Question: Bio Density & Compatibility~Jack Dempsy tank

[PaulMI]

Hi~

I'm in the planning stage for a 75g (48L x 18W x 20H) aquarium and one system I've been considering is an eco system including a Jack Dempsy cichlid (male).

Other species I may like to include as a part of the Jack Dempsy's community are:

1 Salvini Cichlid (aka: Tricolor OR Yellowbelly)
1 Red Star Flower Horn Cichlid
1 Royal Farlowella Cat (aka: Panama Sturisoma)

~AND~

1 of the following, to be determined later:

-Trinidad Pleco
-Pario-Ancistrus Pleco
-Rio de Para Pleco (aka: Para)
-Opal Dot Pleco (aka: Orange Spot).

Water parameters as follows: 78 (degrees F), pH 7.0-7.4, KH 9-10.

Assuming all fish are of the male sex, can anyone here tell me if this tank would be overstocked, perfect, or if I actually have room for even more fish?

If I can include more fish (I have a strong notion that I can't), will you please suggest which fish?

Lastly, are the fish I have listed generally compatible in a setting such as I have listed?


Any answers to any of my questions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[Bderick67]

Are you planiing to raise the Jd, salvini, and F-horn from juvinilles or are you planning to buy mature fish.

Wih those three all adult size your on the verge of overcrowded.

 

[WyldFya]

I'd say the trinidad is out for that size tank. Especially if you have two or more of those big cichlids. Your bio load is going to be VERY high when those all grow up.

 

[PaulMI]

Thank you very much, both of you who have given me advice so far.

I had a feeling that I'd choosen too many fish for this tank, but I have no previous experience with a cichlid tank. I've read in so many different publications to disregard the "1 sq inch of fish per 5 sq inches of tank rule" when it comes to cichlids that I felt I should consult some experienced cichlid aquarists. I appreciate the help.

To answer your question, Bderick67, yes, I plan to raise all fish from their youth.

 

[RadleyMiller]

The rule is 1 cubic inch of fish per gallon of water. Some people think that 1 inch of fish per gallon, but that is only for very small fish. Obviously an adult oscar could not live in a 20 gallon tank even though it is 16 inches and the tank is 20 gallons. If I were you I would get either the JD or the Flowerhorn or the Salvinis. You could get away with a smaller species of pleco, but I do not know how big the ones that you want get. What is going to be the filtration?

 

[PaulMI]

The rule is 1 cubic inch of fish per gallon of water. Some people think that 1 inch of fish per gallon, but that is only for very small fish. Obviously an adult oscar could not live in a 20 gallon tank even though it is 16 inches and the tank is 20 gallons. If I were you I would get either the JD or the Flowerhorn or the Salvinis. You could get away with a smaller species of pleco, but I do not know how big the ones that you want get. What is going to be the filtration?

Aye. I've seen this aquarium stocking rule a couple different ways--someone's decided it was much easier to measure the cubic volume of an aquarium rather than a fish and reversed it. Anyway, what I'm told is that these types of rules only really apply to Tetras, Mollys and Damsels--some fish are just very messy while others may actually be cleaners of the tank...blah, blah, blah.

Not at the filtration stage yet, just trying to plan species at this point and once I've made that decision, I'll go forward with putting it all together.

thanks.

 

[Idealconcepts]

I second going with only one fish. You could have all three in the 75 as young fish but eventually you would need to remove 1 or 2 of them, more likely the you will end up with just the Flowerhorn as they have a strong tendency to be very aggressive. Are you looking for a single fish aquarium or multiple? If your looking for single fish the Flowerhorn is pretty interactive, so are Midas. If your going for multiple fish, you might want to pass on the Flowerhorn and go with fish that stay under 12in in your 75.

 

[PaulMI]

I second going with only one fish. You could have all three in the 75 as young fish but eventually you would need to remove 1 or 2 of them, more likely the you will end up with just the Flowerhorn as they have a strong tendency to be very aggressive. Are you looking for a single fish aquarium or multiple? If your looking for single fish the Flowerhorn is pretty interactive, so are Midas. If your going for multiple fish, you might want to pass on the Flowerhorn and go with fish that stay under 12in in your 75.

This particular Flower Horn: Red Star Flower Horn, by the accounts I've read, only reaches about 8". I wondered if it would give the Salvi too much trouble (being that they reach appx 6"), but I did not imagine that a Red Star Flower Horn would trouble a Jack Dempsy at all.

I would like to have some level of a community tank with multiple species. Right now, I'm just exploring different options for how to stock it with fish.

Thanks.