What Size Tank Would I Need?

[Winston Smith]

I currently have one 75 gallon tank with one Oscar. I would like to start a community tank with South American Cichlids. I am only in the planning stages right now, but I would like to know what size tank would I need to keep the following fish:

1. Green Severum (one)
2. Blue Acara (one)
3. Firemouth (one)
4. Keyhole Cichlid (one)
5. Festivus (five)
6. Salvin's Cichlid (one)

Do you think a 125 gallon tank would be big enough for all those fish once they become full grown?

 

[Nevergone815]

I don't see why not, most of those fish don't grow too incredibly large and they're not all that aggressive (I'm assuming those are 2 reasons why you chose them )

It should work very well IMO. Not too sure about the 5 festivus as I don't know all that much about them.

 

[Katchan]

As long as they are all about the same size when you get them should be good, to much size difference could lead to agression/stress problems. What size is the oscar?

Andrew

 

[Nevergone815]

As long as they are all about the same size when you get them should be good, to much size difference could lead to agression/stress problems. What size is the oscar?

Andrew

I don't think the oscar is going to go into that tank...

 

[Castellop123]

Sounds Ok...

 

[caboose_122]

it sounds fine, but i have never seen a keyhole get over 2 inches and they look best in groups of 3+ but thats just me but yeah it sounds fine

 

[rixy]

sounds a nice mix.you cut put more in as juvies and the pick your favourites/ones that get on etc as they grow.the keyhole will be the smallest by quite a bit so be a bit careful.what are you going to have for the bottom of the tankwhat about a couple of bichirs

 

[DiscusAngel]

I currently have one 75 gallon tank with one Oscar. I would like to start a community tank with South American Cichlids. I am only in the planning stages right now, but I would like to know what size tank would I need to keep the following fish:

1. Green Severum (one)
2. Blue Acara (one)
3. Firemouth (one)
4. Keyhole Cichlid (one)
5. Festivus (five)
6. Salvin's Cichlid (one)

Do you think a 125 gallon tank would be big enough for all those fish once they become full grown?

interesting mix, personally i think it wouldnt be fair on the keyholes or the fetivums as there not tht aggresive and as big as all the others.

Heres what i would have in a 125g

1. 2 Sevs (Green or Gold)
2. 1 Blue Acara
3. 1 Firemouth
4. 1 Female Convict
5. 2 Salvin
6. 1 Pleco. Maybe a gibby as you have enough room for one.

gl

 

[LisaLQ]

Depends on the dimensions more than anything for the gibby. A 125g would be no good if it was only 1ft wide, but if it were 2ft it'd be ok. 18" would do for a smaller specimen, but once they hit 12"+ it'd be pushing it - they're chunky plecs that have a hard time turning, my 15" one couldn't turn in an 18" wide (135g) tank so we had to rehome him. As they can get to 18-24" (although 18" is the norm), I wouldn't go for anything smaller than a 2ft wide for a permanent home

As for the cichlid inhabitants stocking level, I think you'd be pushing it with 5 festivums. Maybe one or two, but 5 would be really pushing the amount of territory each fish would have with all those others in there. And keyholes might be a bit small - although if you were adamant about getting keyholes, I'd pick a group of them (maybe doing without the festivums), as they prefer to be in groups and are smaller.

What are the dimensions of the tank? I'd probably go for:

Green Severum (one)
Firemouth (one)
Keyhole Cichlid (three) or two female convicts
Festivus (two)
Salvin's Cichlid (one)

I'm not sure about the salvini as I've never kept them (and I think they're quite feisty if I remember rightly?), and from personal experience, the festivums aren't as peaceful as they're made out to be (mine killed and/or maimed several fish in my tank - including some very expensive and well armoured plecs) - so the quieter keyholes might not be the best choice? A couple of female convicts instead would be ok

I took the blue acara off the list as I hear they're quite boisterous too, but if you got convicts instead of keyholes, you might get away with it.

But really, stocking advice for cichlid tanks isn't really the be all and end all. All cichlids are different - you could end up with a scaredy cat firemouth, or an arsey severum, and it'd throw your whole plan out. Only way to find out for sure is to try it - and have a spare tank and/or divider handy

 

[cheesy feet]

I would say for 125 gallons that would be an excellent set up!

 

[Winston Smith]

First, I would like to thank everyone for thier very helpful responses. Second, I have not purchased anything yet. Like I said I am only in the planning stages, however, I have had a blast with my Oscar and having a cichlid community tank is something I want to do. I would be willing to trade the Keyhole Cichlid and the Festivum for Convicts, however, I read that Convicts are highly aggressive and do not do well in a community tank. I also like the idea of trading the Festivum for Keyhole Cichlids. Would eliminating the Festivum and aquiring 6 Keyhole Cichlilds work? The Firemouth, the Severum, the Blue Acara, and Salvin's Cichlid are the fish I really want, and I am willing to build the tank to fit the needs of these fish.

 

[DiscusAngel]

Keyholes are the biggest wimps in the cichlid range i know! i really think you may end up wth missin keyholes. and on convicts, they are aggressive when spawning. if you hae females there won be much aggression not as muc as the acara or the firmouth th giveby them selves. so i would get this now...

1 or 2 Sevs (Up to you) (Personally 2)
1 blue acara
1 firemouth
2 female convicts
1 Salvini

i think that is a more suitable stocking.

 

[Nevergone815]

Keyholes are the biggest wimps in the cichlid range i know! i really think you may end up wth missin keyholes. and on convicts, they are aggressive when spawning. if you hae females there won be much aggression not as muc as the acara or the firmouth th giveby them selves. so i would get this now...

1 or 2 Sevs (Up to you) (Personally 2)
1 blue acara
1 firemouth
2 female convicts
1 Salvini

i think that is a more suitable stocking.

Being as these are all of your favorite fish (with the addition of convicts), I'd say this is your best bet. Convicts, like already said, only get really bad if there is a breeding pair. 2 males would work, But you might have more aggression. Personally, I would follow this blueprint. TBO, I was never that keen on festivum or keyholes, that's probably why I never kept them nor did much research on them, but that is just me. I'm honestly a HUGE convict fan!!!

 

[severum boy]

i have never seen a keyhole get over 2 inches and they look best in groups of 3+

My male is now at around 4", but he wont be getting much bigger than that. I also prefer to keep them in groups, it gives them a *bit* more confidence.

 

[Winston Smith]

Keyholes are the biggest wimps in the cichlid range i know! i really think you may end up wth missin keyholes. and on convicts, they are aggressive when spawning. if you hae females there won be much aggression not as muc as the acara or the firmouth th giveby them selves. so i would get this now...

1 or 2 Sevs (Up to you) (Personally 2)
1 blue acara
1 firemouth
2 female convicts
1 Salvini

i think that is a more suitable stocking.

I like your stocking suggestion and that is the setup I think I will go for. I like Convicts much better than Keyhole Cichlids and Festivum. The only reason I did not pick a Convict in my original setup is because I was worried about the aggression issue. As to Plecos, I do like Plecos, but I read they are big poop machines, (Some people tell me they are even bigger poop machines than Oscars!) so I will just clean the algae off the sides of my tank when I do a water changes. Now I guess it is time to wait for my bonus check at the end of May. I cannot wait to get started!! I would like to again thank everyone for thier thoughtful suggestions.