being dwarfed by a school of tea plate sized numbasses (they can and do grow to 6"+). I can think of much nicer schooling fish in a tank that size - rainbowfish like you said before, medium tetras, etc.

That's just my personal taste though, so good luck whatever you decide!

 

[kniesh]

Thx for that, I had actually gone back to looking at a largish Cichlid as I originally wanted an Oscar. With that in mind I have just been looking at an Emerald Cichlid which is similar to an Oscar but slightly smaller. Anyone think this is a good/bad idea? Thx again btw you are all being a great help as I dont want to create a tank full of out an out violence however a little bit is expected.

 

[KathyM]

My (personal) problem with the bigger cichlids is that they limit what else you can have in there, and it's not a huge tank as it is, so the size alone will limit you already. I don't think the tank is big enough for any large cichlid and a school of silver dollars if you intend on keeping them to full size. I know others would disagree, but that's just my personal opinion.

I hope someone else can advise you better! Good luck.

 

[geo7x]

4x2x2 is about 120 US gallons i think.

 

[KathyM]

Yeah Hoody you are probably correct, mine is 48"x24"x18" which is 75 but just easier to write as 4x2x2.

 

[kniesh]

I am talking in UK gallons sorry.