55 gallon growout questions

[FishKing5]

Hello everyone. I'm planning on setting up a 55 gallon growout tank for some central and south Americans. I'm going to put in a order from rapps and cichlids of Americas next week sometime and will be ordering just 1-1.5 inch juvies. Pretty new to growing these guys out in strictly a growout tank so was wondering how many I could grow out in a 55 gallon. I'm looking to get some vieja melanura, vieja black belts, and breidhori and than also a group of 1 inch geophagus altifrons. All these fish will eventually go into a much much larger tank once they're ready to do so. I'll eventually be setting up something that's 300 to 500 gallons for a show tank. So question is how many fish would be alright to raise in a 55 gallon. I was thinking of getting 4 vieja melanura, 4 black belts, 4 breidhori and 6 altifrons. Any help would be great. I could setup a 75 instead of a 55 if need be. With the fish being at 1-1.5" and knowing they grow fairly fast I was thinking a 55 should be good for around 9 months or so. I'll always be able to split them up into other tanks if it gets too crowded until the show tank is up and running

 

[Dis]

75 gallons is better than 55 for a grow out of that many fish. Altifrons grow pretty slow, so they could last 2 years in the 75 but not necessarily with the vieja. 6 altifrons would be perfect though. I have experience with altifrons and growing them out but never had vieja gl

 

[Alexxxxsv14]

I would def go with a 75-90 gal grow out tank instead for all those fish I've never grown out groups of vieja but I think they are pretty aggressive cichlids and they get pretty big so bigger tank the better so they don't kill each other

 

[Buphy]

Bigger is always better. However, I would advise against getting a large number. While you understand they need a much bigger tank and plan on it, life tends to get in the way. I'd either set up something much bigger, or wait till you have that true monster tank.

 

[FishKing5]

Haha the true monster tank will be coming by next year. I'll most likely be going with a 75 gallon for the growout. These guys will only be an inch big when I get them so I believe a 75 will be plenty of room for at least a year for these fish and than can be transferred to the monster tank next year. I've raised fish for many years, especially vieja and geos, and have never had any problems with aggression unless there were females present

 

[dan518]

the 75 gal will not last that stock for a year, the melanura and maculicauda should be pushing 8 to 10 inch the breidhori 6 to 8 inch, if your getting 4 of each 12 vieja in total they will need to be in the main tank by the time they hit the 4 inch mark, about 3 months

 

[cichlidfish]

Bigger is always better. However, I would advise against getting a large number. While you understand they need a much bigger tank and plan on it, life tends to get in the way. I'd either set up something much bigger, or wait till you have that true monster tank.

I completely agree w/ this. I only use a grow out tank for when I am looking to add stock to an existing tank. Often it's hard to find adult fish and have to grow them out so they don't get eaten.

 

[FishKing5]

Ok well I'll just get a smaller group to start with so it doesnt get too overcrowded to quickly. ill probably just start with a group of 2 melanura and 2 black belts and add the rest later down the road. ill be getting at least a 75 gallon for the grow out tank.

 

[FishKing5]

Ok well I'll just get a smaller group to start with so it doesnt get too overcrowded to quickly. ill probably just start with a group of 2 melanura and 2 black belts and add the rest later down the road. ill be getting at least a 75 gallon for the grow out tank.

 

[cichlidfish]

Ok well I'll just get a smaller group to start with so it doesnt get too overcrowded to quickly. ill probably just start with a group of 2 melanura and 2 black belts and add the rest later down the road. ill be getting at least a 75 gallon for the grow out tank.

I don't think you understand how fast these fish grow. I would focus on something better for that size tank. When you can get a bigger tank then get them. They will grow fast and will be big before you know it.
Keeping big fish in small tanks is cruel IMO.