Stocking question

ElectricBlueSeanBurch · Nov 25, 2010

Hello everyone. I have been an avid viewer of mfk for awhile, but until recently i never felt i quite qualified for the site. I recently came across a 220 gallon (6x2x2.5) with stand and sump on craigslist for a not to shabby Price. But when i went to look at it the guy was military and said he would sell it all for $250 if i moved it out that day. i was more than happy to take him up on it. So i got it all setup and running, not worried about cycle issues as it was never completely drained and only torn down for 3 hours tops. so i moved my stock out of my 75 gallon into the 220. stocking is:
1 Ebjd- 6 inches
1 Blue acara- 4 inches
1 firemouth- 4 inches
1 green severum- 4 inches (and growing like crazy)
5 clown loaches- ranging 3-4.5 inches
1 royal pleco(L191)- 4 inches(ish)
1 gibbi pleco- 11 inches

here are a few thoughts on what i want to add. forgive my stupidity, im new at larger tanks and dont want to over do it.

salvini, jewel, pike cichlid, green terror, convict, midas, rainbow cichlid, texas, regular jd...
im not saying i wanna put all of these in there, just a few of what i like. im also open to any suggestions. im looking for medium to large cichlids, with lots of color and moderately peaceful. im not sure how many fish i can safely and happily have. the last thing i wanna do is rush out and buy 30 random cichlids and just throw them in the tank and hope for the best. :duh:

And i hope this post is in the right place, if not feel free to move it
Thanks in advance
Josh

TheRealAndyCook · Nov 25, 2010

nice grab on the tank, you could get a few convicts and let them breed...there fry would probably get eaten unless you interfered tho. They seem to be pretty active and like to show colors.

and you don't need to ask for forgiveness to ask a question aslong as your willing to take advice...tho with stocking its really up to what you like.

Tho, i've seen cichlids go nuts for no reason and try and eat everything...even the rocks in the tank they've been left with so you might need to get that 75 back up sometime if you plan on getting more stock.

Just an idea, im sure others will chime in with more direct advice.

NCStateFisher · Nov 25, 2010

i'm no expert but im pretty sure a midas or texas may be a bit too aggressive if you're trying to keep things moderately peaceful, the only time i had a JD he was too much of a bully to my GT, but i've also seen people have the opposite experience where their GT was too much of a bully, it'd probably depend on the fish with JDs and GTs - if you really want the midas i'd suggest setting the 75 back up and putting him in there alone

fishbum · Nov 25, 2010

You might be able to have a Texas, but I would not even try a Midas. Others sound ok,but that is still a lot of territorial fish.The only other cichlid I would try would be the GT.I would make sure you have a lot of driftwood,plants,and caves to break sight lines,and give them all enough room for a bit of their own territory. I would really call it good with the cichlids you have,and look into some bichirs. Senegals would work out in there with what you have.

ElectricBlueSeanBurch · Nov 25, 2010

Well I'm not really into bichirs, just not my taste. But I was also interested in a fire eel. I have tons of driftwood and slate caves as my 75 was once a pleco only tank. I do want to get atleast 2 more cichlids though, unless you guys disagree. I was thinking the GT and the salvini or the texas.

fishbum · Nov 25, 2010

A GT and salvini would probably be your best bet. Keep the 75,or have some kind of plan in case one or more of them decide they want more space for their own.Cichlids are anything but predictable.

ElectricBlueSeanBurch · Nov 26, 2010

So no comments on the fire eel? And I'm starting to get the tank the way the way I want it, so I will try to get some pics posted

ElectricBlueSeanBurch · Nov 30, 2010

Here are a few pics I snapped of my new setup.

Just plumbed and filled for the first time. even though it was full when I saw it I was still nervous filling it up. So much weight for the stand to hold.