New to the game and I have questions

[jaws7777]

Hello all as the title says I am new to keeping new world cichlids have been a lurker on this forum but since finally putting up a tank I can post. My son and I are starting up a 90 gallon tank we found on Craigslist with a 30 gallon sump. I bought some driftwood, a few river rocks and fake plants. Now for the stocking ideas I have always wanted a Oscar and my son Loves the electric blue Jack dempsey.
1. Red oscar baby, EbJd baby, and maybe a single sevrum. Unsure if this is to much.
2. The oscar and EbJd, but maybe red maculipinnis, and a Red Tapajons.
3. Oscar and EbJd only
Other question should I go out and buy a powerhead for this tank it is a standard 48 inch 90. Also food wise pellets, bloodworms, maybe a veggie pellet anything else that would be a good treat for them?

I will have to look into that unsure if I can convince my 12 year old haha. If he is hell bent on one would a grow out tank work for him? I have my sons old 30 sitting around. Put him in there or would the baby oscar take over the whole 90 while we had the EbJd in the 30?

I think its awesome that your doing this with your son. I did the same when i got back into the hobby amd i also started my son off with a 30 gal.

Kudos for taking everyones advice. My son did the same and also wanted ebjd's.

What i did was figure out a list of fish that worked for our tank. Then jumped on youtube/google and let him decide
Lots of great acara types. Check out www.tangleduoincichlids.com jeff has a nice selection of aqeuidens and other acaras.

A solo oscar would provide allot of entertainment for you boy. Does he like anything else besides cichlids, could get some of the smaller fancy pleco species too

 

[Red618]

I really want to go with fish he enjoys to keep him involved haha. The blue acara have grown on him but he still likes the EbJd idea. Other ideas now are convicts. He is at that stage where he wants only the bad boys. I am unsure of other fish to put with them to be honest really do not where to go with 2 EbJd.

 

[Red618]

Another question I am liking the idea of using potting pots for shelter and make shift caves. Is this a good idea or should I stick with river rocks? Also I am really liking the chocolates. It seems my son and I are in two totally different places with stocking. We will see how the 90 goes but I may have to set up my own 75 or something from Craigs list to get the fish I desire.

 

[vinod_uthaiah]

Only EBJD's can be cool too... I just love them...but i was totally unsuccessful each time I tried...maybe i was not trying hard enough

 

[Buphy]

Another question I am liking the idea of using potting pots for shelter and make shift caves. Is this a good idea or should I stick with river rocks? Also I am really liking the chocolates. It seems my son and I are in two totally different places with stocking. We will see how the 90 goes but I may have to set up my own 75 or something from Craigs list to get the fish I desire.

You can never have too many tanks =P

 

[jaws7777]

Another question I am liking the idea of using potting pots for shelter and make shift caves. Is this a good idea or should I stick with river rocks? Also I am really liking the chocolates. It seems my son and I are in two totally different places with stocking. We will see how the 90 goes but I may have to set up my own 75 or something from Craigs list to get the fish I desire.

My son and i were at the se place. I would explain issues that could arise if we got a certain fish thst he wanted. When issues did arise i remind him of what i said and make him choose who has to go and who has to stay. Took awhile but he evemtually got to the point where he learned from this. At 5 yrs old he was telling workers in our lfs that x fish cant live with x fish.

I say let him learn from the mistakes

 

[dovii_6]

I know im jumping in this late but I have twins both boys that are 8 and they both have rather large tanks in there bedrooms but my one son had a pretty decent sized dovii that he has grown since it was like two inchs and absolutely loves that fish he named it dovii but pronounced doh vee lol then my other son has some decent sized orino peacock bass and he's totally different loves his fish but plans on growing them so he can sell them at my shop lol either way I guess where I'm going with this is if they like fish they'll get into them no matter what the fish is and it'll become part of your family I love hearing people getting there young one involved in the hobby

 

[Red618]

Well set it up last night along with hooking up the sump last night. Our lfs gave us some used filter pads I grabbed the pots My wife went to the lfs with him and he grabbed 6 giant dianos along with instant cycle not that happy about this but we shall see. Still going to wait on the cichlids for about a month.