300-gal stocking help

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jamesucla

jamesucla

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Jul 19, 2008
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LA
I am putting the stocking list together for my 300 gal 96 long x24 wide x30 tall tank. Tank will have 100 gal sump, with weekly 100g water changes.
Let me know what you think on compatibility and if this seems over-stocked or about right:

(3) Vieja Bifaciatum
(3) Vieja Heterospilus
(2) Trichromis Salvini
(3) Hoplarchus Psittacus
(5) Thorichthys Aureum
(3) Birchir Fish
 
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Thanks Duanes, Also i'm open to other suggestions. Looking for colorful active fish that inhabit different niches/areas of the tank, in various sizes.
 
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What if I substituted a pair of Islatum instead of the (3) Hoplarchus Psittacus? So the list would be:
(6) Viejas (Bifaciatum or synspilum, heterospilum)
(2) Trichromis Salvini
(2) red Islatum
(5) Thorichthys Aureum (or other similar to false firemouth)
(3) Birchir Fish

There might be some aggression here but 8'x2' is a big tank footprint. Thoughts?
 
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Tank is nice and big, but you've still got to be careful for pair aggression. Realistically you may run into lots of problems once your vieja pair up, or the istlanum if they were a large pair. I could see a pair of the vieja taking over half of a tank this size, same with istlanum.

With big communities like this it's hard to say what will or won't "work", the fish are different, and people's ideas of "success" are too. You could give it a shot like this but I wouldn't expect it to go forever with no problems, per se. Going with less aggressive species would give you higher chance of longer lasting peace. The heterospilus or synspilum (now melanurum) will be the easier Viejas to work with. Switching salvini and istlanum for some less aggressive species (for example, astatheros species like robertsoni Toiletcar Toiletcar mentioned) would be wise in my opinion, since the thoricthys have relatively weak jaws and could get bullied around easily. Or, if you don't like that idea, could switch the thoricthys out for an amatitlania species which should "take the abuse" a little better. Another which would work is p. panamensis. Picture of mine below

7-iloveimg-converted.jpg
 
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Gourami Swami said:
Tank is nice and big, but you've still got to be careful for pair aggression. Realistically you may run into lots of problems once your vieja pair up, or the istlanum if they were a large pair. I could see a pair of the vieja taking over half of a tank this size, same with istlanum.

With big communities like this it's hard to say what will or won't "work", the fish are different, and people's ideas of "success" are too. You could give it a shot like this but I wouldn't expect it to go forever with no problems, per se. Going with less aggressive species would give you higher chance of longer lasting peace. The heterospilus or synspilum (now melanurum) will be the easier Viejas to work with. Switching salvini and istlanum for some less aggressive species (for example, astatheros species like robertsoni Toiletcar Toiletcar mentioned) would be wise in my opinion, since the thoricthys have relatively weak jaws and could get bullied around easily. Or, if you don't like that idea, could switch the thoricthys out for an amatitlania species which should "take the abuse" a little better. Another which would work is p. panamensis. Picture of mine below
Click to expand...
Your advise makes a lot of sense. Totally expect adjustments may be needed depending on aggression & pairing. May end up keeping only males for the vieja types. Had to look up "Amatitlania" but recognize as convict type fish. Must be a new name, thought it was cryptoheros. Those would be a better idea for the smaller fish. Also your Panamensis is a nice specimen, thanks for the feedback.
 
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you could add a group of dither fish for movement like swordtails if you want a top dweller or pictus for a bottom dweller. it would make it easier for them to clean up the leftover food
 
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