75 gallon stock idea

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cannedham

cannedham

Exodon
MFK Member
Sep 18, 2024
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TANK IS CYCLED.... Let's GO!!!!
So I want to do a similar tank that I have seen done in the past. However, I know there will be quite a decent bio-load, so would love some recommendations on how to do this successfully (prepared for bi-weekly bigger WC if needed).

Stocking would be:
(1) Salvini
(1) JD
(1) Female convict
(1) GT (I know this bad boy will technically be "out of place"... but I love them)
(6) Buenos Aires Tetras (The inspired tank had Giant Danios, but BATs are much cooler)

Everything would be started from about 2" - 2.5"... even the BATs (I've seen decent sized ones at the LFS).

I currently have (2) Tidal 110s with two coarse sponges per Tidal, Polyfil for finer filtration, and ceramic rings for bio filtration. Original tap water is hard and a higher pH (~8), but the driftwood in the tank has buffered it down a bit to around 7.6.
With bi-weekly 60% water changes & proper filter cleaning schedule, does anyone see major issues down the road?
 
cannedham said:
TANK IS CYCLED.... Let's GO!!!!
So I want to do a similar tank that I have seen done in the past. However, I know there will be quite a decent bio-load, so would love some recommendations on how to do this successfully (prepared for bi-weekly bigger WC if needed).

Stocking would be:
(1) Salvini
(1) JD
(1) Female convict
(1) GT (I know this bad boy will technically be "out of place"... but I love them)
(6) Buenos Aires Tetras (The inspired tank had Giant Danios, but BATs are much cooler)

Everything would be started from about 2" - 2.5"... even the BATs (I've seen decent sized ones at the LFS).

I currently have (2) Tidal 110s with two coarse sponges per Tidal, Polyfil for finer filtration, and ceramic rings for bio filtration. Original tap water is hard and a higher pH (~8), but the driftwood in the tank has buffered it down a bit to around 7.6.
With bi-weekly 60% water changes & proper filter cleaning schedule, does anyone see major issues down the road?
Click to expand...

not sure what this is inspired from but I believe cichlid bros on YouTube had something very similar. Eventually they had to rehome their salving because of aggression so you might want to skip that.
 
troublesum said:
The Salvini is it a Male? if so he will probably kill everyone, if not then the Sal, JD, and GT will eat the BATs
But again you never know
Click to expand...

I have to agree. I think the tank that inspired you worked because Giant Danios are crazy fast and can handle their own they also get big for being small dither fish.

But you never know till you try. Anything is possible especially when they are all growing out together.
 
I pulled the trigger and so far so good. A little aggression during feeding, but they’ve really settled in. Seems a bit full, but I plan to upgrade to a 150 once I’m out of an apartment. Water changes will be my new best friend.
I’ll get some pics up once soon. Hopefully, colors come soon.
So far the convict is the tank boss 😂😂
 
In a 4 foot tank, most dithers will eventually become feeders. There just isn’t enough room to get away. I keep a shoal of Buenos Aires with my dempsey and convict (among other cichlids). The number has definitely gone down (not so much now that they’re full grown. I’m more willing to blame the bichir than the cichlids though.
Your proposed stocking is asking for problems. Having kept a Dempsey in a 4 foot tank for several years, I can pretty confidently say it‘s unfair to the fish. When I moved it to a 125, the difference was night and day in behavior and looks. Additionally, cichlids hate fish that look like them, and the green terror fits that description perfectly. There is bound to be aggression.
The female convict will just try to breed with any male (my female convict and male jd are paired).
And the salvini is just an explosive wild card. Might be better in a 150, but I get the feeling the stocking won’t last long enough to find out.
 
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How is this tank going? I've just got a 75gal setup and was thinking of a similar setup.
 
Honestly, so far so good. I’ve lucked out with some real plants working, so the nitrates remain roughly 5ppm by the time my weekly 70-80% water change. Without plant help or more frequent water changes, I could see this being a nitrate bomb… especially as they get bigger.
My setup is also not conducive for water changes, so maybe you are good with two per week.
It is definitely an active tank… which I love.
Female Convict owns the tank, Jack Dempsey in 2nd, salvini 3rd, green terror holds the least dominant position, but he’s the most active.
Truly fun to watch!
 
Posting a couple pictures. The GT is by far my favorite so far (probably why he is in most of the pictures). Seems to be coloring up the best too. The hierarchy still remains the same (Convict, JD, Salvini, GT).
It's been a while since I've kept cichlids, so I'm not sure at what point this hierarchy will start to shift... but very limited aggression so far.
Pic 1.png
Pic 2.jpg
pic 3.jpg
Pic 4.jpg
 
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