Looking to do a SA 75 Gal

[nuth88]

Rotkeils work nice with them ime, I've also had them with a group of wild Peru scalare. I've done both combos in a 75 (or larger), plus some tetras, L200 and L260 pleco (you can sub similar small to medium plecs or cats).

The problem I see with sevs, angels, etc. in your tank as it is, or with adding too many fish, is with the deep gravel you have, you've reduced the height of the tank, making it short for tall bodied fish. Also (if you have some tank height) guianacara tend toward the mid and lower part of the tank, sevs and angels mid and upper, part of why they work so well with eartheater types. Also, between that and all the rocks and other décor, you've effectively reduced your tank size a good bit. For what you'd like to do I'd both reduce the gravel down a few inches and open up the aquascape, meaning take out most of the solid, water displacing stuff and replace it with some plants, a few branches, less and/or smaller rock, etc.

Removing Some of the rock is a good idea, and limiting the gravel. I’ll start hunting for branches/Plants

 

[nuth88]

Just noticed, its you, Knutson, S'up Dude!!!

Dude, Living the dream brother! Ty!

 

[nuth88]

You’re correct that mixing Aequidiens is a bad idea with them in a 75. Heros Rotkiel are a smaller growing species of severum that’ll work well with them. A small group of each grown out to a pair or rotkiel and the trio of guianacara would work well. You can mix in a school of the more robust deeper bodied tetras with them.

If you want to forgo the Heros, a small group of wild angels or festivums would work well. Angels need roughly on average of 8 gallons each so plan with that in mind. Again, a deeper bodied tetra would work and if you go with these angels, adding some silver hatchets up top would create activity at all levels.

Good deeper bodied tetras that are commonly aviable and won’t break the bank are:

- Bleeding Hearts
- Colombian blue and red tetras
- HY511 tetras
- Lemon Tetras
- black skirt tetras
- Diamond Tetras
- kitty tetras
- Red Back bleeding heart tetras

I’d stay away from serpae and Buenos Aires tetras if you want angels.

If you want a third species of Cichlid, I highly recommend Crenicichla Regani, Notophalmus, or Orinoco Dwarf. This will make for a fantastic display. Can even add some dwarf water tlettuce up top for additional cover and visual interest.

Question? If I add a dwarf cren, would that change the cats available to me? I love the idea of some Cory’s.

 

[decoy50]

I think instead of looking for another cichlid to add with the geayi, I'd boost my # of guinacara to 4-5. 3 isn't a good # for cichlids typically- if two pair up, the odd man out gets demolished. You could do cories & tetras to finish up the tank. Definitely remove the rock & go with some branchy wood

 

[duanes]

I think instead of looking for another cichlid to add with the geayi, I'd boost my # of guinacara to 4-5. 3 isn't a good # for cichlids typically- if two pair up, the odd man out gets demolished. You could do cories & tetras to finish up the tank. Definitely remove the rock & go with some branchy wood

This seems good advice, I don't remember if you were there when I picked up my Guianacara at the GCCA Weekend, I got a bag of 20, the large number made for a great grow out group, and once the group became too much for my 75, I took 10 to auction.

 

[mrrobxc]

Question? If I add a dwarf cren, would that change the cats available to me? I love the idea of some Cory’s.

I have Corydoras cW-049 with my dwarf Crenicichla. You will have no issues. Just stay away from the small species.

 

[nuth88]

I took some advice, and here is the tank (Before Fish) Final Movement to create more upper and lower level swim space, I can see the Loaches (or Cory’s, haven’t decided yet) loving the “West Side” in the silk plants or spider wood, the centerpiece cichlids owning mid to east side with my dithers owning mid to top side. Thank you all for your comments & advice, it takes a village to scape a tank!

 

[nuth88]

You’re correct that mixing Aequidiens is a bad idea with them in a 75. Heros Rotkiel are a smaller growing species of severum that’ll work well with them. A small group of each grown out to a pair or rotkiel and the trio of guianacara would work well. You can mix in a school of the more robust deeper bodied tetras with them.

If you want to forgo the Heros, a small group of wild angels or festivums would work well. Angels need roughly on average of 8 gallons each so plan with that in mind. Again, a deeper bodied tetra would work and if you go with these angels, adding some silver hatchets up top would create activity at all levels.

Good deeper bodied tetras that are commonly aviable and won’t break the bank are:

- Bleeding Hearts
- Colombian blue and red tetras
- HY511 tetras
- Lemon Tetras
- black skirt tetras
- Diamond Tetras
- kitty tetras
- Red Back bleeding heart tetras

I’d stay away from serpae and Buenos Aires tetras if you want angels.

If you want a third species of Cichlid, I highly recommend Crenicichla Regani, Notophalmus, or Orinoco Dwarf. This will make for a fantastic display. Can even add some dwarf water tlettuce up top for additional cover and visual interest.

Today, my LFS in Boulder had (has) a group of geophagus heckelii (albino) that are stellar, and I see how Duane kept them with his guianacara, afterr reading up on them and the size and tribulations of them, I was thinking 1 of these in place of the Aequidiens?

 

[mrrobxc]

Today, my LFS in Boulder had (has) a group of geophagus heckelii (albino) that are stellar, and I see how Duane kept them with his guianacara, afterr reading up on them and the size and tribulations of them, I was thinking 1 of these in place of the Aequidiens?

I wouldn’t in that tank. But it could work. 75 is pretty small for two cichlid species occupying the same area.

 

[duanes]

I took some advice, and here is the tank (Before Fish) Final Movement to create more upper and lower level swim space, I can see the Loaches (or Cory’s, haven’t decided yet) loving the “West Side” in the silk plants or spider wood, the centerpiece cichlids owning mid to east side with my dithers owning mid to top side. Thank you all for your comments & advice, it takes a village to scape a tank!
View attachment 1385508

I like the new look, that size tank would be a good grow out tank for young Acarichthys, but in the end, it'd be a bit cramped, might last 2 years in there. Mine killed each other in a 150 gal as 3 year old adults (although maybe albinos have that natural instinct need for space washed out?) . That 220 you had when you lived on the WI/IL border would be the perfect tank for Acarichthys.