55 gallon grow out?

[MonsterFishCreeper]

Hello MFK. I recently purchased a nice acrylic 55 gallon and two AC110 hob's for an mbuna tank in my home office. Unfortunately I think I have caught the CA/SA bug and I really am leaning towards a lightly planted river style tank with driftwood, anubias, ect. Even more unfortunate is all of the species I've become interested in keeping likely grow too large to live in a 55 permanently. My question is how long could the following species grow out in a 55. I have the means to purchase a much larger tank but until the renovations of my house are complete the 55 I already have is all I have room for. I would be able to install at least a 180 gallon when the renovation of my downstairs is complete but I really want to know:

1 or 2 red severums
Or
1 or 2 festae
Or
1 or 2 GT's

How long could any of these species properly grow out and live in a 55. Please understand I know that none of these other than possibly a single GT or severum could habitate this tank permanently and even that isn't ideal. I just want to know how long they would be happy growing out in a 48x13 tank. I will purchase them small.

Thanks!

 

[Buphy]

GT are notoriously slow growers so assuming your reno doesn't take years the GT could work. Can't speak on festaes but since severums are generally laid back you could probably do them as well.

 

[MonsterFishCreeper]

That's good news. I imagine from the time the fish go into the tank until the large tank is ready will be less than or around one year. At that point I'll have a big tank and an established grow out and be able to grow fish out for the bigger tank. I also have a 72 bow front with 10 gal sump I could set up if there's a delay in finding a 180 so I have a little wiggle room there.