Flowerhorn Cichlid with divider, yes or no?

Hi everyone, so recently I just got into aquariums and decided to jump head first right into the deep end. So I got a 72 gallon bowfront tank with two filters, two heaters, etc. My dream was to put a flowerhorn cichlid in there, but once I realized that he would be the only thing that I would be able to keep in there, I became a little discouraged with that dream and decided to get a bunch of "peaceful" fish (angelfish, gouramis, danios, pleco, etc) I also have a really small tiger oscar cichlid in there, but he's really docile so there haven't been any problems. I just found out though that I can buy a divider for my tank to seperate a flowerhorn from all of my other fish. I'm just worried that the divider will fail and I'll wake up to a tank of murdered fish and a big flowerhorn just staring happily at me. Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? Because I can't really find anything on the internet about this specifically. Also the flowerhorn I'd like to get is at least 7-8 inches, so i'm afraid that if he really wants to get through the divider, he will.

 

For a divider, I don’t have experience with using those for that species. I would note, however, the oscar will likely be the only thing you can keep in that tank once it is grown. They get 12” to 18” (roughly the size of a dinner plate).

If you really want a flowerhorn, I wouldn’t be too discouraged about not being able to get other fish. You could always set up another tank as a community later!

 

For a divider, I don’t have experience with using those for that species. I would note, however, the oscar will likely be the only thing you can keep in that tank once it is grown. They get 12” to 18” (roughly the size of a dinner plate).

If you really want a flowerhorn, I wouldn’t be too discouraged about not being able to get other fish. You could always set up another tank as a community later!

I know that eventually the oscar will be the only thing that can fit in there, but since he's still super small (probably less than 3 inches), it'll take a couple years at least for him to get some size and by then maybe I'll have a better solution worked out by then. The reason I want to put a divider in is because 1) its a lot cheaper than buying a whole new tank + accessories and 2) I don't have space for another tank as well atm. I just really want a flowerhorn so I'm trying to think of the cheapest option I can find, since the flowerhorn by itself is already fairly spendy.

 

I know that eventually the oscar will be the only thing that can fit in there, but since he's still super small (probably less than 3 inches), it'll take a couple years at least for him to get some size and by then maybe I'll have a better solution worked out by then. The reason I want to put a divider in is because 1) its a lot cheaper than buying a whole new tank + accessories and 2) I don't have space for another tank as well atm. I just really want a flowerhorn so I'm trying to think of the cheapest option I can find, since the flowerhorn by itself is already fairly spendy.

Gottcha. Hopefully someone comes along who has experience with that species. With my limited knowledge, I want to say that the divider would have to be siliconed in place and you may need to cut a custom one due to the curve of the bowfront.

 

Speaking from experience, any large fish (especially SA cichlids) will require more than a store-bought divider. I'd silicone it into place, and probably use a pretty strong material. I once had a flowerhorn break through a glass lid - that same fish also broke down a divider I made out of eggcrate. Just broke through the plastic. They're beastly fish.

 

Speaking from experience, any large fish (especially SA cichlids) will require more than a store-bought divider. I'd silicone it into place, and probably use a pretty strong material. I once had a flowerhorn break through a glass lid - that same fish also broke down a divider I made out of eggcrate. Just broke through the plastic. They're beastly fish.

What strong material do you suggest?

 

I'd probably take a piece of acrylic and silicone it into place. You could drill holes into it to allow for water flow.

 

I'd probably take a piece of acrylic and silicone it into place. You could drill holes into it to allow for water flow.

The only problem with that is that I would have to drain the entire tank to silicone it into place, so like should I put all my fish in a bucket or something?