115 Gallon Stocking

[FishKid0978]

Hello Everyone. I've just gotten a 115 gallon tank (4x2x2) And i'm very conflicted and confused on what to put in it. Here is what i would have. (The firemouths, Red tail shark and 1 angel have to go in there)
2: Firemouths
7: Angelfish
3: Pictus Cats
1: Green Severumn
4: Clown loaches
1: Very passive Red Tail Shark
Ik clown loaches get big but do you think the would be able to go into a tank that size? I've saved one that was in a 10g most of its life by itself and i wanna give it a better life but i don't wanna doom others to help it
Thank you all so much

 

[Gourami Swami]

The clown loaches will eventually get huge but will take years to do so. And large loaches are worth hundreds of dollars, you could easily sell any that were above 6", people always want them.
I think the rest of your stock could work but the firemouths are central American cichlids and prefer a harder water with a higher pH, wheras the rest of your fish are from south America ( or asia) and would prefer things on the other side of the spectrum. The fish are adaptable though and could probably all live around neutral water conditions with no problem.
Firemouths also prefer a group. If it were me I would ditch the severum and up your firemouths to 5, with only only male preferably. The angelfish may get their long fins nipped by the firemouths, hard to say if the FM's will care enough to bother them.

 

[FishKid0978]

The clown loaches will eventually get huge but will take years to do so. And large loaches are worth hundreds of dollars, you could easily sell any that were above 6", people always want them.
I think the rest of your stock could work but the firemouths are central American cichlids and prefer a harder water with a higher pH, wheras the rest of your fish are from south America ( or asia) and would prefer things on the other side of the spectrum. The fish are adaptable though and could probably all live around neutral water conditions with no problem.
Firemouths also prefer a group. If it were me I would ditch the severum and up your firemouths to 5, with only only male preferably. The angelfish may get their long fins nipped by the firemouths, hard to say if the FM's will care enough to bother them.

Ok, wow that is amazing info. The only real problem I have with it is the Severum. My original plan was to get a Oscar with the fm as a larger sorta centrepiece fish. When I found out they were way to big for the tank I found the Severum but if it won’t work what other larger fish do you think would work. I really just want 1 larger fish in there that stands out and has a bit of personality
Thank you so much

 

[Gourami Swami]

Ok, wow that is amazing info. The only real problem I have with it is the Severum. My original plan was to get a Oscar with the fm as a larger sorta centrepiece fish. When I found out they were way to big for the tank I found the Severum but if it won’t work what other larger fish do you think would work. I really just want 1 larger fish in there that stands out and has a bit of personality
Thank you so much

What is your water like? Hardness (gH) and pH? If you have neutral water you might be able to get the firemouths and severums together. If it's skewed one way or the other that will make narrowing down your species easier.
The other issue is the firemouths really doing better in a group; I suggested cutting the severum to allow them to have a group. You could probably keep the severum and swap out the angels for more firemouths as well. Trying to do all of it in one tank is going to be a bit much for a 4' tank IMO. The water chemistry will tell you what fish will do better in your home.

 

[FishKid0978]

Ph is about 6.2 and I’ll have to find my test kit in the morning. That’s ok about the Severum but is there another fish that could replace it like a blue acara jack Dempsey etc

 

[tlindsey]

Please stick to 1 thread I remember the last thread asking the same exact question's.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Ph is about 6.2 and I’ll have to find my test kit in the morning. That’s ok about the Severum but is there another fish that could replace it like a blue acara jack Dempsey etc

pH of 6.2 would be much better for the severum and other fish you have listed, the firemouths are actually the odd man out. They would prefer a pH above 7. Do you have them yet? If not, I would recommend going with another South American species like blue acara to pair with the severum other fish.

 

[duanes]

A 6.2 pH is very suitable for most South American species, but 6.2 is a bit low for FMs, JDs, and other Central American cichlids.
It is not acutely dangerous, but for adults raised long term in low pH, the Centrals may get chronic maladies.
Below is some collection point data for FMs, from the book American Cichlids II by Linke & Staeck

JDs are from similar waters, although those from Cenotes may have evolved in a much higher pH environment.

 

[Kolton13]

here's what i'd do...cancel the clown loaches you'll have to sell them eventually which can be a pain. take 2 angels out and add 3 more pictu because they do like to school. so the stock would be...
1 redtail shark
2 fire mouths
1 severum
6 pictus cats
5 angelfish


Also, the clown loaches and pictus would battle for food both being bottom dwellers

 

[duanes]

By the way I thought you might want to see some collection point data for severum's, to see the contrasting water parameters between South and Central American water types for different species..