Temporary Grow Out Tank Advice

[Harris.]

Returning to the hobby after 4 years with not a single tank. Now I’m in a position to get a freshly built tank, just placed an order and paid deposit on a 6x3x2 but it’s 9 months away. Got a free standard 4’x18”x18” tank and stand off a friend to get back in earlier and grow some fish out before the main tank arrives.

the tank comes with around 12 full grown Congo Tetras.

my question is, if I over filter the tank can I keep these fish for 9 months without any chaos

- 12 full grown Congo tetras
- 10 gold Saum Rivulatus (starting size 1-1.5”) (I plan on only keeping the best 2-3 out of the 10)

once the rivs start showing some great colours and shape at a small size I’ll be rehoming the remaining 7-8. Then I might add a couple of other less aggressive cichlids or more Congos as dither fish for the main tank later in the year.

 

[A201]

Rivulatus usually don't need dither fish.
Once the GT's reach the the six inch mark, the Congos will likely start becoming snacks.
Silver Dollars might be a better choice for a compatible schooling fish.
Be sure to post pics as things progress.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Once the GT's reach the the six inch mark, the Congos will likely start becoming snacks.

Don’t Congo tetras get to 3 inches full grown? I could very well be wrong but I seem to recall them getting around that big. If they do then can a 6” really eat them?

 

[Jexnell]

Don’t Congo tetras get to 3 inches full grown? I could very well be wrong but I seem to recall them getting around that big. If they do then can a 6” really eat them?

Probably not whole but can rip off fins till the fish is immobile then consume what it wants to of said fish.

 

[A201]

It's been my experience that six inches is the size Rivulatus become lethal to many varieties of aquarium fish.
I raised this guy from a small fry to an XL adult. A group of Congos wouldn't have lasted a week with him. Lol.

 

[Harris.]

What is a large fast group of fish I can put into a group that will not eat plants. Would full grown giant danios be a good option?

might wait till I have the big tank before getting any cichlids. Could use the next 9 months to grow out a large group of dither/target fish and then once in the big tank can add small GTs which will then also give the group of fish more time to grow.

i plant on having the scape be plenty of wood to create many zones and grow plants and moss all over the driftwood. Then have a handful of American cichlids a few large plecos and decent group of fish to minimise aggression.

it’s been a long time since I’ve had to plan a tank out.

thoughts?

 

[Joshuakahan]

What is a large fast group of fish I can put into a group that will not eat plants. Would full grown giant danios be a good option?

might wait till I have the big tank before getting any cichlids. Could use the next 9 months to grow out a large group of dither/target fish and then once in the big tank can add small GTs which will then also give the group of fish more time to grow.

i plant on having the scape be plenty of wood to create many zones and grow plants and moss all over the driftwood. Then have a handful of American cichlids a few large plecos and decent group of fish to minimise aggression.

it’s been a long time since I’ve had to plan a tank out.

thoughts?

I think that’s a solid plan. If you’re dead set on smallish dithers, geos might be a better choice than GTs

 

[Ogertron3000]

What is a large fast group of fish I can put into a group that will not eat plants. Would full grown giant danios be a good option?

might wait till I have the big tank before getting any cichlids. Could use the next 9 months to grow out a large group of dither/target fish and then once in the big tank can add small GTs which will then also give the group of fish more time to grow.

i plant on having the scape be plenty of wood to create many zones and grow plants and moss all over the driftwood. Then have a handful of American cichlids a few large plecos and decent group of fish to minimise aggression.

it’s been a long time since I’ve had to plan a tank out.

thoughts?

Sounds good to me. I think you could even add the GTs a bit earlier, maybe 2 months before the big tank arrives.

 

[Harris.]

I think that’s a solid plan. If you’re dead set on smallish dithers, geos might be a better choice than GTs

Never owned geos but loved the look of them, which type would you recommend?

 

[Joshuakahan]

Never owned geos but loved the look of them, which type would you recommend?

I like G Sveni the best personally, they get around 6-8” I believe and have a similar coloration to GTs and do well in groups. I think they would do great with the congos. Sand substrate is a must with geos though
Here’s a pic