Stocking For A 168Usg (637 Litres)

[ChilliPepper]

Originally I had a 5x2x2 on order from ND Aquatics, but we decided against moving into that house, and the 5ft wouldn't fit in our new house. So we had to have a rethink. So I now have a 36x36x30 on order from them, which is almost a cube, and will fit nicely next to the chimney breast in our new house (plus shouldn't get much natural light on it so hopefully less algae!).

Anyway, my tank is being delivered next Saturday so now I am returning to thoughts on stocking

In my 190L I have an oscar, a green terror and a para pleco patiently waiting for their new tank to arrive. I am still trying to decide what to put with them.
My oscar and plec are not a problem (beyond ruling out any small fishes), but my GT can live up to her name and is a bossy mare.

The tank will be scaped with wood etc in the middle, I have ideas to make it fairly tall and build it up to break up the areas. Also some rocks, but no plants. I've given up with plants as they get eaten. I had some lovely silk plants, but they look manky now, so a waste of money.

Anyway, so cut the waffling - does anyone have any suggestions of what I can try with them?

Ideas I've had:

1 x GT
1 X Oscar
1 x L075 plec
5 x Silver Dollars
or
5 x Tin Foil Barbs

Other ideas:
1 x Black Ghost knife or other knifefish
1 x Birchir
Adding another oscar
1 x Severum, though I'm not sure how they would get on with GT... Oscar is soft as anything and gets bullied a little, but not too badly, considering they are in a tiny tank at the moment...

Any helpful suggestions for stocking welcome!

 

[meguro]

i would get a group of small earth-eaters 1m3+f and maybe some dither fish if ur confident they wont be eaten. sand substrate for the geos

 

[Wills]

I dont think geophagus would be able to compete with a GT although their relative the thread finned acara might work better I think some sevs will get on with them but it will depend on the individual sev maybe try and get adults and see how they work out. Also go for the silver dollars rather than the tinfoils as the dollars stay smaller and a little less active than the massive tin foils.

Should be a nice tank though difficult to judge though as to how it will work because of the odd shape.

Wills

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks both. The Geo suggestion is definitely out as I tried a Geo. Brasiliensis (sp?) a while ago before I got my oscar and when my GT was still small, and she hated the Geo. I also thought earth eaters stayed fairly small so my oscar may try and eat them and I think they are too placid for the GT.

I might look out for an adult Sev, as I would really like one and it would look fab in the tank.

Maybe:

1 x GT
1 X Oscar
1 x Severum
1 x Para pleco
5-6 x Silver Dollars

I like the thread fin acaras, may be hard to get hold of? How many of them, just one?

And maybe something else for the bottom. Would a birchir be OK? I've heard about them or the plec sucking slime coats or something? I think a 3ft squared base would be a large enough area for them both to have terrotories though....

Oh and it is an odd size, but for the extra 1/2 foot to make it a cube, it would cost a hell of a lot more as they'd then have to use a tougher glass.

 

[meguro]

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=alfLUlQPuw4
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IhCTa8kxN0
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORhxoM8auuA
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7d0pe4ZyJU

im not suggesting u stock ur tank quite as haphazardly as some of those vids, only that gt's and earth-eaters can work.

brasiliensis can look quite similar to gt's so its no surprise taht they fight. but earth-eaters like leucosticta, surinamensis, jurupari, daemon, red head tapajos etc. look rather dissimilar so would have a higher chance of co-habiting nicely. i would avoid brasiliensis and altifrons but i would think most others could potentially be ok

which measurement is the height of the tank? the 30" or one of the 36"?

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks, I'll have to have a look at those videos another day as just got internet on a dongle at the mo, and it would use all my allowance up I reckon

I'm just googling the fishes you mentioned

It is 3ft long, 3ft wide and 2.5ft high

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks, I'll have to have a look at those videos another day as just got internet on a dongle at the mo, and it would use all my allowance up I reckon

I'm just googling the fishes you mentioned

It is 3ft long, 3ft wide and 2.5ft high

 

[minxfishy]

Personally I wouldnt try the geophagus species with a GT in that size tank, whilst I know its a large volumne, dimensions dont give much room for fast swimming away in the event of aggression.

If a brasiliensis cant take it from a GT, the other species dont stand much chance, particulary the Satanoperca species, who are very placid and even the Oscar would likely cause them problems, whilst its always dependent on individual personality, Im just saying I wouldnt try it.

To be honest, after my experiences with GT's Id advise keeping a close eye if you add a severum too, whilst severums are more capable of standing up for themselves, they can still be seriously harrassed by a GT, Ive had the experience and it wasnt a nice thing to watch.

 

[ChilliPepper]

That's what I thought. She definitely didn't like the Brasilensis, even tho she was tiny then and the Geo was a couple of inches bigger, she still bossed it about and made her feelings pretty clear. Whereas she bosses my oscar about a little she does accept him. She doesn't chase him really and they will eat together, even sharing the same pellet, so I can tell the difference. In fact the only cichlid who she doesn't get to bully is my BOLIVIAN RAM - who'd have thought it??? He nips her occasionally

It's tough deciding. However if I can find a reasonable sized Sev I think I may give it a try, and just watch out for any aggression.

 

[ChilliPepper]

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=alfLUlQPuw4

This video is quite interesting as it seems that they have followed the rules on the African Cichlids, where you overstock to minimize aggression to one fish. There are a lot of fish in there, so it shares any bullying out more evenly.

To be honest while they are in their temporary, bare-bottomed setup at my OH's parents, my oscar has been beaten up a lot more. I'm round here now and he has had his fins nipped and obviously been chased as some scales are scuffed. I can't say I'm surprised though as it's a lot to ask of these kinds of fish in too small a tank. However it could not be helped, and although they don't know it, they only have another week to wait until the new tank arrives.

Should I get them all settled in their new home first, then add new fish, or get new fish then add them?

 

[minxfishy]

Add your current fish 1st, get them settled (and healed), then slowly introduce new species.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Poor Boris - he does heal fast though, and I did a w/c today so should be much better tomorrow/next day

I hope they like their new tank

 

[meguro]

If a brasiliensis cant take it from a GT, the other species dont stand much chance

it isnt about being able to stand up to the gt but being ignored by it. in the vids posted the gt tends to harass the ones stealing his limelight ie. fish swimming around the top half of the tank and decent sized eg. oscars, flowerhorn etc.

but i think regardless of the fish attempted, it will have to be trial and error anyway. i suggest the OP holds on to their 190L for a while longer as it would facilitate separation nicely should it be neccessary

 

[ChilliPepper]

If a brasiliensis cant take it from a GT, the other species dont stand much chance

it isnt about being able to stand up to the gt but being ignored by it. in the vids posted the gt tends to harass the ones stealing his limelight ie. fish swimming around the top half of the tank and decent sized eg. oscars, flowerhorn etc.

but i think regardless of the fish attempted, it will have to be trial and error anyway. i suggest the OP holds on to their 190L for a while longer as it would facilitate separation nicely should it be neccessary

Agreed, she is the boss no matter what I add, so really I need something which is 'hard' enough to withstand her aggression, but yet not challenge her authority.

It is always going to be trial and error, but unfortunately I do need to sell my 190L as need the money from it! I'm sure I'll find something that works.

It's so difficult as I love both my GT and oscar...

 

[ChilliPepper]

In light of how much she has beaten my Oscar up since they have been at my OH's parent's house, I am going to be moving everyone except my GT over to the new tank next weekend. I will then wait for my oscar to heal fully, then try her again. If she starts again, she will need to be rehomed. Such a shame, but my Oscar is such an easy going fish, so I could try lots of different tank mates whereas with her it's always going to be difficult.

If anyone is looking for a Green Terror/Gold Saum female, stunning colouration, PM me please.