75 Gallon South American Setup; Stock Advice

[mrrobxc]

Those Angels will need a minimum of 8 gallons per fish. The knife will get to 10-12 inches full grown. I'd pull back because you're over stocked.

A seventy five gallon can only hold so much. If you love the fish you have listed, go with the three satonoperca and the cories. Get two pairs of Rams (although they like densely panted tanks) and some deep bodied small tetras like lemons or Rosie's. Stick with a smaller pleco like a baryancistris or peckoltia species.

That would push the limits.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Agree with above.
Three satanoperca will fill that tank on their own once fully grown.

 

[stallion150]

Thanks a lot guys! Very good advice. I'm going to drop the Geophagus/Satanoperca because you are right, they'll rapidly outgrow the tank. So what I've heard re: the short life spans of German Blue Rams is that 90% of what you get in local fish shops comes from Asian Breeders where they are pumped full of hormones for coloration but they burn out young. I'm looking at a few breeders where the blue rams are US tank raised and i've heard with proper care they can last 2-5 years.
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I've done Discus before and enjoyed it but you have to have a group of at least 5-6 to spread out aggression; 5-6 would be awfully cramped in a 75 gallon; I'd want a minimum 125 so they'd have more room.
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Will definitely post pictures when I stock up! If ya'll have any other South American cichlid ideas, would love to hear them.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Have you considered a group of thorichthys?
They are the central American equivalents of eartheaters. A group of around 8 would do well in a tank your size

 

[stallion150]

Have you considered a group of thorichthys?
They are the central American equivalents of eartheaters. A group of around 8 would do well in a tank your size

I'm actually not familiar with this species...Will definitely check it out.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

The firemouth is the most common but there are around 10 available to the hobby.
These below are thorichthys helleri.








Firemouths are easy to get hold of,they really become much more interesting when kept in a group.

 

[mrrobxc]

For a 75, stick with the smaller species. Meeki and pasionis get larger. The helleri Stanz posted are good one for a 75.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

You could do firemouths and or passionis if you have no more than 1 or 2 males per tank.
Only the males will grow to sizes of 6" plus. Females will stay just over half the size of an adult male.
I often hear tales of large male firemouths reaching sizes of 8 or 10 inches and I'm not saying it can't happen.
Personally I have never seen one above 7 inches with 6.5 being the normal size.
Thorichthys i would avoid are t,maculipinnis because they are the most aggressive and thorichthys callolepis which is the biggest thorichthys. I have seen a callolepis reach 8 inches.
I have kept firemouths on and off for around 25 years and have yet to see one above 7 inches.

 

[stallion150]

I thought FireMouths are pretty aggressive for a community setup right? At the moment I'm leaning towards the following:
(1) Black Ghost Knife
(1) Green Phantom Pleco
(8) German Blue Ram's: Tank bred
(5) Orange Koi Select Angels
(10) Cardinal Tetras
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I'm hoping bioload shouldn't stress the tank much at all.

 

[celebrist]

Your knife will appreciate the smaller fish but I don't think that is what you are going for