Stocking 120 gallon 48x24x24

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357MAGNOLE

357MAGNOLE

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Aug 21, 2017
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Tank has not been ordered yet, it's being custom built but I am waiting on a deal to go through with something else.... Either way, everything else is in the works and I plan to have the tank up and running in December. I have long considered my stocking ideas and I am not 100% set on what I want. All I know is what I DONT want..... That would be anything from outside South/Central america. I've never cared much for Africans, as a kid-teen years I had Africans and they were easy and rewarding, so don't get me wrong I just want a different direction.

Filtration will be a sump setup running roughly 700-800 GPH... But I can dial it up or down depending on stock.

I KNOW I want a shoal of corydoras. Most likely Metae or Sterbai. I also plan on using Lemon Tetras, probably a school of 35-40. I also know I want at least a couple, maybe 3-4 Geophagus of sorts to help keep the sand turned up and clean. Tank will be lightly planted with low light plants. Java fern, Anubias, some form of Moss on my drift wood.

Other than that, I am really not sure what direction I want to go. Would love something with personality and flare.... But I also know that when you have that combo you typically have something that will eat on the smaller fish. I was thinking something along the line of Angels originally, Heros Severums, but that is about as far as I have gotten.

So what would yall more expereinced with South/Central american stuff recommend?
 
Probably leaning towards Sevrums. Gonna need some with great color to make me happy. I had some Rotkeils before, but their color just never came out like I wanted. Could have been like they came from too.
 
I wouldnt mind Angels either, but not looking to spend the $$ on the Altums.... Something more common most likely.
 
some red spot gold severums would look awesome with the lemon tetra.

or some koi angels like mine. nice orange, white and black.
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Those are beautiful Angels!

I just discovered Heros Notatus and think it would be a beautiful addition. Maybe just add a male, but it might end up a male female pair and those be the "centerpiece" sooooo many options. Only answer is more than one tank.
 
Keep in mine that with 35-40 tetras, a school of corydoras, and 3-4 geophagus, you are already approaching heavily stocked. I would recommend Altums, as they will look great with the geophagus, and will be less bioload than big severums will be.
Sounds like it will be a beautiful tank
 
357MAGNOLE said:
Tank has not been ordered yet, it's being custom built but I am waiting on a deal to go through with something else.... Either way, everything else is in the works and I plan to have the tank up and running in December. I have long considered my stocking ideas and I am not 100% set on what I want. All I know is what I DONT want..... That would be anything from outside South/Central america. I've never cared much for Africans, as a kid-teen years I had Africans and they were easy and rewarding, so don't get me wrong I just want a different direction.

Filtration will be a sump setup running roughly 700-800 GPH... But I can dial it up or down depending on stock.

I KNOW I want a shoal of corydoras. Most likely Metae or Sterbai. I also plan on using Lemon Tetras, probably a school of 35-40. I also know I want at least a couple, maybe 3-4 Geophagus of sorts to help keep the sand turned up and clean. Tank will be lightly planted with low light plants. Java fern, Anubias, some form of Moss on my drift wood.

Other than that, I am really not sure what direction I want to go. Would love something with personality and flare.... But I also know that when you have that combo you typically have something that will eat on the smaller fish. I was thinking something along the line of Angels originally, Heros Severums, but that is about as far as I have gotten.

So what would yall more expereinced with South/Central american stuff recommend?
Click to expand...
Angels and severums will eat the small tetras I would consider a few of the smaller south American cichlid species where you can keep a few pairs in a 120 here are some suggestions for cichlids which are peaceful and dont eat plants
Agassizs dwarf cichlids (5-7cm)
Cockatoo dwarf cichlids (5-7cm)
Checkerboard cichlids (7-10cm)
Golden eyed dwarf cichlids (6-7.5cm)
Ram cichlids (6-7cm)
Keyhole cichlids (9-13cm)
Dwarf pike cichlids (7-9cm) I would be worried about small tetras, deep bodied tetras work well with them e.g
Colombian blue tetras, Bleeding heart tetras etc.
Festive cichlids (15-20cm) same as above
Angelfish (15cm+height) same above
Severums (24-30cm) will make your plants look like crap even anubias and java fern, and can get quite aggressive
Discus (15-20cm) prefer calm water flow
 
TheMoneyTank(TMT) said:
Angels and severums will eat the small tetras
Click to expand...

lemon tetra are a high body tetra, and should be fine. the ones at risk are short bodies like neon, cardinal, ect. rummy nose tetra are a short body, but they also get 2" so unless there is an adult sev or angel, they should be fine, and if they grow up with those fish, and you dont feed feeder fish they should never bother them. you could always have an ******* of a cichlid, so YMMV.

in any case, high bodied tetra, serpe, phantom, lemon, ect, should be fine.
 
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