180 stocking moving help!

[duanes]

I don't normally like "opinion" type "what shall I get threads, because that's just what they are. You might like blondes, she might like brunettes, that kind of thing.
And it depends a lot whether its a display tank or not.
In my display tanks I don't like to mix continents, for a number of reasons.
First, they look goofy to me. If that doesn't matter to you...no sweat
Water parameters and aggression levels are a more important factor.
I find north American cichlids much more aggressive than S Americans (IMO north america starts in Panama going north, S America runs from Colombia south. "Most" S American cichlids are not able to match aggression of their northern cousins with a few exceptions.
Central America waters are generally hard and alkaline.
A large section of South American water is soft and has tannins that act anti bacterial, so S American immunity to certain diseases is somewhat different, than their hard water cousins.
Also much of southern S America is temperate compared to the tropical north.
I don't keep Uruguayans with fish from northern Brazil, the distance between is more than Toronto Miami, and temps and seasonal changes can be quite different
And although a 180 gal is a decent size tank, I found I had to move cichlids like pearsei, and bocourti to 300 gallon tanks because within 2 years they outgrew my 100+ gallon tanks.
And although both are some of my favorite, both species are also plant decimators being heavily vegetarian, mine ate 3 ft papyrus down to nubs.
But there I go, blathering again

 

[jvc66]

Another thing to consider is what fish are most readily available to you? I appreciate the appeal of fish that are hard to obtain - but with cichlids the order and timing of when you introduce fish can impact the likelihood of success.

Same thing with planted tanks. If you're planting out your tank - especially if you keep cichlids that are notorious diggers, you want to get the plants in first without any fish for at least a couple or few weeks to allow the roots time to establish.

So, if you're an impatient person (like me) waiting for just the right fish could be a deal breaker for you.

Just something to keep in mind.

I am an impatient person as well and would to just be able to fill a tank with water and toss everything in like everyone else here would. But for this i could wait to make sure things are right in order to properly care for something that i am keeping. Plants i would like to jave in the tank but with the direction i am going would not include them.

 

[jvc66]

I don't normally like "opinion" type "what shall I get threads, because that's just what they are. You might like blondes, she might like brunettes, that kind of thing.
And it depends a lot whether its a display tank or not.
In my display tanks I don't like to mix continents, for a number of reasons.
First, they look goofy to me. If that doesn't matter to you...no sweat
Water parameters and aggression levels are a more important factor.
I find north American cichlids much more aggressive than S Americans (IMO north america starts in Panama going north, S America runs from Colombia south. "Most" S American cichlids are not able to match aggression of their northern cousins with a few exceptions.
Central America waters are generally hard and alkaline.
A large section of South American water is soft and has tannins that act anti bacterial, so S American immunity to certain diseases is somewhat different, than their hard water cousins.
Also much of southern S America is temperate compared to the tropical north.
I don't keep Uruguayans with fish from northern Brazil, the distance between is more than Toronto Miami, and temps and seasonal changes can be quite different
And although a 180 gal is a decent size tank, I found I had to move cichlids like pearsei, and bocourti to 300 gallon tanks because within 2 years they outgrew my 100+ gallon tanks.
And although both are some of my favorite, both species are also plant decimators being heavily vegetarian, mine ate 3 ft papyrus down to nubs.
But there I go, blathering again

That being said i am going to nix the sa/ca combo and just stick to one or the other. I would only like to keep fish tat i could house properly for life in that tank instead of running the risk of having a tank buster that cant even turn around which i would think would be unfair to them. Plants are not really a necessity to me either. I think i could do a nice scape with driftwood and some stone and sand

 

[robham777]

I agree with duanes on stocking threads, and try not to push what I want to keep on others with different interest. The good thing is you can get a lot of information about species you may not have been aware of or considering. I think a good way to go about it is to decide on a focal species and work your stocking around what can cohabitate with that species. At the end of the day you could exactly copy another 180g community and not have the same results, so some experimentation is probably to be expected.

 

[jvc66]

Alright so just been doing a little thinking about what i am looking for. My goal is to have a tank to house fish for life and never have to transfer them into a larger tank at some point. I would like to have 6 minimum in the tank and would hope for more. Plants are not a must i can do without.

So i would either stick to just SA or just CA and not mix since i would like to keep everyone with the same needs together.

The first SA would be more of a peaceful tank would be with maybe 6-8 geos, 3 assorted severum, some dithers and possibly angels.

Second SA tank would have a green terror that i just need a couple recommendations on what else can be kept and quantities. Not sure if vieja can cohabit the tank with him too.

Third would be My CA tank. Would love a JD but just need tank mates that are CA that could work and quantities.

Also what would fastae work well with? The also have some nice colors.

Just looking for a wide range of options that i can pair down and mix and match. If you guys have pictures that would really help too. Want to read up before so i am knowledgeble on each species and what parameters to follow

 

[jvc66]

I agree with duanes on stocking threads, and try not to push what I want to keep on others with different interest. The good thing is you can get a lot of information about species you may not have been aware of or considering. I think a good way to go about it is to decide on a focal species and work your stocking around what can cohabitate with that species. At the end of the day you could exactly copy another 180g community and not have the same results, so some experimentation is probably to be expected.

Exactly i am learning that with the more i am reading and researching from you guys its been a big help. My last post kind of has the few focal species i really do like that catches my eye the most. Just need to fill in the blanks for tank mates

 

[duanes]

I think Geos are a good starter.
They like to live in groups and basically non-territorial.
In the second tank, if you are going to use Andinoacara and festae, which basically come from the same area, and same type environments, it might be best to add them all together at once. These species "are" territorial, and allowing them to set up territories at the same time asjuvies, can minimize aggression, trying to add them piecemeal may be problematic.

 

[jaws7777]

I for one think stocking or what should i get threads are fantastic when taking opinions as for what they are...opinions. op has been given a wide berth of examples, species, and experiences that he would not have access to

 

[DarylMac]

Apparently Satanoperca Jurupari can be found in Ecuador- same with Andinocara Rivulatus and Festae. Not sure if you could mix the Jurupari with the other two species, but that would be cool.

 

[jvc66]

I think Geos are a good starter.
They like to live in groups and basically non-territorial.
In the second tank, if you are going to use Andinoacara and festae, which basically come from the same area, and same type environments, it might be best to add them all together at once. These species "are" territorial, and allowing them to set up territories at the same time asjuvies, can minimize aggression, trying to add them piecemeal may be problematic.

If i were to include the andinoacara and festae in the same tank i would be better off keeping them as individuals instead of pairs correct? I am not really looking at breeding at this time and would like to try and minimize the chance of spawning aggression. They would probably be ok with sevs and something else? Still looking for 6+ fish in the tank