winemilleri or altifrons or ...

[jake37]

I have a 450 (8ftx4ftx23); orginally i was going to put in mirabllis but these seem difficulit to find. Now i'm thinking winemilleri or altifrons - originally i was going to limit the temp to 82 and put in festum and pyrrhulina spilot and urostraitum. Now i'm rethinking maybe winemilleri or altifrons and discus - this would raise the temp to 85 - i'm mixed on this since the higher temp isn't great for plants i grow but i could tghen also put in some wild gbr. I'd have to drop the other fishes because it would be too warm.

Feedback, suggestions, comments?

 

[duanes]

Geophagus - Guide to Amazonian Eartheaters - nearly all Geophagus species !
Temp will probably not be the most important issue when trying to keep rheophillic species like the altifrons clade, with placid water fish like discus.
Discus like slow to moderate flow, in slack water areas with little to no current.
Geophagus prefer heavy flow, with lots of current that provides heavily oxygenated conditions.
Although a 450 could work if subdivided.
Sounds like you need two totally different tanks, with totally different conditions in each one to keep your fish healthy, one tank will not fit both unless you can subdivide it different flow zones.

 

[jake37]

Geophagus - Guide to Amazonian Eartheaters - nearly all Geophagus species !
Temp will probably not be the most important issue when trying to keep rheophillic species like the altifrons clade, with placid water fish like discus.
Discus like slow to moderate flow, in slack water areas with little to no current.
Geophagus prefer heavy flow, with lots of current that provides heavily oxygenated conditions.
Although a 450 could work if subdivided.
Sounds like you need two totally different tanks, with totally different conditions in each one to keep your fish healthy, one tank will not fit both unless you can subdivide it different flow zones.

Thank you. I could use hardscape to control the current but i think it is best to just drop the discus as the tank has a bit of current. the other stocking is current friendly - btw any comment on altifrons or winemilleri with other stocking mentioned ?

 

[duanes]

I love both those Geophagus species, both get large, and are very active.
Below a @ 12" altifrons I had..

My idea of good tank mates, would not be discus, so the idea of dropping them "from" the mix, would seem to be a good idea.
I'd run a number of powerheads in the tank, creating a rheophillic biotope, with appropriate Amazonian fast water dwelling fish.
In the video posted above, are some good ideas for tank mates, but if it were me, I'd tend to stay away from other cichlids.
My choices would be mid water swimming, medium large Characins, to occupy the middle water column levels, and surface water species, the like the larger species of Hatchet fish for the upper levels.
In this way you'd end up with aa Amazonian biotope, with action on all levels of the water column.

 

[jake37]

First some comments:
If i can get mirabllis or neambi last minute i will else i will go with the winemilleri since they seem relatively available. The other two are smaller but not sure about current requirement et all.
This is a custom aquarium built aquarium - it has four outlet with good current but it goes front to back. Long term i ahve purchased extra loc-line and will run them all to one side and then have the current go across the long way - not sure if that is a good idea but the pumps are adjustable and fairly strong - but i doubt it will reach 8 feet - so i might rethink the loc-line output once i start playing with it - i suppose the middle ones could come out to the middle of the tank and again be pointed long way to boost the current.
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This is my planned stocking but i might tweaked it based on feedback if you have any:
20 sterbai
14 urostriatum
6-8 krobia xinguensis
4-6 laetracara {araguaiae,curviceps or thayeri)
6 domestic angels angels
8-12 geo mirabllis or neambi or winemilleri
30 Pyrrhulina spilot
20-30 rummynose (likely to get eaten long term but safe a couple of years)
Some random plecos (mostly 6 inch or smaller; L172a (vampire) L204, L397, L128, ...)
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I'll put the festum in with the loaches - they hate the loaches but i think that is safer than festum.
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I know you suggested no other cichild but i really want the krobia and if i put the festum with the loaches then they will need to go in this aquarium. The laetracara are more optional but ithink there is room.
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Comments or suggestions ?


I don't know what a rheophillic biotope is and i don't have much in the way of rocks just wood and plants.
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Current water is kh 3 gh 7 and tds 120 - i will over time soften it down to kh 2 gh 3-4 tds 70-80. This will be done via a drip system that is 50% tap and 50% ro water.

 

[duanes]

I think Krobia , and Laetacara are good choices as far as cichlids go, and will fit the riverine biotope well, most people suggest more commonly found cichlid types that don't really fit into the rheophillic biotope.
Whether or not the Angels with tolerate the preferred flow may be another story.
Plecos are also rheophillic so should work well.
The riverine conditions where I catch Plecos below.

 

[jake37]

I think Krobia , and Laetacara are good choices as far as cichlids go, and will fit the riverine biotope well, most people suggest more commonly found cichlid types that don't really fit into the rheophillic biotope.
Whether or not the Angels with tolerate the preferred flow may be another story.
Plecos are also rheophillic so should work well.
The riverine conditions where I catch Plecos below.
View attachment 1525707
View attachment 1525708

My scape will probably not be that rocky - also do you ahve a comment on the other species in my list ?

 

[duanes]

Since they are all part of the Amazonian biotope, why not.
You will find out if they fit in thru experience.

 

[bkfamus]

I currently have a tank w/ G. mirabilis, Albino Dantum Angels, K. xinguensis, D. maculatus, A. D24 , cories (C. pulcher), a few plecos and a school of 30 Rummynose (P. bleheri).. Active tank, although the Dantums have settled to the back under driftwood after I added the rummynose tetras..

I think the mirabilis would get lost in a big 400 gallon tank since tey're among the smaller geos.. I've never kept winemilleri, but I have kept altifrons and would definitely go with them as the main attraction if I had a 450 gallon tank.. very active and grow huge..

 

[jake37]

In this video at the very start what is the gold/yellow fish with black/red stripes swimming with the geo ?

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My rough understanding is altifrons are very similar to winemilleri with the winemilleri being a little larger but otherwise very similar bio-tope and behavior. Also the altifrons are from slightly warmer region.
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