Pre-planning stocking question

[duanes]

Even 2 water changes of 25% per week, is quite wimpy when housing large cichlids, especially if you don't want them to sport hole in the head scars when fully grown.
As juvies you may be able to get away with that routine, but the larger the cichlids get, the more water changes they need.
For my medium size cichlids, I found 30%-40% every other day was minimal for good cichlid health, and in summer when I could use the old water on my garden, 30-40% per day was even better.

 

[Gourami Swami]

More is always better! I agree with duanes, I would up the percentage from 25% to 40% at least. Especially with pikes and Oscars, as they are two of the most susceptible to HITH. Shouldn't be much of a difference to up the percentage a bit. If you only change 25%, you will eventually experience what we call "nitrate creep", where it slowly rises.

 

[MTS-Addict]

I'm glad this came up then, and why I am posting now instead of waiting. Things like this are good to iron out now instead of when problems arise. There won't be any difference except maybe 5 minutes or so to extend the water change to 50% twice a week (thank you python!). Will definitely be doing that. I was thinking about size when I buy the fish. I would like to start with juveniles. Would it easier to grow them out in a smaller tank or just grow them out in the big tank? I'm still mulling over but I do like severums as well as green terrors.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I'm glad this came up then, and why I am posting now instead of waiting. Things like this are good to iron out now instead of when problems arise. There won't be any difference except maybe 5 minutes or so to extend the water change to 50% twice a week (thank you python!). Will definitely be doing that. I was thinking about size when I buy the fish. I would like to start with juveniles. Would it easier to grow them out in a smaller tank or just grow them out in the big tank? I'm still mulling over but I do like severums as well as green terrors.

Can grow them out in the big tank if you want only problem would be that they might be scared in such a big tank at a small size. If you have a 55 or something lying around it might be good to get them to at least like 4-5" in that first. if not, you would probably be fine just starting in the big tank.

 

[MTS-Addict]

I might be able to pick up a 55g as a grow out, the one I have set up now has Keyholes and a Bolivian Ram.

 

[Gourami Swami]

How small do you plan on buying the fish? 4-5" fish would be fine going straight into the big tank, 1-2" fish might be difficult to feed, might be scared.

 

[MTS-Addict]

The LFS has most of what I'm looking at and they are around 2 to 4 inches. Severums there are usually 3 to 4 inches, GT 2 to 3 inches (sometimes up to 4 inches). Sometimes they get larger ones in but the usual stock there are on the smaller side. Although last week they had a red devil that was a good 9 inches someone had brought in. That was a nice looking fish.