Just Getting New 225 Gal Tank Finished Up (Pics), Need Help Picking Ou

[George84]

Hi all, this is my first post here and I am hoping you can help me out a little. I have been remodeling my dining room and have got to the point today that I filled the tank with water and gravel. I want to go with a South American cichlid community. I was thinking about this as a good list to start with but need more ideas on what other fish to go with. Thanks for the input and here is the list I have been thinking about. Here is a few fish that I really would like to see in my tank but I will need good tankmates to go with.

Start of cichlid community list, I know some of these fish might not all work well with each other so let me know what will and won't or if you have any suggestions.

1 electric blue Jack Dempsey
1 green terror (Andinoacara rivulatus)
1 pike (Crenicichla)
1 tiger oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)
some kind of cat
2 large plecos (out of one of my other tanks)
6 silver dollars
1 Texas Cichlid
? male convicts
? firemouths
1 Blackbelt Cichlid (Vieja maculicauda)


I also have a 3 1/2" Leopard Ctenopoma and a 4" African Knife that are in my 55g that might be able to go in the mix but can also stay where thay are at currently. I just was thinking about turning my 55g into a live breeder feeder fish tank for the fish in the bigger tank. Thanks for your help.

~George

 

[foley69]

Breeder feeder IMO is the worst thing you can do with the 55 ur cichlids will be better off on pellets and other food designed for central,south Americans

 

[Wills]

Nice mix over all but you need to cut some and focus on others.

1 Blackbelt Cichlid (Vieja maculicauda)
1 green terror (Andinoacara rivulatus)
1 tiger oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)
1 Texas Cichlid
1 pike (Crenicichla)- need to be more specific about which species, not sure which to suggest really but be careful not to get a huge one! But still a good mix.

10 silver dollars
2 large plecos (out of one of my other tanks)

some kind of cat - Maybe a Lima Shovelnose but not a Tiger Shovel might even get away with a trio of them which can work well.

I left out the EBJD as it would get its #17##### handed to it by the blackbelt or the GT or the Tex lol most of them would be problematic with it as they are quite squishy. This tank is never going to be an exact science and you may end up swapping some in and out so its a good job you have spare tanks. Also dont get the African Knife or the Bush fish in here the cichlids you like are very nice but are boisterous so dont put anything in that cant take a bit of rough and tumble.

I took out the Cons and Firemouths and upped the Silver Dollars to cut down the territories and the bigger dither school will always look good.

But excellent sounding tank! Black Belts are one of my favorites at the moment so very jelous right now as I cant have them.

Wills

 

[George84]

Nice mix over all but you need to cut some and focus on others.

1 Blackbelt Cichlid (Vieja maculicauda)
1 green terror (Andinoacara rivulatus)
1 tiger oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)
1 Texas Cichlid
1 pike (Crenicichla)- need to be more specific about which species, not sure which to suggest really but be careful not to get a huge one! But still a good mix.

10 silver dollars
2 large plecos (out of one of my other tanks)

some kind of cat - Maybe a Lima Shovelnose but not a Tiger Shovel might even get away with a trio of them which can work well.

I left out the EBJD as it would get its #17##### handed to it by the blackbelt or the GT or the Tex lol most of them would be problematic with it as they are quite squishy. This tank is never going to be an exact science and you may end up swapping some in and out so its a good job you have spare tanks. Also dont get the African Knife or the Bush fish in here the cichlids you like are very nice but are boisterous so dont put anything in that cant take a bit of rough and tumble.

I took out the Cons and Firemouths and upped the Silver Dollars to cut down the territories and the bigger dither school will always look good.

But excellent sounding tank! Black Belts are one of my favorites at the moment so very jelous right now as I cant have them.

Wills

Thanks a lot. That is just the kind of feedback I was hoping for. My wife is wanting me to set up my 30gal back up in my daughters room so she can have her own tank. Maybe I will put live bearers in there.

 

[Wills]

Just two more thoughts, what are the dimensions on this? And that fire place does it chuck out much heat as that will probs affect tank temp I would think?

Wills

 

[George84]

72.5"x24.5"x30" are the dimensions of the tank. And I have a mantal that goes above the fireplace that is not on it yet in that pic. But right now with it running, the temp of the wood under it just gets a little warmer then normal. Since it has a hood built into the fireplace it really pushes the heat away. Thats how people are able to have a tv hanging above there fireplace. Its really not a issue. Your even alowed to finish around the fireplace with combustible materials.

 

[George84]

*UPDATE* So I put in 6 Silver Dollars, my 2 large pleco, and ordered a Green Terror,a Tiger Oscar, a Pike, a Tiger Shovelnose Cat, and 2 gold severums. I also put my Black knife fish in and we will see what happens with him, he likes to hide, but I can always pull him out and put him anouther tank if it does not work. I just wanted to try to try some live bearers in my 55gal.

 

[FishFanatic04]

Just saying.....Thats a pretty lovely wall you have there. Keep the pics coming, if you please!

 

[Wills]

Aww why did you get the Tiger They get huge, like too huge to handle even in this tank.

What kind of Pike have you ordered?

Wills

 

[George84]

Aww why did you get the Tiger They get huge, like too huge to handle even in this tank.

What kind of Pike have you ordered?

Wills

I am not compleatly sure it will be the tiger, they said that they knew that they could get the tiger but would try to get a Lima Shovelnose. And I am not sure on the pike yet either, the guy I spoke with on the phone was not there when I went in so I guess I will try to give him a call again.

 

[Wills]

Ah okay, fingers crossed for the Lima then

Also try and get the scientific name for the Pike they are ordering as there are so many and the species are very varied in behavior and aggression really have to be careful.

And just looking at the tank in the pic does it have a little bit of overhang at the front?

Wills

 

[George84]

Ah okay, fingers crossed for the Lima then

Also try and get the scientific name for the Pike they are ordering as there are so many and the species are very varied in behavior and aggression really have to be careful.

And just looking at the tank in the pic does it have a little bit of overhang at the front?

Wills

So I called today and they told me someone messed up and they ordered some kind of $65 tiger shovelhead. So they think its going to be big and the wrong fish. But I did call one of the other stores and they will have a small lima next week for me.

The tank does have almost a 1/4" overhang. It does not worry me, and I have the mantal almost finished now and it is taking up that space and the glass is 1/2" so the outer pain of glass is still a little more than half way on the shelf. BTW you have a good eye to see that...

 

[FishFanatic04]

Hey, I wanna be on your side, but I lost the argument.


It looks like an Inch to me, I am pretty good at judging these things.

 

[George84]

So her is what fish made the final cut with me, we will see how it goes.

1 green terror (Andinoacara rivulatus)
1 tiger oscar (Astronotus ocellatus)
1 Striped Pike Cichlid (Crenicichla strigata)
6 silver dollars (Myleus Rubrinnis)
2 Gold Severums (Heros severus)
1 Lima Shovelnose
2 large plecos (out of one of my other tanks)
1 Brown Knife fish (out of one of my other tanks)

I have to still track down a Lima Shovelnose and put in a Tiger Oscar. And I wonder if a Jack Dempsey could go in with this mix still. But here are some pics of the little guys I do have. BTW the shovelnose they got in was some sort of hybread that I could not find any info on so I passed on it.

 

[mattlee]

i would keep an eye on the Crenicichla strigata, i had one of these a while ago and it grew extremely fast and became quite an aggressive fish. it was in with fully grown big cichlids and didnt hold back.... if it grows at the rate mine did then it will out grow the others and pikes will attack and eat anything that can fit in its mouth so just be carefull with it.

i wouldnt add anything else unless you are thinking of rehoming them when they get bigger.