Hey everyone. Next month I'm going to be getting a 135 USG tank (72 inches x 24 inches x 18 inches). I've never had a planted tank before, and I have no clue where to begin. As for fish stocking, it's primarily NW cichlids (Pair of Super Red Severums, Pair of Blue Acara, Geophagus Red Head Tapajos, Goldiei Rainbows and a Mango Pleco). I know I'm going to need a different kind of lighting, but could someone provide me a list with what equipment I would need? Or perhaps a list of what kind of plants I could use? I plan on having a natural sandy substrate, a large piece of driftwood and a few rocky structures. Also, would a kind of moss be a good idea? I've head of people tying it to driftwood and such, looks pretty cool. Anyways, any help would be appreciated! Thanks!
New To Planted Tanks! Need Help! :d
- Thread starter Brahmza
- Start date
So I'm not trying to rain on your parade here bro but before we can think about plants you need to rethink the stocking numbers and fish. I've kept lots of cichlids and I'd only put one type of large cichlid like the Red Head Tapajos in the tNk and I'd only go with 3-4 of them in a 135 gallon tank because when they start to breed and they will they get really nasty towards other fish even ones that are the same size.
Of your going with South American cichlids doing planted is going to be really hard not imposable I did it once but it was really hard.
Once you decide which type of fish your keeping them I could help with plants.
And lighting.
Of your going with South American cichlids doing planted is going to be really hard not imposable I did it once but it was really hard.
Once you decide which type of fish your keeping them I could help with plants.
And lighting.
Alright, I might have to step back from a planted tank then XD. I've already gone over the tank stocking, the Geo's are the smallest fish in the tank, not exactly worried about a 5" Geo trying to push around a 10" severum. The male Acara is 4" long currently, female is 3" long, and they're already spawning regularly with minimal aggression towards the other fish (just chasing them away in another fish gets close). The severums are both 3" in diameter currently, and seem to be very peaceful, though they are still juveniles. Geo red heads are the smallest of their species (as far as I can tell) and will only get to 5" long. Currently, the largest of the group is 2" long, and being that none of my other fish are substrate-dwellers, I feel there will be minimal aggression in the tank. I'm fine with a Geo chasing fish away from fry, as long as they're not tearing each other apart. I currently have all of these fish in a 55g, and they're all relatively young, largest being the male acara at 4", smallest being the geos and rainbows.
Well man it's your call but I will leave you with a story. A friend of mine had a pair of convict cichlids that where breeding and there size was about 4" each he had them in with a Oscar that was easily 10" and supper aggressive bad cambo I know anyways the convicts had there first batch of fry and they went nuts they would take turns pinning the oscar in the corner and if he even flinched they would attack him badly this was a 125 gallon tank and he eventually had to give the oscar away because the convicts almost killed it.
The point I'm trying to make is cichlids are not a friendly fish and when they have baby's to defend they get positively horrible to have around other fish the size doesn't matter I've had 2" fish beat up on 8" fish just because they had some baby's.
The point I'm trying to make is cichlids are not a friendly fish and when they have baby's to defend they get positively horrible to have around other fish the size doesn't matter I've had 2" fish beat up on 8" fish just because they had some baby's.
Well, just to add onto that, Convicts are notorious for their natural aggression. Babies or not, Convicts are naturally a mean fish. Wouldn't put a label on a fish just because it's classified as a cichlid. There are tons of peaceful cichlids out there. My Blue Acara are cichlids, and larger than the rest of the fish in my tank, and they don't beat on my fish even when they are spawning (which is every 3-4 weeks).
Like I said it's up to and I'm not saying it can't be done I have done it before just trying to make sure you know what your dealing with.
I actually hope you can make it work because those cichlids are awesome and would look really cool together so good luck
I actually hope you can make it work because those cichlids are awesome and would look really cool together so good luck
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