65 gallon stocking

[Wraithen]

Hello all,

I'm new here so please forgive if this isn't in the appropriate location.

I belong to a more conservative forum and I'm mainly here to double check a question since I'm not getting input from anyone that isn't very conservative. I do listen and learn but mostly want to verify a no go idea.

I currently have a cycled 65 gallon with 12 bloodfin tetras, 2 clown plecos, and, as of today, 3 sterbai corys. I'm making weekly tours of the area to slowly increase my cories since very few survive shipping and they sell fast.

My ultimate plan, possibly is the following:

12 bloodfin
8 sterbais
2 clown plecos
2 gbr
And....
A rotkeil.

I've been told that the rotkeil is too big for this tank but internet lore is highly conflicting on this. I'm over filtered but prefer that it didn't matter. I also have the decor to keep everyone happy and a decent amount of plants throughout the tank.

The reason I'm really wanting the rotkeil to work is my lfs said a lot of blue acara are returned for aggression, but not so with the sevs. Dude hooks me up all the time so I'd like to believe him but I'm also pretty sure he'd offer me a discus if I asked.

Also, after seeing some adult blue acara, I must admit I'm not a fan of the face of them. Something about it just looks like they've headbutted a rock and lost the color or something.

I do listen to advice so if the general consensus is "dude you're pushing limits here!" I'll probably end up increasing numbers of what I have listed or just adding some angels.

 

[Bertie]

I think a rotkeil should be fine in that tank, depending on dimensions. I would personally do angels in that tank but it's your choice.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

65 gallon with a 3' footprint right? Could get tight when the severum gets full grown. Also don't underestimate a severums aggression, I don't believe them to be quite as peaceful as what I believe most people think

 

[Wraithen]

65 gallon with a 3' footprint right? Could get tight when the severum gets full grown. Also don't underestimate a severums aggression, I don't believe them to be quite as peaceful as what I believe most people think

Yes 3 foot tank. I've never had this problem before. Usually I want too many or too big bottom feeders lol.

I'd have already gone with angels but I'm not really into them, luckily my wife is if nothing else works. I'm also afraid my mini rainbow sharks (aka bloodfin tetras) will nip fins and most of the angels I find around here are veil tailed.

 

[Bertie]

If its a 3 foot tank then it will be too small for a rokteil, angels should be fine with the blood fin tetras, if you are really worried go for some cupid cichlids or a pair of apistos

 

[Wraithen]

If its a 3 foot tank then it will be too small for a rokteil, angels should be fine with the blood fin tetras, if you are really worried go for some cupid cichlids or a pair of apistos

I've looked into the apistos but with so many and the difficulties with proper identification I'm not certain I'd find or select one appropriate for my water. Right now I believe everything is from the main basin and tributaries of the same area. While there is some debate about temperatures for the bloodfin, everything should be fine in 79-80 degree water. Local selection is also important to me. There's a 3 generation store down the road that I like to frequent despite the current owner not being a "fish nerd".

If I went with apistos how many should I have? I'm not finding a lot of specific information about differences between the 250+ identified species. Or are they all pretty much the same in regard to tankmates and water parameters?

 

[Gourami Swami]

They are mostly similar in regards to water condition and tankmates. Some have been bred into the hobby for more generations and will be a little hardier, these are cacatoides and agassizzi... but they all pretty mumch prefer softer water, lower pH, temp around 78-80.
Cupid cichlids are awesome, as are guianacaras. And would probably work with your stock.
I agree that the rotkeil will be a bit too large for the 3' tank.
I actually think a couple discus would be okay in that tank. They can be fragile but it sounds like you are ontop of your maintenance, and the tankmates are acceptable.

 

[Bertie]

I think Cupid cichlids would be good in that tank, I don't know about Guianacara as they are gregarious and prefer to be in groups of 6 or more, that would be too many for your tank. I would go with Cupid cichlids.

 

[Bertie]

if you did go for a apistos you could get 2-3 pairs in there as long as there is enough hiding places. Like gourami swami said they pretty much have the same water conditions and tank mate options so don't worry about misidentification, they should be fine at the conditions your tank is right now.

 

[magpie]

I have a 65 gallon and the 3-foot footprint is really limiting for the amount of gallons it contains. I've also found that it can increase aggression in species that aren't normally that aggressive because there's less floor space / territory.

I was never into angels but had a gorgeous koi angel and he was very interactive.

If it's planted / lots of decor you could do multiple dwarf cichlids as noted above. I've done Bolivian Rams (larger, less delicate than GBR, interactive) with Apistos and I've also had Checkerboards (Dicrossus). Dwarf Acaras would work. Keyholes.
Maybe Rainbow cichlids? Someone else can confirm/deny if they'd be OK in the 3 foot tank.