Help with tank stocking

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Pednurkim

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 9, 2024
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Hi. I am new to joining this site, but have read a few posts and am impressed with the knowledge. I am hoping to get some help on stocking my 125 gallon tank. It previously had rainbows and congo tetras and cherry barbs. I have 3 rainbows remaining, 1 congo and a few cherry barbs. I will be moving the cherry barbs. I am wanting to get cichlids. I have one electric blue acara (2"). I am wanting to add a rotkeil severum and either geophagus sveni or tapajos. My question is, will a single fish of those species be ok and work together? I will probably also be adding a small group of Denison barbs, or get more congo tetras again. Thank you for any help!
 
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Those cichlids would most likely work because they are more peaceful then other cichlids. Denison barbs should work, and Congo tetras are the more larger tetras so they should work.
 
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Those cichlids would most likely work because they are more peaceful then other cichlids. Denison barbs should work, and Congo tetras are the more larger tetras so they should work.
Thank you! Would getting both of the geophagus work, or would it be better to just pick one?
 
Hi. I am new to joining this site, but have read a few posts and am impressed with the knowledge. I am hoping to get some help on stocking my 125 gallon tank. It previously had rainbows and congo tetras and cherry barbs. I have 3 rainbows remaining, 1 congo and a few cherry barbs. I will be moving the cherry barbs. I am wanting to get cichlids. I have one electric blue acara (2"). I am wanting to add a rotkeil severum and either geophagus sveni or tapajos. My question is, will a single fish of those species be ok and work together? I will probably also be adding a small group of Denison barbs, or get more congo tetras again. Thank you for any help!
Welcome to MFK!
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duanes duanes
 
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Geophagus are generally thought of as a shoaling and social cichlid, meaning they do best in a group of their own species.
In a tank of 125 gallons, a shoal of about 6 of the same Geophagine species would be best, ......not saying you can't have a hodgepodge species, but aggression issues are more likely to occur.

Geophagus are also generally thought of rheophillic (current loving cichlids), while severums prefer more quiet more staid water conditions (less current). again.....
not saying you can't combine them., but.....even though they both come from Amazonia, each prefer quite different riverine habitat conditions, and providing optimum for each preference, may be better health wise.

One other thought, Denison barbs come from cool mountain streams in India and do best at temps in the low 70sF,
whereas the cichlid species you mention from Amazonia would do best in temps of the low 80s,

but again, many aquarists get away with what I consider random and goofy combinations,
I consider some research about what species actually do best together, and those that do not , might be a important consideration,
being somewhat anal, and 5 decade cichlid keeper, keeping less random fish combinations seems important to me.
 
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