would this work?

[sevs]

I'm considering purchasing a 125g aquarium (it probally wouldn't be for a couple of months) and stock it with new world fish (mainly cichlids) and was wondering if this set up would be overcrowded, if the fish would fight or eat each other, or if it has just too many cichlids for one tank.

Here is what I planned:

2x Aequidens pulcher (blue acara) (will they eat any of their tank mates?)

2x Apistogramma agassizii (Agassiz's dwarf)

2x Apistogramma caucatuoides (cockatoo dwarf)

2x Apistogramma trifasaiata (blue apisto) (will they get harrassed or eaten)

2x Cleithracara maroni (keyhole)

2x Heros efasciatus (severum) (will they eat any of their tank mates?)

2x Microgeophagus ramirezi (blue ram) (will they get harrassed or eaten?)

2x Thorichthy meeki (firemouth)

10x Nematobrycon palmeri (emperor tetra) (will they get eaten?)

1x Glyptperichthys gibbiceps (leopard pleco) (is it too big?)

 

[freddyk]

You have a fairly nice mix of bottom and mid dwelling cichlid, and much of what you are proposing is feasable. This tank will need some serious cover at the bottom, with lots of plants, including ones that reach up to the surface, and lots of hidey holes. The idea is there but I would tone it down quite a bit.

If you want the tetra's, you need to give them enough numbers to make them feel secure, and enough space to function for the same reason. In that size tank I'd say 20-30 emperors would make a nice schoal. They are safe from all the species mentioned except the Acara.

But we still have a problem with all the cichlid aggression. Acara, Severums, and Firemouths will all share tank space with each other and the tetra's (all mid dwellers), and ignored or not, a packed cichlid tank is a stressful place for even robust tetra's. Plus the Acara's may be able to snack on them as well. Remove the Acaras and don't replace them with anything. This will open up room for the tetra's, and give the other cichlids some space.

The Keyholes are extremely docile, they won't do well in this type of setup. They're best removed from the list as well. The rams... I don't know, but I'd be inclined to leave them out of the equasion as well.

Skip on all those different species of Apisto's in the same tank, which can be a serious cause of deadly aggression, and go instead with a harem of one species, or perhaps two species, instead (I'd go with one). Apistogramma agassizii does best in the harem setup anyway, and while cacatoides does well as pairs, they also work well in harems.

Likewise, plecos go with everything, but if every last square inch is covered in cichlids you might find yourself with an unhappy pleco with nowhere to go (or unhappy cichlids when the big pleco doesn't move for them). Toning things down as mentioned will take care of this.

You still have room for something that stays at the top of the water if you wished, like danios, redtail rasbora's, or something similar.

In the end, anything can work or fail with these setups, but all these points are things I would do to increase the chances of success.

 

[sevs]

thanks for the advise I have been waiting by my computer for someone to reply. I was just wondering if I cut the keyholes, blue apistos, and replaced the 10 emperor tetras with about 5 silver dollars would it work? What foilage should I use?
Also are there any new world fish that inhabit the top of the tank (I'm trying to create a new world tank)?

 

[lucky62]

not sure of what inhabit the top area .

Sevs , hate to throw a wrench in but , Silver dollars and live plants are a no go , at least from my experience /plants will be eaten , quickly .

There are some nice silk and plastic plants , I myself use live plants , and no longer keep Silver dollars , though I do like them

Severums , at least the ones I've kept/keep will make short work of live plants as well .

The Apistos are closely related and cross breeding is likely with both sexes in the tank , also most apistos do better with one male and a group of females . I had a pair of Cockatoos for about a month the female died from the males constant advances so at least 2 or 3 females is a good idea .

Have you considered Lateacara Curviceps[ dorsiger ] and or nannacara anomala and maybe one of the apisto species /rams and keyholes .

And maybe 2 or three groups of tetras 7 to 10 in each group .


If you are willing to step out of the new world a bit[ Australia/New Guinea] , you could get a group of psudomogil rainbow fish for the upper areas , and maybe some of the smaller fresh water gobies and or gudgeons for the lower and mid lower areas . Or maybe not , just some suggestions , good luck with your query

 

[sevs]

Sevs , hate to throw a wrench in but , Silver dollars and live plants are a no go , at least from my experience /plants will be eaten , quickly .

There are some nice silk and plastic plants , I myself use live plants , and no longer keep Silver dollars , though I do like them

Severums , at least the ones I've kept/keep will make short work of live plants as well .

I've heard that most fish ignore java fern is that true? Maybe I'll just have one large harem of a species of apistos instead of three seperate pairs. I may not even put live plants in if my fish will eat them and just put in drift wood and caves.

 

[Dwarfs]

Most fish ignore java fern, but silver dollars and severumss aren't most fish
Silver dollars eat anything green, and my severum loves to eat java fern

 

[sevs]

Oh, then im convinced that live plants aren't really possible which is fine because I've never had live plants before so why start now?

 

[Dwarfs]

Oh, then im convinced that live plants aren't really possible which is fine because I've never had live plants before so why start now?

Someday you'll get plants, but for now, silk plants may be the best choice My dad and I bought some from a crafts store (Around $2 per plant) and washed them off, they look fairly realistic and make great cover for fish to hide under

These are the silk plants

Obviously not the entire thing, but this pic shows what the leaves look like

 

[freddyk]

Danio's, especially the giants, and rainbows are two top dwelling ones that would work well.

 

[sevs]

Maybe I'll consider danios but I really don't want to add keep anything than new world fish. I do already have silk plants and prefer them to plastic because they look more realistic and i had in angelfish get caught in a plastic plant and it sufficated. I really want to make this aquarium as realistic as possible (well, as realistic as a glass box filled with brightly colored gravel can get) so I'm probally going to stick with rocks and driftwood (I know I'm being unreasonably difficult and if I'm ticking people off with my annoying demands and I don't blame you if you are because I would be too. Go ahead and just tune this out).

Alright, here is my revised list of fish:
4x Apistogramma caucatuoides
2x Heros efasciatus
2x Thorichthys meeki
6x Metynnis argenteus
1x Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps

I still have alot of room in this aquarium and it would be a shame to waste it so are are there any suggestions on what to add?

 

[freddyk]

I really want to make this aquarium as realistic as possible

To me realistic is creating a natural environment for the fish. More important then geographical location is biotope - it doesn't matter where they're from (except on a personal level) as long as they're from the same type of waters.

The idea of realistic/natural is to create a combination and environment that will work in a low stress tank and encourage natural behavior in the fish.

To begin with, this means leaving the cichlids a lot of space. They behave most naturally with territory, not confined to a small portion of the tank, or constantly fighting with other cichlids. This is why I suggested toning it down so much in the first place.
All these tanks you see around here stuffed wall to wall with aggressive new world cichlids are a way to keep fighting down, but it completely impedes the natural behaviors of the fish. It makes a good fish store display but a pretty lame home aquarium. You're second list, in other words, will create a much more realistic environement then the first.

The reason I suggest danio's or rainbow's, or perhaps rasboras, is that the bottom and middle levels are already occupied. Part of creating a low stress, natural tank is balancing the different area's of the tank. Having a decent shoal of active top swimmers will not only liven up your tank, their mere presence will make your cichlids feel more secure, which will contribute to your goal of a more realistic tank. And rainbows are beautiful fish too.

 

[Dwarfs]

Where are you going to put your Uaru sevs? This tank may be ideal for him/her Uarus do very well with severums and other semi-aggressive cichlids, as well as smaller fish

 

[sevs]

To me realistic is creating a natural environment for the fish. More important then geographical location is biotope - it doesn't matter where they're from (except on a personal level) as long as they're from the same type of waters.

Exactly though I still want to have a new world community tank. I was wondering if hatchet fish be eaten? I know they inhabit the top most part of the aquarium but wasn't sure if they would fit in the severums mouth.

Where are you going to put your Uaru sevs? This tank may be ideal for him/her  Uarus do very well with severums and other semi-aggressive cichlids, as well as smaller fish

I have considered it because i have more room in my second list for larger fish I may buy a male uaru too so mine wouldn't be so lonely.

(i may get this tank sooner than I thought, a pet store nearby is having a sale this coming weekend and they really want to get rid of their 125g.)

 

[freddyk]

I was wondering if hatchet fish be eaten

Hatchets would be nice too. The combination of the deep body of the hatchets and the sevs small mouth make them safe to use.

 

[sevs]

Hatchets would be nice too. The combination of the deep body of the hatchets and the sevs small mouth make them safe to use.

sweet. My dad has wanted me to get hatchetfish since we saw them in our lfs so he would be pleased.

Okay here is another list (I hope this plan works):

Catfish
1x Hypancitrus zebra (zebra pleco, i chose a smaller pleco so I'd have more room for other fish.)

Characins
?x Gasteropelecus sternicla (silver hatchet, still not sure how many to put in)
?x Metynnis argenteus (silver dollar, still not sure how many to put in)

Cichlids
4x Apistogramma caucatuoides (cockatoo apistos, 1 m and 3 f)
2x Heros efasciatus (severum, 1 gold m and green f)
2x Thorichtys meeki (firemouth, 1 m and 1 f)
2x Uaru amphiacanthoides (uaru, 1 m and 1 f)