What Do You Think Of My Stocking

[Wills]

Ok so simple stocking question what do you think of it?

135 US gallons 512 liters - 6 foot long, 18 inches front to back 24 inches tall.

I have 2 Fluval FX5s that I clean on a reasonably regular basis. Weekly water changes, sometimes slip to once a fortnight or 10 days if I dont get to it at the weekend.

Current stock

1 Heros Severus (true mouthbrooding Severum, female)
1 Chocolate Cichlid
1 Threadfin Acara
4 Geophagus Winemilleri
1 Thoricthys sp. Mixteco Gold

5 Annostomus Ternetzi
3 Flagtail Catfish
4 Dwarf Hoplos
2 Agenisous sp.

4 Whiptail Catfish - 2x Sturisoma sp. and 2 Loricarade sp.


Reasonably set on rehoming the Flagtails and Dwarf Hoplos atm as they are breaking one of my rules of staying hidden over 50% of the time.

Just interested to see what people think, as there has been a change in regular members recently and from what I can see a change in attitudes to some aspects of the hobby so just interested to see what you all make of it.

Any critiques welcome and any suggestions of additions let me know My rules are need to be American and active

Wills

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

"Reasonably set on rehoming the Flagtails and Dwarf Hoplos atm as they are breaking one of my rules of staying hidden over 50% of the time. "

I'm shocked the Flagtails are hiding, in 6+ numbers they are reknowned for schooling midwater... Rehome 50% oif their hiding places and they shall comply with your rule.

Edit: If I was confident and experience in posting fish myself, I would happily send you some Ilyodon xantusi youngsters... I've had a couple of females drop this week and other expecting anyday, while I have 5 that survived my 48x12x15 Ich tradegy... I now have ~2x the "teenage adult" numbers in youngsters (15 v 8 ... I think!).

 

[Wills]

"Reasonably set on rehoming the Flagtails and Dwarf Hoplos atm as they are breaking one of my rules of staying hidden over 50% of the time. "

I'm shocked the Flagtails are hiding, in 6+ numbers they are reknowned for schooling midwater... Rehome 50% oif their hiding places and they shall comply with your rule.

I know what you mean! I read trios sometimes school midwater - I really like them but these three are the only three I have ever seen I always seem to get to the shop too late when they come in. Maybe rehome the Hoplos and look out for more Flagtails?

Wills

 

[minnnt]

I reckon you should go with

6 bronze cories
3-4 sunset platies
6-8 neon tetras
And you could possibly even squeeze in a pair of apisto's.

Lmao!!

 

[minnnt]

Oh, and +1 on NOTG btw Wills.

 

[ZoddyZod]

I reckon you should go with

6 bronze cories
3-4 sunset platies
6-8 neon tetras
And you could possibly even squeeze in a pair of apisto's.

Lmao!!

2 FX5's to handle that bioload? Are you having a laugh??

Seriously Wills.....you might actually be the only one on this forum to answer your own questions

 

[minnnt]

Yeah you're right, maybe leave out the neons andy then just to be on the safe side.

 

[mattlee]

after having Keith in the same size tank i found that the width became an issue to a certain extent. he was a big big oscar as you know but just didnt seem as comfortable in the 18 inch width compared to the 2ft width he was in before. looking at your stock list you have 3 species that stand out to become big fishes -

1 Heros Severus (true mouthbrooding Severum, female)
1 Chocolate Cichlid
4 Geophagus Winemilleri

i forget how large they are at the minute but i feel these will eventually grow too large to be comfortable in an 18 inch tank especially with the rest of the stocking. i only had Keith and a few barbs and he filled it pretty much alone......
i know you are well aware of what ive just put and im hardly one to talk but thats just my thoughts


zoddy - i have 2 x FX5's on my 5ft tetra and angel tank

 

[Wills]

1 Heros Severus (true mouthbrooding Severum, female)
1 Chocolate Cichlid
4 Geophagus Winemilleri

i forget how large they are at the minute but i feel these will eventually grow too large to be comfortable in an 18 inch tank

Hi thanks Matt - I kind of agree with you on the Choc, I was given advice on them being docile so 18 inches was ok for them but as he grows though he is not exactly active I can kind of see what you mean - though he wont get anywhere close to Kieths size He has started fighting quite badly with the Severus past 2 nights so theres a chance hes going anyway.

With the Severum, its a female true Severus so they are a small species anyway and this one is about 7 years old now so cant see her growing much more and shes about 7 inches.

The Geos are 100% Winemilleri so one of the more mid sized species - again going to max out 7 or 8 inches. If they were Altifrons and going to hit 10-12 inches I would agree. But for me 7-8 inch fish are quite well suited to this tank?

Wills

 

[mattlee]

sorry mate i was thinking of a different geo species....

the severus that walkers had were huge and even the female was way bigger than 7 inch but as you said if she is 7 years old then she wont get any bigger i would have thought.

so if the choc goes are you looking for more cichlids or more dithers/ ground crew?

 

[Wills]

Erm not sure - there is a chance I may have to move stock on later this year anyway due to house move - it will either be a big sale and keep a few or if it will be an easy move I will keep them all and then very quick after the move the fish house or extra tanks in the garage should we get into the area we want will be coming pretty quick

Walkers Sev was def bigger than mine I remember seeing the pics - I say 7 she could be older Im into my third year with her and her previous owner had her for 4 years but not sure at what size he got her all I know is she is wild so could be older really.

Will see how things go with the Choc for now hes only young and they are a smaller less active fish than Oscars so see how it goes. He is around the 6 inch mark a little more with tail and not really grown much in 3 months so see how he does. A couple of people reccomended a choc for this tank when I set it up based on how docile and inactive they are which is pretty fair, through the day he stays face up at the surface looking for bugs and seriously at night he goes to bed about half 9 every night straight into his drain pipe cave and thats the last Ill see of him for the night.

See how it goes eh

 

[onidrase]

I hate your stock

you should give me your tank and I'll give you my 10 gallon

That way I can fix it for you or something like that