New beginnings.. Some advice needed

Discussion in 'General Discussions' started by stephen, Feb 8, 2017.

  1. stephen

    stephen

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    Good day all..

    So this my idea i have been thinking of for quite a while and get some advice.

    I want to get a new tank and use my current 240L as a sump.So here conundrum I am looking at South American cichlid .Stocking options firemouth ,green terror red shoulder severum ,Jack dempsey ,maybe you guys have some other stock ideas.I want a meduim size cichlid.SA cichlids looks they got a really interesting personalities and character.

    What size tank will be good i know bigger is better but I live in Cape town and with the water restrictions I dont want to go ape and get like 800 L tank .Thinking about a 400L around there whats my options keeping in mind the fish that will be rather messy and that 240L tank is what i will be using as a sump.

    And i am not planning on keeping lots of fish 2 or so and have like "show fish" as such

    Thanking in advance for all advice
     
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  3. RuanJ

    RuanJ

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    I am no expert but maby an Oscar or two?
     
  4. OP
    stephen

    stephen

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    Hi RuanJ not to keen on Oscars was thinking along the lines of a Jack dempsey or a Green Terror.Is there anyone that has Jack demseys what are they like they look pretty sweet to me.
     
  5. Dolphin

    Dolphin

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    @stephen for tank consider 120*60*60 or better 150*60*60.

    Geophagus, Blue Acara, Festivum, Uaru are nice cichlids. These also do well in aquascape tanks with tough plants such as anubias and java fern.
     
  6. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    SA & CA cichlids are by nature very aggressive, territorial fish.
    They need a fair amount of space in order to be happy, the bigger the tank the better.

    There are some hyper aggro species that are best kept on their own, but there are a few that can be combined - with care.

    I had a CA/SA setup at one point in my 550L
    Had Uaru, Chocolate Cichlids, Electric Blue Jack Dempsy, Festivum, Keyholes, Geophagus
    There were a few other cichlids in there too, but it didn't work with them, so they had to go. (Fortunately my lfs knew what I was trying to achieve so they were happy to swap the fish)
    So be ready for that.
     
  7. MariaS

    MariaS Retired Moderator

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    I agree with @Reedfish on the selection of fish just one word on Uaru they eat every plant in your tank including anubias etc.. at least mine did...and they grow pretty quickly
    I would also add the electric blue acara and severums to the list
    They are all prety territorial as has been said so I would not go smaller than 1.5m
    Geophagus are not very problematic and you could have 3 or 4 with no problem
    Green terrors and red terrors can get agressive once they grow up, I suppose some more than others but they usually are.
     
  8. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    Forgot about the Severum :rolleyes:

    And yes, Uara will eat anything remotely green.
    There should be some wood in the tank too. The like to eat the biofilm that developes on it.
     
  9. Dolphin

    Dolphin

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    Hmm maybe my overcrowded tank kept mine away from the plants....
     
  10. Reedfish

    Reedfish Moderator

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    My tank was well stocked and nothing green survived.
    Uaru ate everything.
     

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