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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| 200L quandry
Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum.
I have a 200L 200gh, 80 kh, 7.0ph, n2 0, n3 40, 80F
I had 2 african cichlids, bumble bee and psuedetrophus, 2 Silver dollars. The tank was set up about 6 years ago and still had the original stocking fish.
However just recently, about 2 weeks ago, my cichlids died of unexplained causes. The Silver dollars are just fine and are about 5 inches. A common plec I added about 1 year ago is also fine and is about 8 inches and growing. All of these guys grew up together and I had no problems with any aggressiveness.
With the passing of my buddies the cichlids  I went looking for some new tank mates. Went to LFS who said, there is nothing I can put in the tank because the SD's will kill it, Cichlids can't survive in 7.0ph, though they did fine for 6 years and LFS can't explain why they survived so long any way, I asked about putting in Severns, again LFS says I can't do anything. Severns won't survive because of water chem and SD's. The LFS is an independent shop and has been in this area for 30+ years under same owner. I am confused, I originally got the cichlids from LFS and got the SD,s because they are suppose to get along with most of the smaller cichlids from SA or African. 200L tank with 3 fish and according to LFS can't add anything, tank is overstocked, I am uncomfortable with the LFS remarks because it seems to run counter to what I have read about Cichlids yet this LFS has been in the bussines a long time. Suggestions as to what I should do, could do, or should not do. Major quantry
Ottofish | 
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| welcome to fishlore ottofish!!
Im sorry for the loss of you fish and I agree with you ..the LFS is a bit weird on advice ...sd's probably did NOT kill your cichilds...they are very passive fish and about the only thing ive seen them kill, is a plant ....the NH3 is a bit high so that could have done it or maybe they were just old? 6 years is a great life for them....especially in a lower pH..so I dont think it was anything you did....as far as restocking it, theres a ton of fish that could go there...are you gearing towards africans again? or some others? | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| IMHO, your tank is stocked to the max with a common pleco (which produces huge amounts of waste) and 5 silver dollars. Your tank is around 52 gallons, so let's take a look at the inches of fish you already have in the tank:
1 Pleco: 24 inches
5 Silver Dollars: 25 inches
That is almost 50 inches of fish in your tank already.
However, the LFS was wrong about cichlids surviving in 7.0 pH. What kind of cichlids did you have in the tank before? South American cichlids do great in a neutral pH. Also, silver dollars are not aggressive fish, and they would never kill another fish in the tank. If you want to add more fish to the tank though, I would advise re-homing the pleco and that would open up a lot of stocking options for you  | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| didnt see the plec in there ..oops sorry about that... | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Oops! I didn't read your post well enough before. Sorry! Currently this is what you are looking at:
2 Silver Dollars: 10 inches
1 Pleco: 24 inches
Total: 34 inches
This leaves you with about 24 inches of fish to stock. I wouldn't recommend having Africans in a 7.0 pH (except for Kribs). You could also maybe add a blue acara, keyholes, angels, or most other SA cichlids (as long as they don't get to large). | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Hi Ottofish, I can't help with your quandary, I don't have experience with your kinds of fish.
I can only add that many fish can adapt to a wide range of ph's if acclimated slowly or were raised in a similar ph as yours. Don't know if this is true in your case with your types of fish.
Anyway, I wanted to say welcome.
The members have a wide range of knowledge, I'm sure someone will have some suggestions.
Enjoy the forum.
Edit: Dang, I'm slow lol  | 
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Welcome to Fish Lore Otto.  | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| Quote:
Originally Posted by Shawnie  welcome to fishlore ottofish!!
Im sorry for the loss of you fish and I agree with you ..the LFS is a bit weird on advice ...sd's probably did NOT kill your cichilds...they are very passive fish and about the only thing ive seen them kill, is a plant ....the nh3 is a bit high so that could have done it or maybe they were just old? 6 years is a great life for them....especially in a lower ph..so I dont think it was anything you did....as far as restocking it, theres a ton of fish that could go there...are you gearing towards africans again? or some others? | Yes, I am looking at africans or SA. No oscars or dempsey. I was thinking about severum blue or gold. I understand they are suppose to do well in lower PH. Also, maybe jewel. I am trying to stay with a cichlids that don't grow more than 5 or 6 inches. I will be adding only 2 other suggestions are welcomed.
Ottofish | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| I think you will be fine with the severum size wise....and your ph is adaptable by alot of fish...the only ones that like the higher ph are your africans that you lost but again, they lived 6 years so who knows...slowly acclimating fish is important as well as a stable ph and not one that changes often...but I do agree with MTS..if you keep your plec, your stocking would have to be less because of his waste ...goodluck in whatever you decide! | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMTS Oops! I didn't read your post well enough before. Sorry! Currently this is what you are looking at:
2 Silver Dollars: 10 inches
1 Pleco: 24 inches
Total: 34 inches
This leaves you with about 24 inches of fish to stock. I wouldn't recommend having Africans in a 7.0 pH (except for Kribs). You could also maybe add a blue acara, keyholes, angels, or most other SA cichlids (as long as they don't get to large). | Does this mean I could stock, up to 4 smaller cichlids? This could enlarge my plans. I am used to keeping my fish alive for quite some time, even my 20g still has all of the same fish I put in it a year ago and seem to be doing well. I don't know how I do it! It just happens! I really like all my fish to get along and for the most part the seem to.
Ottofish | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Yes, you could probably stock 4 smaller cichlids. A tank your size might be a tight squeeze for a severum though. I have seen some huge ones that are 12 inches in size  | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMTS Yes, you could probably stock 4 smaller cichlids. A tank your size might be a tight squeeze for a severum though. I have seen some huge ones that are 12 inches in size |  no kidding!! ive never seen one that big so kate would know | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| Yikes! I did not realize that severums could get that big!
The response is really good and is giving me more things to consider. Thankyou for generous response, every post I read gives me more options and thoughts, Keep them coming!
ottofish | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| Would it be possible for a list of SA cichlids that would fit some of the suggestions here?
Ottofish
"I don't need a therapist, I have my fish!" | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| Quote:
Originally Posted by ottofish Would it be possible for a list of SA cichlids that would fit some of the suggestions here?
Ottofish
"I don't need a therapist, I have my fish!" | love your saYing hahaha and its so true!! ...well you could have some angels with your SD's they are great tank mates.. | |
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May 8th, 2009
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| | Fish Lore Newbie
| As I bounce around this board I am begining to think about getting 2 angels or maybe 1 angel and 1 other SA cichlid.
Ottofish
" The depth is increasing, I begining to feel the pressure." | |
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