Looking for a good geo species for community tank

[jake37]

I'm looking for a decent geo for a community tank. Originally i was going to use Mirablis but they don't seem available very often. My backup was winemilleri but I'm not sure i want to provide the current they require as it might impact the other fishes - i could certainly do a bit of mish mash where there is strong current in the back (where the outflow is from the sump); and i could make it quite strong but after some thinking i think i would be better off with a different species. Still have a hope for Mirablis or even neambi.

The tank size is 8ftx4ft; the current population - a group of sterbai - a pair of domestic angels (but can remove them easy enough) - some other catfishes (plecos, whiptails and similar); some Laetacara curviceps (4) and a large group of rummy (30?); the only other major fish i plan to add is a group of Krobia xinguensis when they become available.

Water condition is currently 78 degree; tds around 65-70. I can adjust things as needed - kh is around 2.
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This is one of my cat fishes - unfortunately now that it has settled in i'll have to dig it out of the pit it dug to get another good picture...

 

[tlindsey]

I'm looking for a decent geo for a community tank. Originally i was going to use Mirablis but they don't seem available very often. My backup was winemilleri but I'm not sure i want to provide the current they require as it might impact the other fishes - i could certainly do a bit of mish mash where there is strong current in the back (where the outflow is from the sump); and i could make it quite strong but after some thinking i think i would be better off with a different species. Still have a hope for Mirablis or even neambi.

The tank size is 8ftx4ft; the current population - a group of sterbai - a pair of domestic angels (but can remove them easy enough) - some other catfishes (plecos, whiptails and similar); some Laetacara curviceps (4) and a large group of rummy (30?); the only other major fish i plan to add is a group of Krobia xinguensis when they become available.

Water condition is currently 78 degree; tds around 65-70. I can adjust things as needed - kh is around 2.
-
This is one of my cat fishes - unfortunately now that it has settled in i'll have to dig it out of the pit it dug to get another good picture...
View attachment 1528600

Have you considered Redhead Tapajos?

 

[jake37]

Have you considered Redhead Tapajos?

Geophagus pyrocephalus - not sure don't know a lot about them; other than they are a smaller species and love to be in a large group.

 

[duanes]

Geophagus pyrocephalus - love to be in a large group.

Most Geophagines prefer to like in shoals of their own kind, in a tank the size of the one you mention you could easily do a shoal of 6 o 8.
And most Plecos appreciate the same type lstrong aminar flow as Geos, although the angels are more low flow species.
Some of the habitat where I have found the most abundant pleco populations .

In the river above, with each cast of the net,one of more Plecos like the one above would appear.

 

[jake37]

Most Geophagines prefer to like in shoals of their own kind, in a tank the size of the one you mention you could easily do a shoal of 6 o 8.
And most Plecos appreciate the same type lstrong aminar flow as Geos, although the angels are more low flow species.
Some of the habitat where I have found the most abundant pleco populations .
View attachment 1528601View attachment 1528602View attachment 1528603
In the river above, with each cast of the net,one of more Plecos like the one above would appear.
View attachment 1528604

I know that; though not first hand like yourself. But there is a difference between native habitat; require ; and prefer. Some fishes require blackwter others prefer it others are prefectly adaptable to a wide range. That is to not say that the species of pleco i have require or dont' require torment water though in truth they seem to do ok without it. In my case i certainly have localize very strong current (output from the 3500 lph) pumps but the tank is not a raging river. Just in case you have first hand with them the species i have are L172a; L208 and L204 (might eventually get a L177 or similar); I'm pretty sure the L204 require very strong current to breed and I might try to breed them eventually but otherwise are ok. I actually know quite little about L172a (the one pictured above).

Anyway to a degree this is off topic as I'm not prepare right now to turn the tank into a directional rocky river; though i could increase the current in the back (doing so in the front would be difficult - also the tank has a soft sandy bottom which will not react well to too strong a current).

My understanding (mostly from your post but also othersize) winemilleri really do require a very strong river like current for long term health but the question is what species are good options - I think the three species mentioned fit that bill but not sure if there are others i should consider.

Also you said with a tank my size i could have 6 to 8 red-head - i thought they were around 6 inches each - couldn't 20 fit in a 8x4 tank (450 gallons) ?

 

[ryansmith83]

I’ve never had an issue with winemilleri in normal tank conditions but they do need very clean water because they are a blackwater species. A lot of blackwater-restricted species are prone to HITH and bacterial issues, which I always combated by large and frequent water changes.

There are some species that may benefit from the heavy current, like argyrostictus or harreri.

 

[jake37]

I’ve never had an issue with winemilleri in normal tank conditions but they do need very clean water because they are a blackwater species. A lot of blackwater-restricted species are prone to HITH and bacterial issues, which I always combated by large and frequent water changes.

There are some species that may benefit from the heavy current, like argyrostictus or harreri.

Yea the tank has a drip system and good filtration so it should stay clean. The current drip system is 2 gph (50% tap 50% ro) but of course this is adjustable by changing the drippers. My hope is the relative desnity per tank size will stay moderate - i.e, after the geo, krobia and 1 or 2 more pleco the only thing i might add are more sterbai and rummy. That put the total population approx:
3 whiptail catfish species
25 rummy
15 sterbai
2 angels
4 Laetacara curviceps
3 or 4 L208
6 L172a
6 gold dust geo (can be removed if needed)
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addition would be 6 to 10 another geo species # depend on species
3 to 6 sterbai
0 to 20 rummy
2 L177 (or similar)
2 L172a
4 to 8 Krobia X
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As i see it now there are 4 options
winemilleri (6ish) (wc)
mirablis (8ish) (tank raise- wc almost never available)
neambi (8ish) (wc)
red head (8 to 12ish) (wc)
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There is a certain advantage of a smaller species like red-head as they won't find rummy yummies where as the winemilleri as adults might go after them. On the other hand as a large tank something a bit larger might be a better fit - not sure. From looks only mirablis and red head as not bad options; mirablis have the advantage (over winemilleri) as they seem to like this water condition better but are very rarely found in the trade - tank raise more often

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Most Geophagines prefer to like in shoals of their own kind, in a tank the size of the one you mention you could easily do a shoal of 6 o 8.
And most Plecos appreciate the same type lstrong aminar flow as Geos, although the angels are more low flow species.
Some of the habitat where I have found the most abundant pleco populations .
View attachment 1528601View attachment 1528602View attachment 1528603
In the river above, with each cast of the net,one of more Plecos like the one above would appear.
View attachment 1528604

Bro you make me so jealous with those pictures! I would love to go out there and find fish for an aquarium in the wild.