Nicaragua/Costa Rica Biotope Stocking Questions

[Gourami Swami]

understood, glad you came and asked before attempting it based off the cookie cutter (that thing is pretty inaccurate IMO)

With large cichlids like the Nic or rostratus, you are going to run into problems in the long run if you try to keep multiple pairs in the 75. It's just not enough territory in my opinion. Whichever pair gets largest first is probably going to either kill the other pair, or keep them boxed into one of the top corners of the tank, which will greatly stress them and can lead to sickness or death.
If you really want a pair of either of these fish, I would plan for that pair to be the only cichlids in the tank. you could keep your tetras with them, but probably not much else.
I think a better use of the space would be my earlier suggestion- get a rostratus or Nicaraguan male to grow out as a nice "tank boss", and keep a colony of septemfasciatus or similar smaller species. I have a setup like this right now in my 5 foot tank- 1 H. tamasopoensis and a colony (1m 4f) of panamensis. The panamensis are content to chase each other around, and the larger tamasopo doesn't see them as a threat and doesn't bother them much. With some ameca splenden dithers, my tank is always active and fun to watch.

 

[PhishMon84]

understood, glad you came and asked before attempting it based off the cookie cutter (that thing is pretty inaccurate IMO)

With large cichlids like the Nic or rostratus, you are going to run into problems in the long run if you try to keep multiple pairs in the 75. It's just not enough territory in my opinion. Whichever pair gets largest first is probably going to either kill the other pair, or keep them boxed into one of the top corners of the tank, which will greatly stress them and can lead to sickness or death.
If you really want a pair of either of these fish, I would plan for that pair to be the only cichlids in the tank. you could keep your tetras with them, but probably not much else.
I think a better use of the space would be my earlier suggestion- get a rostratus or Nicaraguan male to grow out as a nice "tank boss", and keep a colony of septemfasciatus or similar smaller species. I have a setup like this right now in my 5 foot tank- 1 H. tamasopoensis and a colony (1m 4f) of panamensis. The panamensis are content to chase each other around, and the larger tamasopo doesn't see them as a threat and doesn't bother them much. With some ameca splenden dithers, my tank is always active and fun to watch.

Gourami please post a pic of your H. tamasopoensis. I’ve got some deppi growing out but haven’t seen any of the other less common species as adults

 

[Gourami Swami]

Nice, deppi are a species I have been itching to keep but I don't have the space at the moment.
Here is my tamasopoensis, about 5.5-6" at the moment, not sure on sex. If it's a female I would call this a young adult, if male then it's still got some growing to do.

 

[PhishMon84]

Very nice!
My deppi went from 1-2” in less than a month. I’ve got 6 and some are showing worming in the face. Probably keep a pair and a single male in another tank-
I’d say you can have the extras but aren’t you in the U.K.?

 

[Gourami Swami]

That's great growth, this tamasopo has gone from 3.5" to the current size in probably 3 months time. I actually live in the US, just outside of NYC. But I can't set up another tank at the moment, and unfortunately the deppi wouldn't fit into my current setups. I had to resist buying a really nice 5" male specimen at my LFS last week.