What to add to 125 gallon?

[Teeter]

Finally upgraded my 75 to a 125! Excited for my fish to get some more space, but I’m figuring out what else I should add. It’ll be running dual FX4’s and weekly water changes of around 30-50%, higher or lower depending on params. Here’s what will be transferred into the tank:

- 2 Electric Blue Acaras
- 1 Rio Inirida Severum
- 1 Red Shoulder Severum
- 1 Delhezi Bichir (11”)
- 1 Retropinnis Bichir (8”)
- 1 Mokele Bichir (6”)

I’m obviously overdue on this upgrade but hopefully they’ll all appreciate the extra room. Possible additions:

- group of 6-8 shoaling fish as dithers (the red shoulder hides under a piece of driftwood often. I’m hoping they could help make him a bit bolder)
- another medium-large SA cichlid (Cholocate, Psittacus, Uaru, or another Severum were all ideas I had)
- another bichir (Possibly Endli, but I prefer upper jaws, so maybe a Teugelsi or Ornate? I’d imagine they outgrow a 125 though, plus that’s another significant source of waste added)

I’m considering rehoming the EBAs, but haven’t decided on anything just yet.

Any ideas, or maybe just adding nothing is a better option? I’m open to suggestions! I’ve been heavily focused on my saltwater tanks for awhile now and I’m excited to actually give these guys an upgrade.

 

[Deadeye]

I would go with the schooling fish.
One of the best decisions I made for my 125 was a shoal of 15 Buenos Aires tetras (now 10, always buy more than you want long term). I can always count on them for activity even if all of my large fish somehow disappear.
Any cichlid would risk upsetting how they get along currently imo.

 

[Teeter]

I would go with the schooling fish.
One of the best decisions I made for my 125 was a shoal of 15 Buenos Aires tetras (now 10, always buy more than you want long term). I can always count on them for activity even if all of my large fish somehow disappear.
Any cichlid would risk upsetting how they get along currently imo.

I was leaning the same direction. Funny enough, I prefer tanks with a few larger fish over tanks with a ton of movement (that a bunch of schooling fish would add), but the goal is really to make the cichlids comfortable enough to come out more.

The only aggression I’ve had with this group is the Rio Inirida spawning in one corner every week for the last year, which she’ll guard until the eggs die off (because of course she refuses to pair with my male sev lol). The EBAs occasionally show some kind of territorial aggression when doing their spawning behaviors, but have never actually spawned, so no issues there. I do understand an addition could upset the balance though, regardless of how well the current group gets along.

 

[ELECTROPHORUS]

AFRICAN LUNGFISH.

 

[justintheodd]

AFRICAN LUNGFISH.

seems like someone has a theme

 

[lief300]

Nice upgrade! For dithers, silver dollars or larger tetras like Congo tetras could work well and stay safe from the bichirs. I'd probably hold off on another bichir unless you go with something smaller like a lapradei, those upper jaws can still get chunky and a 125 might feel tight long-term.

 

[Teeter]

I have an unfortunate update: two of the three bichirs (moke, retro) have died. Retro showed signs of a bacterial infection, followed by buoyancy issues, and was dead overnight. The next day, around 4pm, the moke showed red on her dorsal spines; another bacterial infection. This was quickly followed by buoyancy issues, then death. The whole point from symptoms to death was literally MAYBE 3 hours. Parameters (in both cases) were fine, that being no ammonia or nitrite, and around 20 ppm nitrate.

Luckily, it's been about three weeks, and the delhezi is doing fine, showing no signs of illness, not have any of the cichlids. I added a chocolate cichlid, about 4" long, who is eating fine, but hides most of the time. This behavior was expected, but considering my severums also do the same consistently (except when feeding) I'm looking into the possibility of rehoming one or both acaras. They dominate the tank, and although I rarely see any evidence of either doing actual damage to the other fish, they are most definitely causing enough stress for them to hide. The stock is now:

- 2 Electric Blue Acaras
- 1 Rio Inirida Severum
- 1 Red Shoulder Severum
- 1 Delhezi Bichir (11”)
- 1 Chocolate Cichlid (4")

My question is what to add/take away? I know dithers were the plan for awhile, but I've not really found any I'm very interested in getting. If I rehomed one or both EBAs, would a group of 4 or 5 Tapajos work? I feel like a group of generally peaceful cichlids would act as a dither in some way, no?