New 5Ftx20'x20'

[Malawi MaD]

Right guys i have got a 5x20x20 yesterday, it currently has 5 oscars in there but im going to let them go to a bigger home as my tank just isn't big enough. They are beautiful fish i've spent hours watching them but its best if they have 6ft+ set-up. So Im not wondering what to do with the tank im thinking of a amazon themed set-up as i have a huge piece of bogwood (as you can see from the pic) that's going to look amazing with the right plants and few small rocks with a nice sand bottom. What fish would work well in this size tank?? If i went for an amazon theme, or what would you suggest?? Open to anything so fire away. .. Please don't say remove the bogwood though, its toooo nice!!.

It obviously looks pretty ugly at the moment with it just been a quickly/rushed set-up to give the Oscars a home for the next few days while i find a home for them.

 

[Wills]

WOW nice tank That wood is brilliant

Good decision on the Oscars as well as nice as they are 5 adults are never going to work for the full life span in that tank.

If your going down the Amazon route with a tank this size you have to get a group of Geophagus Tapos Red Heads would be brilliant in this tank and then maybe one or two "feature cichlids" like a nice quality Severum or a true Parott Cichlid (not the hybrids) or a Chocolate Cichlid - the 20 inch width is great for these. You could look into some Acara types as well, the common Blues are nice but Yellows and Royals are also brilliant, you also get the smaller Krobia which are showing up a bit more now.

I saw a great tank a while ago that had a group of 5 Satanoperca Auticeps and a large group of wild type Angels.

I quite like tanks that just focus on a hand full of species so perhaps something like the above with a large school of disk type tetras - lemons are quite natural looking in this kind of tank and a group of flagtail catfish?

Wills

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

A man after my own heart

. You could make a great Amazon Biotope set-up. I don't think you want any suggestion from me, as I have a one track mind, as you know

Check out some of the ADGVibe set-ups on youtube.....all the inspiration you will ever need. Please post picks as you go

 

[njstockley]

Lucky you!! Wish I could have something this big, but just not feasible at the minute.

I would start with a BIG group of pictus cats for the bottom and build from there. They are so energetic and great looking fish. Or maybe ornate pims instead. Bigger and lovely look to them. Saw some in Wildwoods a couple of weeks ago. Think they get overlooked for plecos in bigger set ups sadly.

How about some of the vieja species - Argentea are gorgeous. Maybe some Geophagus Winemilleri - I think Wills may have some in his tank at the moment? Great colour to these guys.

And defo keep that bogwood - there was a smaller piece in my LFS selling something half that size for £85 (that's central London for you..!).

Nick

EDIT - Wow this forum is active - two posts in the time it took me to write that!

 

[Malawi MaD]

WOW nice tank That wood is brilliant

Good decision on the Oscars as well as nice as they are 5 adults are never going to work for the full life span in that tank.

If your going down the Amazon route with a tank this size you have to get a group of Geophagus Tapos Red Heads would be brilliant in this tank and then maybe one or two "feature cichlids" like a nice quality Severum or a true Parott Cichlid (not the hybrids) or a Chocolate Cichlid - the 20 inch width is great for these. You could look into some Acara types as well, the common Blues are nice but Yellows and Royals are also brilliant, you also get the smaller Krobia which are showing up a bit more now.

I saw a great tank a while ago that had a group of 5 Satanoperca Auticeps and a large group of wild type Angels.

I quite like tanks that just focus on a hand full of species so perhaps something like the above with a large school of disk type tetras - lemons are quite natural looking in this kind of tank and a group of flagtail catfish?

Wills

Thanks, Yeah the wood is amazing (not seen any this size in a long time) going to have a lot of fun making it blend in well but still having it as a main attraction to the tank. Yeah, i have already got attached to the Oscars they are such a nice fish, but not fair on them at all been in a tank this size when they are 8'to 12'. I read that each one would need a 6ft tank by itself?? Iv'e always wanted Geophagus, these to are very beautiful fish, do they work well in a larger group? smaller group or a pair etc.. Not got much knowledge on these so would have to have a good read up on them, As for a feature cichlid im guessing these would be ok with the Geophagus? No aggression issues ?? Id really like a Severum these too look beautiful, are these best kept as a single fish or in a pair/group etc.. Yeah im exactly the same i prefer maybe 1 to 3 species max but higher numbers of each just looks more put together and natural IMP. What about dither fish?? Could a large group of lets say Neon's work well the Geo's and a nice Severum??

 

[Malawi MaD]

A man after my own heart

. You could make a great Amazon Biotope set-up. I don't think you want any suggestion from me, as I have a one track mind, as you know

Check out some of the ADGVibe set-ups on youtube.....all the inspiration you will ever need. Please post picks as you go

Im usually the same with the malawi's but seeing your discuss set-up + some amazon themed tanks on here its really given me the incentive to go ahead and try make a great Biotop + the bogwood i love it, ive got so many idea's on how this is going to look/turnout. I will do, should hopefully start late this week or next week once the Oscars have gone to their new home. Thanks for that mate will have a look on youtube

 

[Wills]

Ah good Geophagus are best kept as groups the bigger the better in most cases - the species is kind of split into three complexes - Surinimensis, Braziliensis and Stiendachnari. If you like groups of cichlids these could be for you I have a group of 4 Winemilleri which are part of the Surinimensis group and I have them with a mouth brooding Severum, Chocolate Cichlid and a Threadfin Acara and Im growing up a Thorichtys sp.Mixteco Gold and a Nicaraguan with them all of which get along fine the young Nicaraguan is the biggest problem I have.

Along with Geophagus you also get Satanoperca which I touched on earlier there are a number of species in there again all best kept as groups of 4 or more. As they are quite gregarious and in lower numbers start to get problematic. They are found in largish numbers in the wild.

Also there are a number of related species to Geophagus that do well in groups, like Cupids which are really nice. You also get Guianacaras the Bandit Cichlid and Gymnogeophagus, but Gymnogeophagus needs quite a specialist set up as they need 3 months or so of cool water each year.

If you like Severums make sure you have a look around there are some great specimens around at the moment Heros Notatus is really nice but equally a nice big Green is always a good fish. Rotkiels are a favorite of mine, though never had chance to keep them. I only keep singletons of things apart from the Geos as breeding fish can be a problem and they get along pretty well by them selves.

Neons would get eaten by the Severum pretty quickly I had Lemons with my Severus for a while but my Chocolate cichlid started eating them and he is only 6 inches so you might be better off with a larger species like Columbian or a fast species like Bleeding Hearts. You could also look at Hemiodus species as well. I have a school of Annostomus Ternetzi but there are a couple of other nice headstanders around like spotted or marbled just be careful with the larger species as they can be problematic.

If you like groups of cichlids a group of Surinimensis Geophagus with a group of Cupid Cichlids could look incredible A large shoal of Bleeding Heart Tetras and some spotted Headstanders?

Wills

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

Just a quick one on the Tetra line.......I recently added a school of Silver Tips to my tank, and they are just great! Like mini piranhas at feeding time

 

[Malawi MaD]

Ah good Geophagus are best kept as groups the bigger the better in most cases - the species is kind of split into three complexes - Surinimensis, Braziliensis and Stiendachnari. If you like groups of cichlids these could be for you I have a group of 4 Winemilleri which are part of the Surinimensis group and I have them with a mouth brooding Severum, Chocolate Cichlid and a Threadfin Acara and Im growing up a Thorichtys sp.Mixteco Gold and a Nicaraguan with them all of which get along fine the young Nicaraguan is the biggest problem I have.

Along with Geophagus you also get Satanoperca which I touched on earlier there are a number of species in there again all best kept as groups of 4 or more. As they are quite gregarious and in lower numbers start to get problematic. They are found in largish numbers in the wild.

Also there are a number of related species to Geophagus that do well in groups, like Cupids which are really nice. You also get Guianacaras the Bandit Cichlid and Gymnogeophagus, but Gymnogeophagus needs quite a specialist set up as they need 3 months or so of cool water each year.

If you like Severums make sure you have a look around there are some great specimens around at the moment Heros Notatus is really nice but equally a nice big Green is always a good fish. Rotkiels are a favorite of mine, though never had chance to keep them. I only keep singletons of things apart from the Geos as breeding fish can be a problem and they get along pretty well by them selves.

Neons would get eaten by the Severum pretty quickly I had Lemons with my Severus for a while but my Chocolate cichlid started eating them and he is only 6 inches so you might be better off with a larger species like Columbian or a fast species like Bleeding Hearts. You could also look at Hemiodus species as well. I have a school of Annostomus Ternetzi but there are a couple of other nice headstanders around like spotted or marbled just be careful with the larger species as they can be problematic.

If you like groups of cichlids a group of Surinimensis Geophagus with a group of Cupid Cichlids could look incredible A large shoal of Bleeding Heart Tetras and some spotted Headstanders?

Wills

Thanks for all the Info Wills, it is really appreciated. Quite a lot to take in but i enjoy a new challenge, I will have to have a read up on the species you mentioned and get some knowledge behind me, as nearly all the names you have mentioned i don't have a clue what they are . Do you think just a group of Geophagus Red head tapajos with a nice Severum would be ok?? Then maybe a good sized shoal of Bleeding hearts? What numbers would you recommend for each?? I maybe would add another species at a later date but as i said earlier i prefer a set-up with less species and higher numbers of each. I do love the look of the Headstanders there very nice looking fish, do these shoal as well?? or just prefer a small to medium sized group?

Just a quick one on the Tetra line.......I recently added a school of Silver Tips to my tank, and they are just great! Like mini piranhas at feeding time

Would these work well with the Geo's?

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

I don't know much about Geo's to be honest, but they would need some skills to catch those Silver Tips, they are quick little dudes. Mine are full size, about 3 inches long. Really beautiful little fish, and look stunning together.

 

[Malawi MaD]

Lucky you!! Wish I could have something this big, but just not feasible at the minute.

I would start with a BIG group of pictus cats for the bottom and build from there. They are so energetic and great looking fish. Or maybe ornate pims instead. Bigger and lovely look to them. Saw some in Wildwoods a couple of weeks ago. Think they get overlooked for plecos in bigger set ups sadly.

How about some of the vieja species - Argentea are gorgeous. Maybe some Geophagus Winemilleri - I think Wills may have some in his tank at the moment? Great colour to these guys.

And defo keep that bogwood - there was a smaller piece in my LFS selling something half that size for £85 (that's central London for you..!).

Nick

EDIT - Wow this forum is active - two posts in the time it took me to write that!

This is now my 3rd large tank the other 2 set-up as a Malawi Mbuna tank so Im wanting something a little different. I think The Geophagus will be a must have along with a nice severum but Im a little stuck at this. Want some nice dither/shoaling fish to. There is just soo many different species to choose from, Wills has mentioned a lot that i will have to have read up on. Yeah larger pieces of bogwood are quite expensive i do love how they look though, very natural looking.

 

[njstockley]

Seriously Fish has some great info on Geos and well worth browsing IMO. Having never kept them I can't offer any more than that, but as we all know, Wills is pretty clued up and on the case already!

I might have to stop watching this thread though as it's already making me really jealous...make sure pics go up as you progress, and maybe a move to the New World section where you could pick up more hints and tips?

Nick

 

[Wills]

Yeah Seriously fish is brilliant for info on fish they have good Geo write ups as well

What kind of Severum are you thinking of? But yes them and the Tetras with the Geos would work great tank is 104 gallons 5x20 is a good footprint so you could acommodate a nice size group of the Red heads around 6 would be a good figure with an aim to get 2 males 4 females with either 1 Green Severum or 2 Rotkiels 1m1f they are quite a small species. And then lets start at 15 Bleeding Hearts (or any disk type tetra) which will leave you with space to add things to it later on or just leave it as a roomy tank which will show off the fish you have in there.

Wills

 

[Malawi MaD]

Yeah Seriously fish is brilliant for info on fish they have good Geo write ups as well

What kind of Severum are you thinking of? But yes them and the Tetras with the Geos would work great tank is 104 gallons 5x20 is a good footprint so you could acommodate a nice size group of the Red heads around 6 would be a good figure with an aim to get 2 males 4 females with either 1 Green Severum or 2 Rotkiels 1m1f they are quite a small species. And then lets start at 15 Bleeding Hearts (or any disk type tetra) which will leave you with space to add things to it later on or just leave it as a roomy tank which will show off the fish you have in there.

Wills

Will have a look thanks for that mate.

Well ive been looking for their scientific name but as far as i know the common name is the Red Severum? Would these be ok as pair with the Geo's?? That's good feeling knowing that i will still have the space to maybe add another species when i come to stock the tank. Do you recommend anyone? or any place to buy Geo's? Also did you have any success in Breeding your Geophagus mate? I still haven't had chance to have a read up on these yet so will have to do so soon.

 

[Malawi MaD]

Seriously Fish has some great info on Geos and well worth browsing IMO. Having never kept them I can't offer any more than that, but as we all know, Wills is pretty clued up and on the case already!

I might have to stop watching this thread though as it's already making me really jealous...make sure pics go up as you progress, and maybe a move to the New World section where you could pick up more hints and tips?

Nick

Thanks for the Seriously Fish info.
Yeah pics will be updated as soon as i start the tank. How would i move it? and no reason to be jealous mate im sure your set-ups look nice.