75g additional stock?

[KMAC5]

I have a 75g and two weeks ago I added fish after it cycled. I have a Red Spotted Severum and a Threadfin Acara. They're both still very uneasy and shy. They get along well, but both are very inconsistent with what they'll eat. It's a hit or miss. I tested my water yesterday with an API liquid test kit and there's 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and 5 nitrate. I have driftwood and rocks in the tank along with a sand substrate.

My question is, will adding dither fish help liven them up? If so I'm interested in keeping the aquarium SA and getting either 5 Pictus catfish or about 10-15 bigger tetras like Colombians, Lemons, Emperor's, etc. As much as I'd like to add one maybe two more cichlids I don't think that'll be realistic, but I don't have enough experience to full believe in my opinion yet, plus getting other people's opinions is good regardless.

 

[Vukmir13]

Hey KMAC, dithers have been my saving grace when it comes to fish that tend to be shy. The last dithers I purchased were about 15 Black Skirt Tetras. They were excellent with my Green Terror and Parrot Cichlids. After a day or so, they weren't shy at all, although the tetras eventually became expensive feeders. The interaction between them all is very cool to experience.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

In my experience threadfins need soft acidic water to do well.
If your water is hard and alkaline this species will suffer.In hard water they tend to start off ok until they get to about 4 inches.
They become weak and extremely acceptable to bacterial infections.
Your Severums should be fine as they are more tolerant of water parameters outside their their natural range.

 

[KMAC5]

Eesh...that's not good. Maybe I rushed into getting the Threadfin too quickly. Dang it. Immature mistake. I usually don't do that but I guess I couldn't help myself.

What would you recommend I do if I'm to trade him back? Should I go for a large school of fish to compliment the Sev, or do I get some cichlids more suitable? Maybe go with a different type of Acara, Keyhole, etc?

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Have you tested the hardness and ph of your water? You may not need to move the threadfin on depending on results.
If your water is on the hard side,keyholes should cope fine.

 

[KMAC5]

PH is steady at 8.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

I would re home the threadfin in that case.
Have you thought about c/a cichlids?
They would be more at home in your water.

 

[Rocksor]

OP can still have a PH of 8.0 and soft water. He should still check the general hardness from his water report or use an API GH/KH kit.

 

[KMAC5]

My KH is 89.5 and my GH is 179.

 

[adamsfishes]

I agree, you would be better off with CA cichlids. So many great CA cichlids, should be easy to get a setup that you would enjoy.