Thoughts On Setup?

MrNiceGuy · Apr 7, 2010

I'm buying a 60 gallon tank in a few days, but it has unusual dimensions.

72 inches in length, 16 in height, and 12 in depth

im thinking

1 blue acara
2 firemouths
1 convict
and 20 tiger barbs

any thoughts? ive never kept any of the fish that im planning on keeping in this tank, but through research i think it has a high chance of working out.

Night61 · Apr 7, 2010

here is my thought on new tanks, decorate frist, set up everything what you want and where you want it and then add fish that will enjoy what you have done.

MrNiceGuy · Apr 7, 2010

Night61 said:
here is my thought on new tanks, decorate frist, set up everything what you want and where you want it and then add fish that will enjoy what you have done.

oh yes, i understand and agree with that thought. im more interested in whether or not people think this stocking will be successful without too much aggression

Assaye · Apr 7, 2010

In all honestly, I think that is over stocked. With so many larger, aggressive cichlids I'd consider looking at a larger tank.

Post in the cichlid forums?

cheesy feet · Apr 8, 2010

Although never keeping tiger barbs myself I know they're known for being fin nippers, and so its likely they would be attracted to the long flowing fins of a male firemouth.
Instead of them I would opt for something like a shoal of rainbows, praecox/dwarf neon rainbows would be suitable at adult size, and look stunning.With such a long tank you could keep larger fish if you wanted to, such as boesman's/Silver dollars, although with full adult size both would be half the width of the tank.

Assaye said:
In all honestly, I think that is over stocked. With so many larger, aggressive cichlids I'd consider looking at a larger tank.

Post in the cichlid forums?

I think it could work, given the length of the tank.They're only medium sized cichlids, with pretty mild temperaments - excluding the convict.
You may get that nasty convict or firemouth though, that decides he wants the tank for himself...

Hunterprey · Apr 8, 2010

I have Tiger Barbs with a German Ram and they're fine. My German Ram is a little aggressive towards the barbs. I never kept any of the cichlids u mentioned but I think they're pretty aggressive enough not to put up with the Tiger Barbs fin nipping behaviour. I'm more worried about the Cichlids killing the Tiger Barbs, I kinda want to add a Convict Cichlid myself, just worried it might kill the Tiger barbs.