Setting Up An American Tank

[funkyhoney]

Howdy

In the not-to-distant future (before the end of February) I plan to have a new tank set up and am looking into larger American cichlids for the first time. I have kept regular trops as well as Africans before.

The tank I'm looking at is 48x18x20", so around 75G I believe. I was originally thinking about keeping one Severum and one Choclate cichlid as well as some smaller fish like firemouths; however after looking into it further for some time I've been thinking of other options.

First of all, would a tank this size be suitable for what I've already mentioned?! (that's a good start )

But what I would really like to know, is if the tank is suitable for 1 Jack Dempsey, 1 Green Terror, ~3 firemouths and probably a plec of some kind?

If not, what would be some other larger sized Americans I should look into? Anything else I should take into consideration?

Thanks in advance

 

[shroob]

Probably big enough for 1 JD, 1 GT and 1 FM, possibly a plec, depends on kind.
I wouldnt have 3 FM with a sev and chocolate already in there, possibly 1 FM, but not 3.

Only other thing is have alot of filtration, what filters do you plan?

 

[funkyhoney]

Oh alright, well that's no problem, I was just under the impression that firemouths worked better in groups. What would some other small-medium sized fish I could add in there just to sort of fill in the tank? (as opposed to the FM's, not in addition to)

I'll probably end up going for a Fluval 405 and either an additional internal or an extra external (probably an Eheim 2213). I know a lot of people seem to have trouble with Fluvals but I've never had anything but good experiences. I'm thinking an internal to help circulate the heat and because I can stuff it full with sponge/foam for good mechanical filtration.

 

[shroob]

I'm abit confused, do you want the sev and chocolate or the GT and JD?

Maybe list the fish you want in your tank, then people can help stocking around it.
If you want alot of fish, prioritise say you want a severum, chocolate, GT, JD, FM etc, realistically that wont work, so if you it might help if you put in order which you want first.


When you thought of a centre fish you 'must' have, it will be easier to suggest combo's for the tank.

 

[funkyhoney]

Ah ok, sorry, I probably confused myself a bit as well.

Basically I just want to know what can go with either the Severum and Chocolate OR the JD and GT


I really like all of them so I'm trying to decide on what would be best for the fish and what would give me the options of tankmates that I like the most. First and foremost I think I would like the chocolate or the JD, so if someone could list suitable tankmates for either of those species that would help me decide.

 

[shroob]

Well both the severum and chocolate get quite big, I would say biggest sev I've seen was 10" and I havnt seen a big chocolate but they can get to 12". You already have two quite big fish in the tank, so for other tankmates I would have to say something small, possibly a sajica or FM.
If you were to just go with the chocolate cichlid, then you could have a few more smaller 'filler fish', basically most 4-6" new world cichlids. There really is alot of options.

If you wanted the GT and JD, then aggression comes into this. I would suggest 1 smaller filler fish that can handle the aggression, so my mind turns to a convict.
If you were to get just the JD, then again your tankmates possibilities open, you could have a con, FM, possibly salvini, in the tank.

Like I said, don't just take my stocking options, they are what I would do, theres alot of fish out there.


http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_75g.php
Has some suggestions for 75 gallons, go down to the new world section.

 

[funkyhoney]

Thanks for all your help and advice, I've checked out the cookie cutter article. I think I'd probably rather go for a peaceful tank and pass on the JD... for now at least. I already have a Malawi tank and another I plan to turn into a more agressive type tank (rams, barbs etc.) and would rather get some fish that won't attack each other and can be hand fed

So I think I'll probably go with my Severum and Chocolate option after all. Do you think two severums and a chocolate would be really pushing it? I'm gonna assume yes...

If I was to go for a Severum and a Chocolate along with say 3 bristlenoses and possibly another bottom dweller like a whiptail, would there be anything else aside from a firemouth that I could add successfully? Sorry to be a pain but my knowledge of Americans is pretty limited so a link to a profile with pictures I can read up on would be good.

Thanks so much for your help

 

[shroob]

Yeah, I think 2 sevs and a choc would be pushing it.

If you have a sev, choc, 3 BN and a whip tail, then I think you MAY be able to have a smaller cichlid, filtration would have to be alot as well as water changes. Its hard to suggest what that smaller cichlid would be, as it comes down to personal preferance. From SA, off the top of my head:
Blue acara: http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=171
Keyhole cichlid: http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=139
Festivm: http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=200
Just suggestions, from SA.

From CA,
Most of the Archocentrus genus: http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=18 (though cons may be too aggressive)
Rainbow cichlid: http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/species.php?id=91
Most of the Thorichthys genus: http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=44

Though as I said, you potentially have 2 big fish in that tank, that will take up alot of room.

 

[funkyhoney]

I'll definitely setup filtration to be at least 2000LPH (10x volume), I may end up going for a medium sized plec instead of the BN, just something to help keep algae at bay as I most likely won't be able to have too many plants.

I do like the festivus and Blue Acara as they have a similar colouration to GT and JD so I might look into those, I'll have a browse around for a friendly 6" fish in the meantime anyway.

Depending on how I go, filtration will be a Fluval 405 combined with either an internal (probably a Fluval 3+) or an extra canister depending on what will work out better space-wise.

So I think the stocking will end up being a Chocolate, Severum, FM (or other suggested) and then just algae eaters.

Thanks for all your help

 

[andyourblueblood]

I'll definitely setup filtration to be at least 2000LPH (10x volume), I may end up going for a medium sized plec instead of the BN, just something to help keep algae at bay as I most likely won't be able to have too many plants.

I do like the festivus and Blue Acara as they have a similar colouration to GT and JD so I might look into those, I'll have a browse around for a friendly 6" fish in the meantime anyway.

Depending on how I go, filtration will be a Fluval 405 combined with either an internal (probably a Fluval 3+) or an extra canister depending on what will work out better space-wise.

So I think the stocking will end up being a Chocolate, Severum, FM (or other suggested) and then just algae eaters.

Thanks for all your help

pshhhttt! just get a pair of pikes! you could get away with a nice pair of xingu I or cobras or some type of big robust lugubris.