Tank Mates

[cichlidman29]

Hello, here is my question.

I have a 90 gallon planted tank.
its water stats are as follows
nitrate: 0.0
nitrite: 0.0
ammonia: 0.0
ph: 6.5

my current fish stocks consist of 1 kissing gourami. 1 golden gourami. 1 angel fish. 1 reed fish. 2 firemouth cichlids. 2 blue acara's.
what else if anything can i add to this tank?
im thinking either 3 pictus catfish
or another cichlid...but what can go with acara's and firemouths of the same temperment?

 

[GoldfishRsoDelicious]

@cichlidman29,

Congrats on your water stats, mine are low but not that low, then again I haven't tested my water parameters in over 17 years! If I was you I would be content with your good water quality and co-existing semi-aggresive plant setup. You run a few risk: 1) Your kissing gourami will get large & maybe quarrelsome, 2) Your angel will get tall/still are cichlids/and they appreciate calm not busy tanks, 3) If your FM's or BA's are mating pairs they definitely be extra territorial/aggressive which could create problems even in your planted 90gal. 4) Most catfish even smaller ones like pictus catfish 3@5inches a piece is 15inches of catfish waste that i don't wish onto my worse enemy with a tank your size, unless you have strong filtration which most planted tanks dont have/need I'd reconsider. 5)Almost all catfish are highly sensitive to chemicals/medication/treatments--which means if your buddies/plants get sick extra measures will have to be taken.


Good luck & Happy Fish Keeping!

 

[onidrase]

4) Most catfish even smaller ones like pictus catfish 3@5inches a piece is 15inches of catfish waste that i don't wish onto my worse enemy with a tank your size, unless you have strong filtration which most planted tanks dont have/need I'd reconsider.

The only messy catfish I've ever owned are plecos. IME, other catfish species, unless overfed, do not produce any more waist than an average fish. 3 pictus cats shouldn't be a big deal.

 

[minnnt]

3 Pictus will do a great job of clearing up.

Maybe another 3 Angels that are a smiliar size to your current one?

Also, how come your nitrate is 0?

 

[cichlidman29]

my nitrates are so low, because i do many w/c
and i use prime nitrate remover every time i do a water change.

its played a big role in the keeping and health of my fish.
now, im not sure about other people but ive noticed threw years of experiance that nitrates obviously effect water conditions which in turn effect the fish and their colour.
but in my tank their colours are so vibrant!

and my plants are growing like fury.

anyway, im not looking at getting anymore angels, mines still small as it is.
but i am thinking abouts catfish...pictus in particular...and i too would'nt think they would cause too much of a problem with my water stats.

my kissing gourami i bought when it was tiny, about an inch in size.
now its reached around 8 inches mayb 9...and has been that size for a long time, ive had it for just over 2 and half years now.
and he seems to have stopped growing now.

my filter is an eheim box filter thats sits in the units cupboard...its a large filter!
perfectly capable of keeping my tank in tip top condition.

thanks for all your replies guys and girls.
much appreciated.

 

[cichlidman29]

my water also gets tested by my lfs every 2 weeks without fail.

i kno most water stats with plants have a reading of around 10ppm nitrates, for the plants sakes
but mine is zero and my plants are thriving.

 

[minnnt]

I wouldn't trust a zero nitrate reading in all honesty.

I would be tempted by a group of 3 pims.

 

[cichlidman29]

....what are "pims"?
whats that short for exaclty? lol

 

[minnnt]

Pim pictus.

 

[cichlidman29]

cant say ever heard of them...
could you get a pic on here so i could look?
would be very much appreciated.

 

[cichlidman29]

just typed "pim pictus" into google
and its shown the normal pictus catfish...???

 

[onidrase]

just typed "pim pictus" into google
and its shown the normal pictus catfish...???

Pim pictus, pim catfish, and pictus catfish are all the same thing, just different names, kinda like how black skirt tetras are also called black widow tetras, or raphael catfish are also called humbug catfish

 

[minnnt]

just typed "pim pictus" into google
and its shown the normal pictus catfish...???

Pim pictus, pim catfish, and pictus catfish are all the same thing, just different names, kinda like how black skirt tetras are also called black widow tetras, or raphael catfish are also called humbug catfish