90 gallon with 20 gallon sump build

Any advice on ideas for this size aquarium? I’ve done nano reefs, to 100+ gallon reefs to 55 planted etc etc so I’m quite familiar. Getting a free 90 gallon with sump from a friend of mine and can’t decide what I want to do with it. I know I want to make it DIY as much as I possibly can. I know I’ll probably need to get a canister filter but other than what’s there, the canister, maybe a power head depending what I put in it, and a heater I want to do it myself. Already plan on building my own 3D background with help from a friend of mine who’s a clay sculpting artist for GM. I also am going to custom build an aquarium hood for it.

Enough with my background, I want it to be freshwater of course. Deciding between a few ideas.
1. getting 8 piranha and making it an amazon basin design.
2. Getting 1 or 2 oscars or similar
3. Making it a planted aquarium with community fish (this one could get especially expensive with CO2 and lighting)
4. African Mbuna or hap/peacock tank but super unfamiliar
5. A planted discus aquarium.
6. For number six I'm looking for opinions. I’ve done community in every tank I’ve ever done and besides the African cichlids because of how colorful they are I’m willing to make an exception.

 

First question to make sure, your local laws allow a pirahna to be kept in captivity?

I think you should do a wild angelfish tank.

Or a asian themes tank with gouramis, loaches and rasboras.
Or a south american themed tank with apistogramma ,pencilfish, tetras and cories.

I'm interested to see how it finishes out

 

Yep piranhas are legal. I’m really looking for something super unique. I like the other ideas for a second or third tank when I have the money but for now I want this one to really feel like pets more so than having like 40 smaller fish I can’t remember which is which lol

 

Yep piranhas are legal. I’m really looking for something super unique. I like the other ideas for a second or third tank when I have the money but for now I want this one to really feel like pets more so than having like 40 smaller fish I can’t remember which is which lol

Ok, I see no problem with piranhas. I am not sure on care for them but I would research on them and find out what species can be housed in your tank.

 

How about a South American tank with some color?


Geophagus + Severums + Electric Blue Acara



* 5-7 Geophagus WinemillerI or Geophagus Red Head Tapajos

*3 Severums, either mixed or all the same: Red Spotted, Red Shoulder, Gold

* 2-3 Electric Blue Acara


An Amazing Community Fish! Electric Blue Acara Care and Breeding Link to video


Throw an Aquaclear 110 on the 90g along with that sump and you'll be set.

 

How about a South American tank with some color?

Geophagus + Severums + Electric Blue Acara
* 5-7 Geophagus WinemillerI or Geophagus Red Head Tapajos
*3 Severums, either mixed or all the same: Red Spotted, Red Shoulder, Gold
* 2-3 Electric Blue Acara

Throw an Aquaclear 110 on the 90 gallon along with that sump and you'll be set.

Wow those fins are amazing! Beautiful fish. Thank you so much!

 

Yep, no prob !

 

Yep, no prob !

You either saying in can do the 5-7 haps or 3 Severum?

 

What kind of Piranha? I only ones I kind of know are about Red Bellied and I don't think 90 would be big enough for a group. What are the dimensions?

 

What kind of Piranha? I only ones I kind of know are about Red Bellied and I don't think 90 would be big enough for a group. What are the dimensions?

Red belly or Caribe. It’s 48” Long, 18” deep and 24” tall

 

Red belly or Caribe. It’s 48” Long, 18” deep and 24” tall

Definitely wouldn't do Red Bellied, they can get a foot long and like you where going to do need to be in a group I'm not sure about the other.

Maybe try and get hold of Snakeskin Gourami (can get 10 inches but 6-8 is more common) and a species of Mystus Catfish.

 

A sump and a canister? I was under the impression with a sump you don’t need any other filter.

 

Yep, no prob !

I really like the geophagus! Can I keep 3 wines and 3 red heads? Or maybe 4 and 4. Do you know any plants native to their native water?

 

The geos would do better with their own species.

I think if you can find wimple piranhas you could do those.

 

The Red Head Tapajos when fully grown out to 5 - 6" and I think show colors quicker.

The WinemillerI are larger and get up to 8" and I think (dont quote me) take a little longer to color up.

I've wanted to keep them in the past and did a lot of research last year on them. From what I recall seeing, I think the would do fine together if you wanted to mix them. They aren't aggressive and are generally peaceful. I had wanted to put 5 Tapajos in my 75 gallon at one point, but want able to relocate the community fish in there at that time.

If I had a 90g like yours, I probably would stick to one or the other, but lean towards the Tapajos because they don't grow as long. Although either one would probably prefer a 125g at 6ft long, the shorter Tapajo wouldn't be as cramped in a 4ft tank versus the longer Winemilleri.

Both of those geophagus are good tank mates with the severums, aka the "poor man's discus". Ha.

The severums will get around 6"-8". So when figuring out stocking, consider all the sizes your fish will eventually get to.

If you choose geophagus, severums and/or blue acara, I would suggest to look into sourcing them online from a reputable breeder. Big box stores may carry them, but they strains may be weaker. You can probably be able to request m/f from online sources as well. My friend and I have ordered African cichlids from Imperial Tropicals in Florida last year a couple of times, and the orders were always correct and we received healthy fish.

As for plants, maybe post a separate question in the Plants section of the forum. I don't think the geophagus will eat the plants, but try to plant them in clay pots or glue them to drift wood. Having the roots in the substrate wouldn't work too well, since the geophagus will tend to move around the substrate and disrupt any roots .

When people think of South American tanks, most people equate Oscars, Jack Dempsey, Texas, Dovi, Convicts etc etc. Nothing against the big boy SA cichlids, but in my opinion a tank full of geophagus with some severums looks classy.

 

The Red Head Tapajos when fully grown out to 5 - 6" and I think show colors quicker.

The WinemillerI are larger and get up to 8" and I think (dont quote me) take a little longer to color up.

I've wanted to keep them in the past and did a lot of research last year on them. From what I recall seeing, I think the would do fine together if you wanted to mix them. They aren't aggressive and are generally peaceful. I had wanted to put 5 Tapajos in my 75 gallon at one point, but want able to relocate the community fish in there at that time.

If I had a 90 gallon like yours, I probably would stick to one or the other, but lean towards the Tapajos because they don't grow as long. Although either one would probably prefer a 125g at 6ft long, the shorter Tapajo wouldn't be as cramped in a 4ft tank versus the longer Winemilleri.

Both of those geophagus are good tank mates with the severums, aka the "poor man's discus". Ha.

The severums will get around 6"-8". So when figuring out stocking, consider all the sizes your fish will eventually get to.

If you choose geophagus, severums and/or blue acara, I would suggest to look into sourcing them online from a reputable breeder. Big box stores may carry them, but they strains may be weaker. You can probably be able to request m/f from online sources as well. My friend and I have ordered African cichlids from Imperial Tropicals in Florida last year a couple of times, and the orders were always correct and we received healthy fish.

As for plants, maybe post a separate question in the Plants section of the forum. I don't think the geophagus will eat the plants, but try to plant them in clay pots or glue them to drift wood. Having the roots in the substrate wouldn't work too well, since the geophagus will tend to move around the substrate and disrupt any roots .

When people think of South American tanks, most people equate Oscars, Jack Dempsey, Texas, Dovi, Convicts etc etc. Nothing against the big boy SA cichlids, but in my opinion a tank full of geophagus with some severums looks classy.

Awesome info! Thank you so much for the idea I’d never would have heard of them. I’m definitely going to be putting a fish species you have to special order and isn’t as common in the hobby!

 

Keep us posted how your new build goes !