Need help with new tank

[Amaroq]

Hi all,

So I recently sold my 33 gallon 'Asian River' Biotope and will upgrading to a 75 gallon in the next few months. I plan to use a 20L as the sump for the 75 gallon so in reality I'll have 90 or so. I want to make a CA biotope from one of these four countries; Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and Mexico. My choices for every tank consist of all the same list of fish but in different grouping. All tanks will have similair layouts; silica sand, round rocks, and maybe a sword or too. Filtration will consist of the 20Long being a sump/wet dry, haven't quite designed it yet. There will also be a Ehiem Ecco 2232 for extra bio filtration or for mech/polishing, again haven't decided (leaning towards polishing though!). So without further ado, here are the proposed stocking lists:

Guatemala
1xConvict
or
2xFiremouths
1xGrammode
or
1xSalvini
1xFreddy
or
1xMota

Pretty heavy stocking, not even sure if Parachromis will even be okay in a 90 with others?

Honduras
1xConvict
or
1xHonduran Red Point
1xFreddy
or
1xMota

More likely possible I think... maybe even 2 Convicts or 2 HRPs?

Belize
1xSalvini
1xFreddy
2xFiremouth

Only concern is if a Freddy is even okay in a 90.

Mexico
1xGrammode
1xConvict
1xFreddy

Again, not sure if Freddy is alright in a 90 with tankmates.

So whats everyone's thoughts? What would you do? What do you like more?

Cheers!

 

[Amaroq]

So from my gatherings Freddys get around 12" which is fine for a 90. So my only concern now is it a tank would be overstocked with;
1 Freddy
1 Grammode
2 Firemouths

The Freddy is also supposed to be more reserved than both a Jag and Mota. Grammodes max at 12" but finding a 10" is difficult and they are slow growers. Firemouths get up to 6" but that takes a few years. The 90 will be a little cramped after a year or two but I think it would be fine for the first little bit if I provide adequate hiding for the Firemouths.

What is everyone's opinion on the planned stocking? I may end up planting it a little heavier then I originally anticipated as well haha

 

[duanes]

I have found a grammode will take over a tank as small as a 75 and kill everything else, even though you have 90 gals of water, the footprint is still 75, and footprint is more important than gallons. Grammodes get aggressive at as small as 4", although they shy from people they are not shy about killing fish much larger, especially fish as non-aggressive as a firemouth, even convicts are no match. My grammode killed 4 siblings and a few other fish in 24 hours after it hit 3"-4".

 

[Amaroq]

Alright so I'll steer clear of the Grammode.. Maybe if I was to get a spare 55 for just one.

So do you think it would be possible to swap the Grammode out for a Sal and a Convict maybe? To go with that Fred and two FireMouths.

This would give me an awesome little variety of fish actually!

 

[duanes]

Though I don't find salvini as aggressive as grammode, others may differ. If I were you I'd do a bit of research on your preferred combinations before jumping in.
If you get all the fish as youngsters at the same time, and they grow up together, you may be lucky.
I wouldn't get just a few, and try to add others later. They are all territorial, and after territory's are established, it may be difficult to add new ones.