I recently got a Fluval Roma 200 and originally wanted 2 Jacks in there. I went to my lfs and they said that I could fit in 6 American cichlids so I got 2 Salvini's , 2 Jacks and 2 severums. Also, there is a bristlenose pleco and a giant danio in the aquarium. It has been a week and my cichlids are shy except when i fed food. Then they all swim around happily and I stay still, watching them. I woke up to find my Severum floating upside down... I have no clue what could have done this since the fish aren't overly aggressive to each other and there are no bite marks. Rip
Is my Aquarium overstocked?Why did my Severum die?
- Thread starter Justepic
- Start date
What size is the tank and what are the parameters? Also water change schedule and is it cycled.
It is 200 litres and I don't know the parameters but my lfs checked and they said to leave the water for a week to make it mature. My tank was set up for a month until I got the fish so I guess it has been cycled. I change the water twice a week 25%.
LFS gave you bad advice. That tank is way overstocked. Though, I don't think that is why the severum died.
You have to complete the nitrogen cycle. Letting the tank sit with water with no fish in it, does nothing, since there is n
o source of ammonia to complete the cycle. The cycle begins when you put fish in the tank.
Here is a page explaining the basics:https://www.liveaquaria.com/article/74/?aid=74
You generally want to add one or two hardy fish at first, for the first month, and use a test kit to monitor your levels, doing a partial water change when the levels get too high, to keep the fish alive.
With as many fish as you put in an uncycled tank, chances are ammonia is skyrocketing, and the death of the other fish is imminent.
Your tank will not be big enough for an adult severum or an adult male jack. A salvini would be fine, or a female jack. Certainly not all those fish. I would bring the fish back to the LFS and tell them that they should give you your money back, they basically sold you a bunch of fish guaranteed to kill each other in this small space; and ontop of that sold you a full tank worth's stock to an uncycled tank, which is sure to fail.
You have to complete the nitrogen cycle. Letting the tank sit with water with no fish in it, does nothing, since there is n
o source of ammonia to complete the cycle. The cycle begins when you put fish in the tank.
Here is a page explaining the basics:https://www.liveaquaria.com/article/74/?aid=74
You generally want to add one or two hardy fish at first, for the first month, and use a test kit to monitor your levels, doing a partial water change when the levels get too high, to keep the fish alive.
With as many fish as you put in an uncycled tank, chances are ammonia is skyrocketing, and the death of the other fish is imminent.
Your tank will not be big enough for an adult severum or an adult male jack. A salvini would be fine, or a female jack. Certainly not all those fish. I would bring the fish back to the LFS and tell them that they should give you your money back, they basically sold you a bunch of fish guaranteed to kill each other in this small space; and ontop of that sold you a full tank worth's stock to an uncycled tank, which is sure to fail.
Oh wow. I did have two neon tetras in there , sorry forgot to say and I did wait a month and when I put the fish the jack ripped them up.Im pretty sure that tank was cycled but I did not know that a jack wouldn't fir in a 200 litre. I researched online and most places say 2 Jack's are fine in a 45 gallon.Only then did my lfs say that you could add more and I was like ok.i will try to see if I can get a jack and severum back. Thnx for the reply
They are wrong, never heard of "meet the pet.com"
A large male jack can reach over 10", one alone would be considered cramped in a 200l tank. Severums can get over 10" long and just as tall, the size of a dinner plate.
There is some debate over tank size, your tank may be "borderline okay" for just a pair of jacks. But if you talk to anybody at all who is experienced with CA cichlids (many people on this site, hopefully some more chime in) they will tell you that especially with the severums and salvinis, there is no way your stocking will work long term. Not only will the male jack and severums (in my opinion) outgrow the tank completely, but salvini are known to be far more aggressive than severums, and most jacks. As currently stocked, I'd say you are looking at about 6 months of relative peace until the fish get some size, and about a year down the road, bloodbath.
I would get rid of everything but the salvinis personally.
A large male jack can reach over 10", one alone would be considered cramped in a 200l tank. Severums can get over 10" long and just as tall, the size of a dinner plate.
There is some debate over tank size, your tank may be "borderline okay" for just a pair of jacks. But if you talk to anybody at all who is experienced with CA cichlids (many people on this site, hopefully some more chime in) they will tell you that especially with the severums and salvinis, there is no way your stocking will work long term. Not only will the male jack and severums (in my opinion) outgrow the tank completely, but salvini are known to be far more aggressive than severums, and most jacks. As currently stocked, I'd say you are looking at about 6 months of relative peace until the fish get some size, and about a year down the road, bloodbath.
I would get rid of everything but the salvinis personally.
Mhmm. I will pop down to my lfs this weekend, make em test my water conditions and for a refund for a jack and severum. Then i will have a jack and 2 salvinis . here are some pics rn.
Sorry for sending seperate threads, my first time on here.
Sorry for sending seperate threads, my first time on here.
Nice looking tank!
really like the planting. Not sure if you are aware, but CA cichlids are notorious for shredding and uprooting plants. If your goal is to have a heavily planted tank, you may run into some problems. Although, I have a CA cichlid in a planted tank, and he doesn't do much shredding.
The neon tetras probably did cycle your tank, they would have acted as a source of ammonia. Have the LFS tell you your levels- if you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and some nitrate (usually we want between 0-20), then your tank is cycled. In that case, it's likely one of the more aggressive fish (Jack or salvini) killed the severum. Sevs are SA, and generally more peaceful than the other species you have.
Jack and 2 salvinis has a better chance of working, though there is still a high chance that at some point, somebody will take over the tank and kill the other 2. With highly aggressive fish in a 50 gallon, it will take a lot of luck to avoid murders.
really like the planting. Not sure if you are aware, but CA cichlids are notorious for shredding and uprooting plants. If your goal is to have a heavily planted tank, you may run into some problems. Although, I have a CA cichlid in a planted tank, and he doesn't do much shredding.
The neon tetras probably did cycle your tank, they would have acted as a source of ammonia. Have the LFS tell you your levels- if you have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and some nitrate (usually we want between 0-20), then your tank is cycled. In that case, it's likely one of the more aggressive fish (Jack or salvini) killed the severum. Sevs are SA, and generally more peaceful than the other species you have.
Jack and 2 salvinis has a better chance of working, though there is still a high chance that at some point, somebody will take over the tank and kill the other 2. With highly aggressive fish in a 50 gallon, it will take a lot of luck to avoid murders.