Officially a Bichir keeper now

[twentyleagues]

What about a pair of electric blue acara?

When my tank is active it's crazy. When everyone is hiding you'd think I only had 3 fish you wouldn't see any of the ropes or polys.

 

[Polyaddict86]

Wow really nice. What size tank is that?

75g tall tank, supposed to be a reef tank.

 

[sevs and sajicas for me]

75g tall tank, supposed to be a reef tank.

Wow really nice. What is your water change schedule like on that tank?

 

[sevs and sajicas for me]

What about a pair of electric blue acara?

When my tank is active it's crazy. When everyone is hiding you'd think I only had 3 fish you wouldn't see any of the ropes or polys.

Yeah something like blue acaras might work. It will probably be a while before I move the two cichlids that are in there now to other tanks so I have some time to figure it out. Or maybe some gourami since I've got cichlids in all of my other tanks.

 

[Polyaddict86]

Wow really nice. What is your water change schedule like on that tank?

Twice a week 50%-70%. Sometime 3x a week, depends on my mood.

 

[sevs and sajicas for me]

Twice a week 50%-70%. Sometime 3x a week, depends on my mood.

I figured. But man that's a nice set up. Can't stock mine that heavy if I want to do once a week changes.

Thinking maybe ctenopoma or thicklip gourami might be better options to combine with the 4 UJ species. Less attitude than cichlids.

 

[magpie]

Polyaddict86 , but is that activity all the time or just sometimes? You have a ton of polys in there, too. Mine had bursts of activity. Some were more consistently active than others, but most often my activity came from my non-polys.

I had a 65 heavily planted. Stock:
4 UJs -Teug (grow out, not planned on being there for life), Del, Polli, Moke,
3 ropes,
2 smaller plecos,
congo tetras,
3 african butterflies,
and varying other fish in there at different times including a Ctenopoma and Koi angel.

I fed every other day, and did 75% WC once per week, with nitrates never going above 30. If they did it was because I went longer on my WC or I was overfeeding. Granted, my polys weren't full grown, but the UJs all slow way down after about 6-8 inches anyway.

I LOVE that you don't want to overstock (that is how I do things - only what I can do with 1x/weekly WC as my goal) but I do think you'll easily be able to have other fish in there with 4 UJ and 3 ropes, esp. with some plants.

 

[Polyaddict86]

I used a jebao dct 12000 for water change, it has a 1” hose do its really fast, only take me 15-20 min.

 

[Polyaddict86]

Polyaddict86 , but is that activity all the time or just sometimes? You have a ton of polys in there, too. Mine had bursts of activity. Some were more consistently active than others, but most often my activity came from my non-polys.

The poly are active like every night time, i have a automatic timer for the light and the lights turn off 5pm, i dont get home till 930pm and i turn their light on back around 1030pm, after i do that they are more active maybe cause they know im about to throw food.
Sometimes during my off days and im in the garage, i do see them pretty active especially when the garage is open and they get their sunlight.

 

[kewpiefishypewpie]

I think you're going to have plenty of activity with the ropes and Senegalus. If anything get more ropes and senegalus! haha

 

[sevs and sajicas for me]

Polyaddict86 , but is that activity all the time or just sometimes? You have a ton of polys in there, too. Mine had bursts of activity. Some were more consistently active than others, but most often my activity came from my non-polys.

I had a 65 heavily planted. Stock:
4 UJs -Teug (grow out, not planned on being there for life), Del, Polli, Moke,
3 ropes,
2 smaller plecos,
congo tetras,
3 african butterflies,
and varying other fish in there at different times including a Ctenopoma and Koi angel.

I fed every other day, and did 75% WC once per week, with nitrates never going above 30. If they did it was because I went longer on my WC or I was overfeeding. Granted, my polys weren't full grown, but the UJs all slow way down after about 6-8 inches anyway.

I LOVE that you don't want to overstock (that is how I do things - only what I can do with 1x/weekly WC as my goal) but I do think you'll easily be able to have other fish in there with 4 UJ and 3 ropes, esp. with some plants.

Thank you for the encouragement. That is definitely nice to hear

Plants are going to happen in this tank. And since there won't be cichlids in this tank I'm even more determined. I've been awful at keeping plants alive in the past but I'm going to give it a go with this one. Eventually I'm going to transfer all 6 of my mangroves into this tank. Some are too short and I'm trying to get some height on them in the 40b before transitioning to the 75.

I'm also hoping to do some pothos plants in the back corners with the roots going through the eggcrate/mesh cover in the back. Plus something easy inside the tank like anacharis, crypts, water sprite, anubias, etc.

magpie Leopard Ctenopomas are something I'm considering. Were yours fairly active. Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for something darting all over the tank. Just something moving around up top since I think most of my stuff will be on the bottom. Maybe do 1 or 2? Or 1 with a snakeskin gourami or something like that?