120g Brackish Cichlid Build - Advice Needed

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Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Apr 25, 2011
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I'm looking for some advice and a critique of the build I'm proposing.

I've been keeping saltwater for the last 4 years but I lack the resources to build the reef tank of my dreams, combined with increasing family and work obligations, I've decided that I'd be happier returning to freshwater.

My plan is to shut down my 40g FOWLR system and sell off the live rock. The aquarium will be replaced with a 120g system (48x24x24) as it's the maximum size I can accommodate in the space I have available. The 120g will be equipped with a Fluval FX4 for filtration, a Milwaukee Co2 system for plant growth, and perhaps an inline UV sterilizer.

For the aquascape, I envision a sandbed/river rock motif, with a "sunken tree" built from driftwood to hide clay pot hides. Anubias and Java fern will be attached to the driftwood to complete the look.

As mentioned, the tank would be brackish, ranging around 1.012 SG. pH = 8. Temp 76-80.

Stock:
I plan on purchasing ~6 P. synspilus "Redhead" Vieja cichlid and growing them out to about 6" in a 40g freshwater system. Once a strong pair as been identified, they will be transitioned to the display tank and the remaining fish will be sold. The pair of P. synspilus will become the centerpiece of the 120g.

Once the cichlids are situated in their new home, I plan to grow out a single A. Seemaani "Columbian shark". Once the catfish has reached ~6", it will be transitioned to the display tank.

All animals will start life in freshwater before being transitioned to brackish conditions as juveniles.


I am looking for advice on whether this will be a sustainable system or not. If you see something that will not work or is likely to create a problem in the future (I plan on running system for 10-15 years) please speak up and let me know. Alternatively, if you believe that this is a well designed and thought-out, I'd love to receive that reinforcement. Again, I'm returning to the world of freshwater and monster fish so I could really use a second (or a hundred) set of eyes on this idea before I dive in.

Thanks y'all!
 
I have not heard of synspilums being kept in brackish water. I have heard of Maculicauda (black belts) venturing into brackish water in the wild, you might have better luck with them. Another cichlid that apparently can be pretty saline-tolerant is the Uropthalmos, mayan cichlid. Any reason why you want to do brackish? Cichlids thrive in freshwater.

Whether a pair of these fish will work long-term in a 4' 120g is debatable. It would probably be do-able but not really optimal. Also, those Colombian catfish can get close to two feet long- much too large for a 120 gallon.

My advice would be to reconsider making it brackish, possibly choose a cichlid with a 12" maximum size, and choose a smaller catfish.
 
Yeah I don't know if Synspilum will do well in that high of a salinity long term. I love your idea though, a big brackish display would be awesome. What about Etroplus Suratensis?
 
Gourami Swami said:
I have not heard of synspilums being kept in brackish water. I have heard of Maculicauda (black belts) venturing into brackish water in the wild, you might have better luck with them. Another cichlid that apparently can be pretty saline-tolerant is the Uropthalmos, mayan cichlid. Any reason why you want to do brackish? Cichlids thrive in freshwater.

Whether a pair of these fish will work long-term in a 4' 120g is debatable. It would probably be do-able but not really optimal. Also, those Colombian catfish can get close to two feet long- much too large for a 120 gallon.

My advice would be to reconsider making it brackish, possibly choose a cichlid with a 12" maximum size, and choose a smaller catfish.
Click to expand...

From my research, including fishbase.org http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Paraneetroplus-synspilus, it was repeatedly noted that P. synspilus is more appropriately a brackish cichlid than a true freshwater species. If brackish isn't required than that makes life significantly easy. The Columbian shark was picked solely because it is a catfish that, like P. synspilus, is reputed to thrive in brackish conditions and originates from roughly the same geographic area, so it makes sense to put them together.
 
Yeah they're not brackish.

Stanzzzz7 Stanzzzz7
 
It says they can tolerate some brackish but that's it. You'll be fine just keeping it in fresh water

Capture.PNG
 
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I also "would not" consider melanura, brackish, a little salt maybe.
If you want brackish cichlids, the suggestions already made of Vieja maculacuada, and Etroplus suratensus, or the brackish varieties of uropthalmus would be much more reasonable species.
 
There are variants of melanura from saline waters,most notably the laguna salpeten variant.
Salpeten is a saline lake adjacent to the lake peten.
However the chances of having this particular variant is slim.
The majority, if not all the melanura in the hobby will have evolved in fresh water and have little long term tolerance for brackish conditions.
 
Everyone seem to have covered the fish so let me comment on the scape.
You said you plan on anubias and java fern. You also said you were planning on Co2.
If these are the only species of plants your planning I wouldn't bother with Co2.
Its just not necessary. Save yourself the hassle.

If you plan on getting more into planted tanks you could add it later.
 
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