Stumped With Stocking Ideas...

[HairyTornado™]

I've just recently come into possession of a 300gal tank and a 55gal tank. Both of which were used, came with stands, but no filters. I've done a little research, and, over time, was able to get all the neccessary filters and equipment. Well, pretty sure I did, still pretty new to all this stuff. Figured that if I'm going to get back into this hobby, I might as well do it right. Always wanted bigger tanks anyway, so couldn't let this pass me up.

To the best of my knowledge, I've got BOTH tanks cycled and ready for fish. Thats where the problems come in. I know that I want to focus on SA Cichlids, but I also want it to be SA Biotope. Don't want to have fish from CA, Asia, or Africa in there. In the 300gal I've got a good bit of driftwood, and rocks. In the 55gal I've got mostly rocks, and a few fake plants. The LFS around me aren't exactly the best, at most of the time they don't even have any type of cichlids in there at all. I'm still unfamiliar with ordering online, but am willing to give it a shot to get some good looking fish. I just don't know where to go or where to start at. Any suggestions?

Alright, here comes the fun stuff. Stocking the tanks. I am at a loss as to what I should put in them. The 300gal seems so huge, I just don't know where to start with it. I'm not very good at picking compatable species, so I most definately need some help figuring this out. Can you guys give me some stocking suggestions? It would be most helpful. Same thing goes with the 55gal.

 

[HairyTornado™]

Any one? I'm really lost in which direction to go, please give me some suggestions.

 

[Matt_northants]

Well for the 300g you could have a shoal of discus and some interesting cats and a couple of SA oddballs. Or you could swap the discus for angels and a shoal of silver dollars. For the 55 maybe a pair of dwarf cichlids a pair of angels a cat and a shoal or two of tetras.

 

[HairyTornado™]

Discus are a great idea, but not really what I am leaning towards. Not really wanting to go with Angels either. I want something relatively uncommon, flashy, but not too aggressive.

 

[Matt_northants]

Discus are a great idea, but not really what I am leaning towards. Not really wanting to go with Angels either. I want something relatively uncommon, flashy, but not too aggressive.

What about a shoal of pictus pims?

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

At my work, I have a client that comes into the store with a similar set-up, the only difference is that it is only 150 gallons, not 300.


He has Geophagus in his, and he really likes his Jurupari. He also has some Severum, and some Clown Loaches (not SA I know.)


You could always put in Festivum, other semi-aggressive Cichlids like Firemouths, and Convicts, as long as they are all females, and don't breed... As said, Silver Dollars would be fine. Some other Cichlids to look into:

Chocolate Cichlid
Keyhole Cichlid
A lot of Geophagus species
I believe the T-bar Cichlid should be fine also...


And there are a few others that would work good also!

 

[Davo86]

I think the best thing would be to choose a 'centerpiece' fish for each tank,
Also what are the dimensions? this may help us reccomend suitable fish

 

[shroob]

If I had 300 gallons, I would probably stock it as so:
1 Oscar (centrepiece)
A shoal of earth eaters (your choice)
A shoal of silver dollars (around 8 I would go for in that size tank, which should look good)
And a pair of medium cichlids eg. blue acaras.

Though with that size tank there are a ton of options.


That way you would have your centre fish, and have activity around the tank (though if you wanted real plants I wouldnt go for the SD's).

Is the 300gallon the standard size (96"x24"x30")?

EDIT: for the 55G, I would have one male Green terror

 

[andyourblueblood]

pikes!!! in the 300, and pikes in the 55.
300....
a pair of marmorata, or cobra, or cincta, or any other flashy lugubris. a large shoal of red hooks or what ever other silver dollars you like. maybe a school of uaru. or a few holarchus.
got any pics. of the tanks?
55....
a pair of saxitils, i prefer c. saxitilis they just seem to be the prettiest i.m.o. you cold add a few smaller cichlids, maybe salvinis, or hrp's. you could certainly add a few smaller bottom feeders. like bigger corydoras.

 

[matt295]

how about a reef tank? that would look amazing in a 300.

or you could have some oddballs like stingrays.