5ft CA/SA community river tank (pics)

[Gourami Swami]

I posted this tank when I first set it up a few months ago, but i decided to go in a different direction and changed pretty much everything, so here is how it ended up.
tank is 60x14x21, 76 gallons.
Stock is
1x Brasiliensis
1x A. Heckelii
1x T. Ellioti (bought as a gymnogeo "rio olimar" but Im pretty sure its ellioti)
1x S. Jurupari
1x Rainbow cichlid
1x Royal panaque pleco
1x Adonis pleco
All fish are currently between 2-4". This is probably the final stock, though I may add a small school of tetras. I know it is a bit full but the tank is VERY overfiltered, I do water changes once a week or more, and I can move fish in case of aggression, etc.
Now the pics:

 

[rsanz85]

I like your 'scape!

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Beautiful aquascaping. Excuse me if I'm wrong, but don't Geophagus sp. need sand?

 

[reefman]

If that Brazilianis is a male he is gonna move all that gravel and most likely bully most of those fish. Not a good fish if you like your aqua scape

 

[Gourami Swami]

Thanks guys, to kewpie they prefer sand but it's not neccessary and I find gravel much easier to keep clean looking. And reefman, we'll have to see how he behaves when he grows up, for now he doesnt bother anybody but if that changes and he's too mean he will be rehomed. Not too worried about him moving gravel, i gravel vac frequently to put it back lol

 

[rsanz85]

Thanks guys, to kewpie they prefer sand but it's not neccessary and I find gravel much easier to keep clean looking. And reefman, we'll have to see how he behaves when he grows up, for now he doesnt bother anybody but if that changes and he's too mean he will be rehomed. Not too worried about him moving gravel, i gravel vac frequently to put it back lol

Well, I might disagree with you on the gravel for the geos. If they end up swallowing one of those pieces of gravel, they'll have a pretty nasty blockage in their stomach/bowels.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Yeah I always thought it was a requirement with Geos

 

[cichlidfish]

Yeah I always thought it was a requirement with Geos

Since they are fed, sand may not be required, but I'd certainly use it. Mostly because that is their natural habitat and behavior.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

Since they are fed, sand may not be required, but I'd certainly use it. Mostly because that is their natural habitat and behavior.

Interesting, thanks for the information. I was just under the impression that it was required but I'm admittedly inexperienced with earth eaters.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Cordially agree to disagree about sand being 100% necessary, in the wild the sand certainly isn't all one size and the fish are capable of moving/spitting out gravel-sized rocks. Also, pretty much any cichlid will pick up/move gravel, and could theoretically swallow a piece. Sand also can cause impaction, though it is not likely and geos are certainly built to sift sand. I have kept geos on gravel for years in the past and have seen many biotope-type tanks that have a mix of sand and larger pebbles as well. Sand is definitely preferred by the fish and is their natural habitat, but their natural habitat also certainly isnt to be contained in a glass box. I agree that it would be better, but I don't believe any harm is likely come to my fish as a result of the gravel