220 Gallon Stocking Advice (Geos, Uaru, Severum etc...)

[JK47]

So I am almost finished cycling my 220 gallon. Posting in the SA/CA section because I want a colorful active tank with more/smaller/med fish. I do not want aro's/rays/pbass like everyone seems to go with.

Here is what I have already in a growout for this tank:
x1 BGK (9")
x2 L240 Galaxius Pleco (one at 9" / one at 4")
x2 Green Severum (3.5")
x2 "Talking Catfish" I rarely see them, small, they came with the last tank
I bought and I know nothing about them or have pics.
x5 Sterbea Corydoras (always at LFS)
x2 Pimelodus Pictus (always at LFS)

Here is where I need some advice:
x? Uaru A. - only have juvies available locally
x? Read Head Geophagus - will be buying juvies from a MFK member
x? Acarichthys Heckelii - My wife wants BAD and I have never kept them.
I have never seen a Heckelii in person, do these live up to their photos on line? If I only got females would they be aggresive to the read heads or uaru? I know a breeding pair might an issue. Anyone keep pairs of both?

Would you add or drop anything on my list for somthing else SA/peaceful?

 

[peathenster]

With a good filtration I believe you have lots of room for more fish. However, I do feel that too many different types of fish tend to make the tank look busy and less enjoyable.

A. heckelii are supposed to be less peaceful than severums or uarus. I have a group of 6 WC at 4", and they recently started occupying territories and flaring at each other. Considering there are only two possible sexes, I'd guess females wouldn't be too nice to each other either.

 

[JK47]

With a good filtration I believe you have lots of room for more fish. However, I do feel that too many different types of fish tend to make the tank look busy and less enjoyable.

A. heckelii are supposed to be less peaceful than severums or uarus. I have a group of 6 WC at 4", and they recently started occupying territories and flaring at each other. Considering there are only two possible sexes, I'd guess females wouldn't be too nice to each other either.

That's what I was looking for, someone with experience. So if I scrap the Heckelii idea, is there a colorful, less aggressive geo I can go with in your opinion? Should I just load up on more orange/red head's? I am new to eartheaters and want to build the tank around them and my plecos.. I may have enough aggression over the two L240's in the same tank.

Filtration is a large wet/dry with scrubbies but a slower turnover rate. Sand substrate and LOTS of driftwood/anubias. Footprint is 72" x 24" x 30" high.

 

[peathenster]

Geos usually do better in groups. I'd say 6 (or more) orangeheads would look great in the tank. You should have enough space for a group of altifrons also if you want larger Geos (not 6 each! ).

Another option is some Satanoperca species. They are very peaceful toward other fish.

Personally I'd just load up on the orangehears. I'm working on it myself - growing out 100+ fry

 

[JK47]

Geos usually do better in groups. I'd say 6 (or more) orangeheads would look great in the tank. You should have enough space for a group of altifrons also if you want larger Geos (not 6 each! ).

Another option is some Satanoperca species. They are very peaceful toward other fish.

Personally I'd just load up on the orangehears. I'm working on it myself - growing out 100+ fry

OK, so how about this (the fish I have in the 135 growout and...):
x6 Read Head Tapajo
x4 Uaru A.

So if I just stick with the red or orange head, I could add more Uaru. I think that's the route I'll go since I don't like to overstock. Thanks Peathenster!

 

[peathenster]

Looks good! I don't have any experience with BGK tho.

 

[barley pop]

in my 220 i have

7 X uaru
1 X green sev
4 X Acarichthys Heckelii
3 X angels

the Acarichthys Heckelii are all around 4" and the uaru range from 3" to 5" and the sev is arond 6-7" all get along great.

also in the tank are 5 bleeding heart tetra and a few black skirt tetra.

 

[peathenster]

in my 220 i have

7 X uaru
1 X green sev
4 X Acarichthys Heckelii
3 X angels

the Acarichthys Heckelii are all around 4" and the uaru range from 3" to 5" and the sev is arond 6-7" all get along great.

also in the tank are 5 bleeding heart tetra and a few black skirt tetra.

A. heckelii actually group and enjoy the company of each other as juvies. Some even suggest that the black blotch on the first few spines of their dorsal fins are signals that help them to recognize each other. But they become rather aggressive toward conspecies as adults. They take a couple of years to mature, and I'm keeping a close eye on mine

 

[JK47]

Looks good! I don't have any experience with BGK tho.

My BGK abarently doesn't fit the mold very well. Always out during the day, comes to the front of the tank to eat and is very pieceful. One of my favorite fish.

So now I am REALLY furstrated... I just got back from the LFS and they have x2 what they have labeled as Geo Surinamensis that are about 9"+ each for $25 a piece. Me and my wife almost bought them, but I wanted to do the homework fisrt. Everything I am reading right now says that they are most likely NOT true surinamensis.... If they aren't ID'ed correctly and won't let me take a pic (store policy) what to do?

It looks closest to this: (not the actuall fish, the actuall has thicker yellow'ish lateral lines) I really want them. If they are true surinamensis, would they be a good addition to my setup along with red heads?


Sorry for all the questions guys! I just want to do this right the first time.

 

[peathenster]

My BGK abarently doesn't fit the mold very well. Always out during the day, comes to the front of the tank to eat and is very pieceful. One of my favorite fish.

So now I am REALLY furstrated... I just got back from the LFS and they have x2 what they have labeled as Geo Surinamensis that are about 9"+ each for $25 a piece. Me and my wife almost bought them, but I wanted to do the homework fisrt. Everything I am reading right now says that they are most likely NOT true surinamensis.... If they aren't ID'ed correctly and won't let me take a pic (store policy) what to do?

It looks closest to this: (not the actuall fish, the actuall has thicker yellow'ish lateral lines) I really want them. If they are true surinamensis, would they be a good addition to my setup along with red heads?
View attachment 384163

Sorry for all the questions guys! I just want to do this right the first time.

G. surinamensis is supposed to have spot patterns on the caudal fin. Several Geo. species look quite similar so it'd be helpful if you could take actual pictures of the fish. Try to get details of the lateral spot, and caudal fin, etc when you do....