I currently have a 125g tank setup (sand substrate, large semi-hollow rock in the center, driftwood and some small plants on either end, over kill filter.) and it is currently all nocturnal bottom dwellers (3x peacock eels: 8", 6" 4"; 1 galaxy pleco 5"; 1 striped Raphael Cat 5"). I want to have at least one green severum and 3 EBAs and a school of 12-15 tiger barbs. My question is, would this be too much for the tank (I do about a 15% weekly water change and my filter is meant for a 400g tank) and would these fish work well together? There are plenty of places for the bottom dwellers to hide (the eels all chill in the giant rock structure 99% of the time). Also wondering if they should be introduced gradually (if so what order) or if it would be better to add them all at once (fully cycled and established tank FYI). Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I'm planning on going tomorrow to acquire some of these fish!
Severum/EBA stocking questions
- Thread starter Supalah17
- Start date
I don't that would be too much for the tank. Although, personally, I feel 15% water change is not enough. I would shoot for at least 30% or more depending on the size of the fish and your nitrate readings.
Are you going to buy the sev and EBAs as juveniles? If you do, you could probably add those 4, wait a couple weeks then add the tiger barbs. Hopefully with the number of barbs you want they will behave and mostly just squabble among themselves and won't fin nip the cichlids.
Are you going to buy the sev and EBAs as juveniles? If you do, you could probably add those 4, wait a couple weeks then add the tiger barbs. Hopefully with the number of barbs you want they will behave and mostly just squabble among themselves and won't fin nip the cichlids.
I personally say it can be done but only if you increase your wc's to atleast 50% weekly and stick to what you listed wouldn't add more.
Thanks for the reply! I planned on upping that number to 30% minimally, but 40% optimally (I need to get a better set up done, right now I'm carrying 5 gallon buckets one at a time to my back yard, add in my other tanks and I'm carrying 800+ lbs of water a week haha), but with the over filtration and the live plants, my nitrate levels have never spiked, with that heavy of a load in there though, i'd rather be safe than lose some of my scaly babies!
They will all be bought as juveniles, so I'll take your advice and let the cichlids get established before adding the barbs, don't want an immediate territory feud! The live plants and massive filter keep my nitrates incredibly low (I have another 125 with a similar set up and identical filter and I barely do water changes because of all the plants, my water parameters are perfect in there), but I will definitely be upping the water changes once my stocking is done, especially since that tank may have a massive stock, but they're all small/bottom dwellers. (no stock beyond what was mentioned is going in the cichlid 125). I had the same thought about the barbs, I've had them across numerous tanks and keeping them in numbers exceeding 10 generally seems to turn them from little bullies into *relatively* peaceful fish!
I would forego the tiger barbs and do some large tetras, the barbs can be very nippy and leave your cichlids with torn fins.
I don't think the stock level is bad, it is on the heavy side but could work out fine. I agree that you will need to do more like 40% water changes though. Invest in a very long python (or get a regular one and DIY extend it.
I don't think the stock level is bad, it is on the heavy side but could work out fine. I agree that you will need to do more like 40% water changes though. Invest in a very long python (or get a regular one and DIY extend it.
I've kept tiger barbs a lot in the past so I'm well versed in their pissy attitudes haha, do you have any suggestions for larger tetras or possibly other dither fish? Not doing silver dollars again, they're really peaceful, but they almost starved my other fish to death from their pig nature so I had to set up a tank just for them and a couple rescue clown loaches...
I'll probably take a look at all 3 and figure out if my LFS has any in stock, do you think black skirts would be too small? I love the look of them (and so does the wife, so that's a win) but I worry about them becoming snacks!