75 gallon tank- Green Terror and tank mates? Or go saltwater? Trigger and Dog Faced Puffer?

[Demonfish]

Hello.

A few things. First, I'm returning to this forum after a few years away. I've been keeping fish of various sorts for 30 years or so and have kept all sorts of fresh and saltwater fish. I have not kept any large and aggressive fish for a few years.

I last had a 90 gallon CA/SA tank with a large Midas/Red Devil (12"), a jaguar cichlid, a moderate sized and not very flashy flowerhorn, and a pleco. I had those fish for nearly a decade and about two years ago the last one (Midas/RD) finally died (save the pleco, which is currently an 18" oddball in a
that same 90 gallon tank with about 20 mixed community fish- as in tetras, gouramis, barbs, swordtails, and two angelfish. Incidentally, many of the fish in that tank are reaching the 5 year age range and beginning to die out).

Anyway....

I recently got the urge to set up a 75 gallon tank in my basement/dungeon weight room so that it will add a little life and give me something to look at when I'm working out.

I'm thinking of going one of two directions. Either a CA/SA tank with a Green Terror as the focal point and one to three other tank mates or a saltwater, fish only tank with one to three fish (a picasso trigger and/or dog faced puffer being the most likely candidates).

I am looking for advice and thoughts on either potential direction.

I have owned a Green Terror once, a juvenile that was bought at the same time and same size as the Midas/Red Devil that I mentioned above. The Midas/RD, sadly, made short work of the GT and killed it. Still, I've been enchanted by the stunning looks of GTs for all these years and have always thought about getting one.

If I were to go the GT route, what would some good tank mates be? I've kicked around Midas/RD, flowerhorn (my local shop has some beauties), Jack Dempsey, Convict (a lone convict, so as to avoid the inherent breeding frenzy that they inevitably go on), Firemouth, and Texas cichlids. Also, if I go this route I may go with a species of pleco- two or three cichlids and a pleco.

If I go the saltwater route, I would want a picasso trigger and DFP, like I mentioned.

I don't want a single fish in the tank, I want at least two and maybe upwards of four.

I am looking for any input in regards to these stocking ideas, recommended tank mates, fish personality, and any potential issues that I am neglecting to consider.

I'm going to post this in the CA and saltwater forums.

Respectfully, I would prefer input from experienced fish keepers that have successfully kept these types of fish for many years and seen their true temperaments from juvenile fish to full grown individuals.

I am in no rush to set this tank up and will be taking my time and doing it right.

Thanks for reading, especially considering the length of my post. For a bonus, I am enclosing a pic of my 90 gallon community set up.

 

[ehh]

That pleco is huge. They look pretty cool when they're big like that.

 

[robham777]

If I ever go salt I am definitely going with a huma huma as a focal fish. I had one in the 80's when I was a kid and loved it.

 

[philipraposo1982]

I have seen what a male female young pair will do to eachother in a 75g. I am going to say any other large cichlid with the gt is not going to work in a 75g and would almost say it won't work well in a 125g. Now every fish is different but they are green terrors for a reason.

I keep a single gt in a 75g.

 

[jordanlewis100]

I think if you go saltwater the trigger and puffer would quickly outgrow it, I think you could keep a Picasso trigger in there for quite some time though as a focal point and maybe some tough smaller fish like false gramma,strawberry basslet or a group of damsels although if the trigger gets to a foot long it might try to eat them but very individual temperaments,cichlid wise as been said gt ok on its own or maybe with some dithers, could be done with other cichlids if grown up from young but still might not work out as it's a gamble when they mature, could try the gt,dempsey and texas and see what happens but be prepared to move 1 or 2

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

I would do either the GT or the Niger Trigger. 90 is too small for a harem of GT's, maybe a pair.

 

[virgil2090]

Everyone has different experiences,but I feel that 3 (larger) cichlids eventually will not last in a 75.solo fish are great! or you can try a smaller cichlid community/group of convicts,HRP, cutteri, you can narrow down to all M or F. SA cichlids-severums,keyholes,acaras might have a better chance with some having lower aggression

 

[aztsm]

Going to come down to the individual personalities of the fish imo, especially with sa cichlids. I would recommend a pair of GT but who knows how it would end up. I've had pairs that never fought no matter what tank they were in, and others that the male just needed to dominate his space and make it rough on the female.

I tend to go through a lot of different fish till I end up with something that works for me as well as them.

 

[MonsterFishCreeper]

I keep a single male in a 55 and would consider it the minimum tank size for the species. That being said a 75 may work for a pair but it's a toss up. I would go for it but keep a divider handy and be prepared to get rid of the female if it comes down to it.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

I would look at other smaller easier going cichlids.A 75 is not big enough for a pair of gt's even if they are compatible. I don't consider it big enough for a solo gt for life.