100 Gallon decisions.

[Canadianguppy]

G'day yall!

Im getting back into it! I used to have several 180's, 220's and 300's. Salt and fresh. You name it, my house was full of tanks. Over a decade later, lots of moving. Finally getting back into it.

I have a 4ft by 2 by 2 100 gallon.(got it for 100 bucks on Market place and resiliconed the tank) Right now it only has a Seachem 6502 Tidal 110 on it. I doubles the bio balls and added a fine filter floss pad to it also. (Side note: HOW Awesome are they?! The skimmer option?! So nice to see on a HOB now) I plan on adding a fx# Not sure on size yet.

My tank is 2 weeks into the cycle, ignore the tannins. The log has yet to sink lol.

I was considering a Jaguar cichlid (one of my all time favs) or a tiger oscar. Thoughts ? Might add a birchir with it. Being 100% honest though, I dont think the tank is big enough for either of those two fish, and I would have to upgrade to a 180 (oh no the horror LOL) Think the 100 is enough for a year till I bring in a 180? I just plumbed up my basement for making water changes easier and filling tanks ect. I will be adding a few large tanks down here. Should I just get a nice JD (never really see them anymore as adults) and some smaller SA fish till I get the big boy tanks in?

 

[HUKIT]

That footprint is actually a 120g and would easily house a ocellatus but in my opinion a managuense would need an upgrade.

 

[Canadianguppy]

Yea thats what I thought. Oscars are so over done. I might just get 2/3 jack dempsy's and hope to get a real nice few and possibly breed lol

 

[HUKIT]

What does your water chemistry look like? That should be a guide to whether you’ll do better with South American or Central Americans based on what fit your fish better.

 

[duanes]

Agree with HUKIT
if your tap water is soft, and low pH (below 7) Amazonians would work,
but
if your tap water is hard with higher pH (7.5 or above in the 8+ range) small to medum size Centrals, would do.

If your tap water hovers around 7, and neutral to slightly hard, cichlids from west of the Andes or southern South America's may be more apropos

 

[Caperguy99]

Just looking at the length of some of the jags out there, I suspect that a four foot length might not be long enough for them. “Big fish lad” and Andy Woods have some videos of them on YouTube and they look to be absolutely massive.

How does your plumbing look? I’m considering something similar but would love to see some examples.

 

[Canadianguppy]

What does your water chemistry look like? That should be a guide to whether you’ll do better with South American or Central Americans based on what fit your fish better.

naturally low ph, id have to add some sand and rock to bump it up for africans. Plus I h ave never really been a huge fan of them

 

[Canadianguppy]

Just looking at the length of some of the jags out there, I suspect that a four foot length might not be long enough for them. “Big fish lad” and Andy Woods have some videos of them on YouTube and they look to be absolutely massive.

How does your plumbing look? I’m considering something similar but would love to see some examples.

yea, ill have to wait for a larger tanks.

TBH its nothing crazy, my basement is unfinished. So for now it will be simple.

I had easy access to the plumbing, hit a T joint on both hot and cold lines. Ran it down using PEX - a (A is so much easier to work with, bends easier) and the joints are "shark bite" brand. No dicking around with fasteners. They just bite in so cut pipe and push into the the joint. Done.

Anyways, ran down from a T joint. Hit another T joint, left has a stopper line (incase I want to expand/do drip systems ect) right runs over to a larger laundry tub sink, that I have a hose attachment on. The hard plumbing was already in for a bathroom in the basement (in the corner) so it was an easy connect with PVC to the exit drains.
So I can line the wall with tanks and have an good "work" station for WC in the corner, if I wana get fancy and run off the t for a drip system for multiple tanks ect I can.... Thats way down the road and not likely going to happen. Still want my Sauna and home gym so likely only a few tanks will appear lol

 

[danotaylor]

With naturally low pH if you don’t wanna mess with water chemistry adjustment I’d go with geos personally
Alternatively you could use aragonite as substrate to bump the pH up and harden the water, then go with some CA cichlids

 

[duanes]

Agree with danotaylor, with your soft, low pH water, jags or any Parachromis,in a 4ft tank, would be species to avoid, unless you want to mess with increasing pH and mineral content with aragonite substrate. and upgrade tank size once they grow out of it.
I was able to keep and breed managuense, and motaguense in 6 ft tanks, but my pH was consistantly above 7.6, with a hardness of at least 250 mg/L.

managuensus above about 12+ inches
motaguense below (left female)