My sons new 6ft aquarium. Thoughts?

[Andyhaigh85]

I really like the dat. All american new world cichilds.
I'd love to keep them especially?

 

[AquaBarb]

Catfish in the second picture is a
Megalechis thoracata aka Hoplo catfish

 

[Wills]

Ok so fast evolving thread loads of info though which is good - appologies if I reply over anyone else.

From your stock list lets have a look through and work out whats here - I'll try and give you a link to their profiles, we really like Seriously Fish for profiles as they are all scientifically backed and most likely the most accurate around as they get updated and reviewed.

3 large catfish not sure of there scientific names. - I agree with Aquabarb I think these are a type of Hoplo (is it the one in the middle on one of the pictures?) https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/megalechis-thoracata/
4 guramos 4 inch. - From the pictures I can see two Gold Gourami and in one of the tank shots I think I can see a Dwarf Gourami? https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/trichogaster-lalius/ and https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/trichopodus-trichopterus/
1 discuss 70mm - https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/symphysodon-aequifasciatus/
4 angel fish 90mm - https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/pterophyllum-scalare/
1 amarillo louisinna - not familiar with this name do you have a picture?
2 parrot fish - no profile on these as they are a hybrid species, generally ok but can be difficult
1 banded leporinus - https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/leporinus-fasciatus/
1 severum - https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/heros-efasciatus/
1 golden nugget pleco - https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/baryancistrus-sp-cf-xanthellus/ (could be one of a few species though)
1 shark tale - not sure which species this is do you have a picture?
1 nicaraguan cichlid - (my favourite species ) https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/hypsophrys-nicaraguensis/
1 Jack dempsey - https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/rocio-octofasciata/
1 siamese tiger - either https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/datnioides-microlepis/ or https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/datnioides-pulcher/ not sure which at this stage.

So that should give you some reading and help you work out what you are dealing with here.

Before we work out what to do can we get a bit more info - tank size, length x width x heigh and capacity in litres would be great. Also what kind of filter are you running on the tank? And do you know your water hardness and ph?

Wills

 

[Andyhaigh85]

Tank is 72"x15"x15".

 

[Andyhaigh85]

I'm running oase thermo 300 canister. Also a pond solution 1000lh canister filter. Not sure of the water hardness and the temp is at 27 degrees c.

 

[Andyhaigh85]

Thankyou v.much for your help!!!!!

 

[Andyhaigh85]

Sorry another catfish not sure of the name

 

[AquaBarb]

Sorry another catfish not sure of the name

Thats a Pimelodus pictus catfish

 

[Wills]

Tank is 72"x15"x15".

I think thats an Amphilophus Lyonsi - seems close to the name you mentioned too. https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/amphilophus-lyonsi/ by far the most aggressive fish in the tank. The other cichlids you've mentioned there are some issues but I'm not overly worried. This one is a bit different though...

The first catfish is either a Synodontis but not sure on the species from that pic or it could be a Black Lancer Cat - the second dorsal fin is throwing me off? The second catfish is a Pictus Catfish.

With those dimensions you have 265 Litres which is surprisingly small for a 6 foot tank. It gives you roughly 70 US Gallons which is easier to work with, you might have heard of the inch per gallon rule (we use US gallons for this) its a very very vague guide when working out how to stock a tank and a quick tot up of the fish you have gets us to 168 inches of adult fish and there are some fish in the pictures that are missing from this list like the Black Widow Tetras you can see.

I think you've probably realised but I'd suggest you think about rehoming some of the fish. If you can find out your water hardness you would be able to work out which fish are best to keep as you have a mix of hard water fish and soft water fish. Hardwater are things like the Lyonsi, Nicaraguan, Jack Dempsey. Softwater are your Discus, Angels, Leporinus, Datnioide and most of your catfish. Being a fellow Yorkshireman I imagine you are with Yorkshire Water? If you go on their website you can put your postcode in and they can give you a hardness report which isnt totally accurate but will give us an indication.

Wills

 

[Byron]

I was mentioned early on but a succession of posts occurred before now. I am going to build somewhat on the information others like @Wills and @AquaBarb posted.

Thinking of which fish to remove, it depends upon the GH and pH of your source water as already noted, and what fish you particularly want to retain. This was mentioned a few posts back, so with that in mind--the angelfish, discus and pimodella catfish should be removed. These species are what we term shoaling, which means they "expect" and must therefore have a group of their own species or they will be severely stressed and this means more prone to disease and an early demise. Angelfish and discus cannot be housed together, and neither can be housed with the Pimodela catfish (it is too boisterous). I won't spell this out, but can if asked.

 

[Andyhaigh85]

Not really looked into water hardness and wouldn't know where to start tbh.
Is it not at all possible to keep softwater and hardwater together?

I really appreciate your advice and help. I rehoused the tetras. Will look at rehoming some of my other fish. Quite upsetting knowing I got it wrong.

 

[Wills]

Not really looked into water hardness and wouldn't know where to start tbh.
Is it not at all possible to keep softwater and hardwater together?

I really appreciate your advice and help. I rehoused the tetras. Will look at rehoming some of my other fish. Quite upsetting knowing I got it wrong.

I had a quick google and I think you will have softwater but if you can put your postcode in here https://www.yorkshirewater.com/your-water/water-hardness/

Dont tell us your postcode but share the results you get and we will know what we are working with Hardwater and softwater is really important for the long term health of the fish we keep, if you keep them in the wrong kind of water they can get health problems, be more susceptible to disease and their lifespan will be shortened significantly.

No probs at for the help we all started somewhere and we all make mistakes its a tough hobby and there are so many views and opinions but IMO this is one of the best places because its a big melting pot of all these views and we are all products of each others experience and we are lucky to have members like @Byron and others that are certified experts and published.

Wills

 

[Slaphppy7]

Quite upsetting knowing I got it wrong.

YOU got nothing wrong, you were misled by the LFS....they aren't known for good advice, they are known for making $

Welcome to TFF, you've gotten excellent advice so far, thank you for listening and heeding the above advice, trouble looms in this tank if many of the fish aren't rehomed/returned as cautioned above

BTW, 72" X 15" X 15" is a very unusual tank size

 

[JuiceBox52]

YOU got nothing wrong, you were misled by the LFS....they aren't known for good advice, they are known for making $

Welcome to TFF, you've gotten excellent advice so far, thank you for listening and heeding the above advice, trouble looms in this tank if many of the fish aren't rehomed/returned as cautioned above

BTW, 72" X 15" X 15" is a very unusual tank size

I agree, it is 100% not your fault, you were mislead. And you are amazing for being willing to learn and change!

 

[Rocky998]

I have in the tank;

3 large catfish not sure of there scientific names.
4 guramos 4 inch.
1 discuss 70mm
4 angel fish 90mm
1 amarillo louisinna
2 parrot fish
1 banded leporinus
1 severum
1 golden nugget pleco
1 shark tale
1 nicaraguan cichlid
1 Jack dempsey
1 siamese tiger

Dang, thats one HECK of a battlefield.... All its gonna take is a nip gor things to go coo coo