90 Gallon Tank New 90 Gallon South American Cichlid Tank Journal

[RyBamJo]

Hi All,

I am starting a thread to Journal my progress on my new 4ft Tank so please feel free to follow along and let me know your thoughts!

I am running a 500W heater and a Fluval FX4. I started the cycle on the 10th of September and will leave running for another few weeks before adding fish.

My thoughts on stocking options:
I have done quite a lot of thinking about what fish I wanted in here and spoke to many people here for suggestions and I think I landed on a South American Cichlid Tank. I've always loved brightly coloured fish with contrasting colours so I am planning (if I can get one locally) on starting with an Electric Blue Jack Dempsey and an exotic medium-sized pleco (suggestions welcome for variants). Once they are slightly larger I would very much like to get an Oscar to accommodate them but failing that I am looking at a single or pair of Salvini Cichlids. I know an Oscar would do better in a 125+ but I think for a couple of years it would do fine in a 4ft and I do have plans and space to upgrade to a 6ft tank in the not-so-distant future so if they outgrow that tank I will have a backup. That's what I have settled on for now but I am welcome to other suggestions if anyone has any ideas

Aquascape:
Based on the stocking options I'm looking at I went with a grey sand with a nice mix of black and white thrown in. Managed to get a few pieces of driftwood (if anyone knows the species please let me know) second-hand from someone shutting down their tank not far from me which I have arranged in the centre. The pieces I managed to get have plenty of smaller holes which I'm going to plant some Anubias nana in for a splash of green as I don't think I'll stand much chance with substrate plants with the stocking I'm going for! I will keep a look out for some more driftwood as I would like potentially another piece to build up the centre but I do like that it gives plenty of swimming space at the top of the water column but doesn't offer much in the way of breaking sightlines really especially once the fish put some size on.

Overall Thoughts:
I am really happy with the way it turned out and pleasantly surprised with the Hickory finish to the cabinet itself as I wasn't able to see it in person before ordering. The substrate I am really pleased with and I think it compliments the browns from the wood along with the green plants (when I put them in) as well as hopefully some darker coloured fish. I am really looking forward to seeing this tank develop and getting the fish in a few weeks just got to keep the tank cycling and find a store with the fish I'm after!

I will be adding a black background the tank shortly as well so I will make sure to update the photos once this is done!

Please feel free to let me know any feedback/suggestions you have and hopefully, you enjoy some of the photos below of the process to get it set up!

 

[Leeman75]

I'm watching this...
I love my SA Ciclid tank (75 gallon) and think you've made a great choice there! The tank and cabinet are gorgeous!!

I recently have been kind of enamored with the EBJDs myself, but don't have the space for one. I'm not really into Oscars personally...kind of a been there, done that thing. But they are interesting fish and it always drew a crowd when I fed mine live goldfish! If it were my tank, I'd maybe consider a some Geophagus instead of the Oscar...but you've got to stay true to your opinions and wants!

I love the driftwood and sand in the tank! I think you have a great start and am excited to watch your progress!

 

[RyBamJo]

Thanks, appreciate the kind words!

I have definitely considered foregoing the Oscar for some other fish which is why I want to get the EBJD in first and see how I'm feeling in 4-6 months or so! I have certainly taken a look at some Geophagus in my LFS but I'm not completely sold on them (yet). I have taken a liking to the Firemouth Cichlids and I think that the Grey/Black body with that Red belly could look super nice in this tank as well!

I kept Oscars a long time ago before I moved house and REALLY enjoyed them but sadly when I relocated I had to sell the 180 Gallon they were in along with them before they really managed to get to full size and I feel like I missed out on that experience. They were amazing to keep and loved the personalities they had which is why I think I'm leaning towards one again but you never know I may get enough out of the Jack Dempsey we will have to see!

 

[Leeman75]

Oscars do have a personality...for sure. Most SA Cichlids do, but I will agree that the Oscars are at the top of the list for that!

Geos are fun and colorful! I have 3 in my 75. If I had a fish room with a bunch of big tanks, I would definitely have a species only big tank with 6-10 of them. But, my SA Community tank works for now.

Firemouths are interesting fish. I've had them and you can see a full-spectrum of behavior from them depending on the tankmates. I had a couple with an adult Severum and the bigger one got bullied constantly by the Severum. Got rid of the Severum and the FM became a bully to the entire tank, including to 2 EBAs that were as big as him! So, I had to get rid of him. It was hard because he was a beautiful fish!!

 

[RyBamJo]

Oscars do have a personality...for sure. Most SA Cichlids do, but I will agree that the Oscars are at the top of the list for that!

Geos are fun and colorful! I have 3 in my 75. If I had a fish room with a bunch of big tanks, I would definitely have a species only big tank with 6-10 of them. But, my SA Community tank works for now.

Firemouths are interesting fish. I've had them and you can see a full-spectrum of behavior from them depending on the tankmates. I had a couple with an adult Severum and the bigger one got bullied constantly by the Severum. Got rid of the Severum and the FM became a bully to the entire tank, including to 2 EBAs that were as big as him! So, I had to get rid of him. It was hard because he was a beautiful fish!!

The joys of keeping Cichlids hey! Can't predict their behaviour at all

I'm hopefully going to be building an outhouse at some point (Even if its really small) and putting some tanks in there and I definitely think a species only Geo tank would be amazing! I'd love to take a stab at some breeding as well!

 

[86 ssinit]

Been years since I has an Sa cichlids tank. Thing I remember is must add them together. Most of these fish are aggressive. Adding new fish to established tanks is a disaster. Remove it fish cane be a disaster. For me I had 2 Dempsey’s 2 firemouths a common pleco an Oscar and a geo. Bought all at the 2” size and they went into the tank together. The Oscar was the only one I had to remove. It was getting way to abused. But in a 55 it did great by itself. The rest got along fine for many years. Fun tank and or but these fish in good conditions live very long. The Dempsey’s raised a brood of fry to 2”. Sold to pet store. So plan to have them for a long time!!

 

[RyBamJo]

Been years since I has an Sa cichlids tank. Thing I remember is must add them together. Most of these fish are aggressive. Adding new fish to established tanks is a disaster. Remove it fish cane be a disaster. For me I had 2 Dempsey’s 2 firemouths a common pleco an Oscar and a geo. Bought all at the 2” size and they went into the tank together. The Oscar was the only one I had to remove. It was getting way to abused. But in a 55 it did great by itself. The rest got along fine for many years. Fun tank and or but these fish in good conditions live very long. The Dempsey’s raised a brood of fry to 2”. Sold to pet store. So plan to have them for a long time!!

Thanks for the advice! I spoke to my LFS and they have managed to get me an Electric Blue JD which I'm going to get later in the week but I didn't think about adding the rest of them all at the same time so I might wait till the weekend and go looking for the others I'm after. Firemouth Cichlids are a definite for me! I like the look of the Macaw Cichlids and the Rainbows as well as some smaller fish for the tank!

I'll be sure to post some photos when I pick them up!

 

[TClare]

There seems to be a bit of confusion here. Jack Dempseys, salvinis and firemouths are Central American not South American. Oscars, severums and Geophagus are South American. Ideally they require different water conditions. Several different South American species can be kept together but many Central American species are more aggressive towards other cichlids. I think a 4ft long tank is too small for a group of Geophagus or an Oscar when they are both mature.

 

[RyBamJo]

There seems to be a bit of confusion here. Jack Dempseys, salvinis and firemouths are Central American not South American. Oscars, severums and Geophagus are South American. Ideally they require different water conditions. Several different South American species can be kept together but many Central American species are more aggressive towards other cichlids. I think a 4ft long tank is too small for a group of Geophagus or an Oscar when they are both mature.

Ahh okay, I see, in which case I think I am sticking with Central Americans (not going for the Oscar as I think I would want a 6ft tank as a minimum really). I am definitely getting a JD so the Firemouths and Salvinis are okay?

Out of curiosity, does it matter much in terms of water parameters if you mix CA and SA cichlids if they are all tank-bred? I've seen conflicting viewpoints on whether or not it's really important to match their wild conditions versus just having very good stable water conditions. If it is an issue I don't mind sticking to CA as I think that's what I'm going to do anyway It is more for my own knowledge

 

[TClare]

Out of curiosity, does it matter much in terms of water parameters if you mix CA and SA cichlids if they are all tank-bred?

Obviously tank bred fish are not going to be as sensitive as wild caught ones, and some people do mix CA and SA species, but is not ideal. For example soft water, South American, species are far more susceptible to diseases such as Hole in the Head, as well as other bacterial and fungal infections, when kept in hard water. They have not evolved the resistance to pathogens that do not normally occur in the soft water they originate from. General health, colour and condition will always be best in water as close as possible to their natural conditions. If you get firemouths, Salvini and JD while juvenile they will probably be Ok for a while, but be prepared to move any individuals in the future if necessary, as serious aggression is always a possibility with these species.

 

[86 ssinit]

That is the main thing:serious aggression! Read up on these fish. Aggression can happen at any time. They are all solo fish in the wild and predators. Not school fish.

 

[TClare]

Firemouths do actually live in groups (of their own species) the others not, so yes very important to watch what is going on.

 

[RyBamJo]

Firemouths do actually live in groups (of their own species) the others not, so yes very important to watch what is going on.

Thanks guys,

I will be sure to keep an eye on them all and scape the tank with plenty of sight line breaks and caves etc.

Does the evidence lean itself towards them having less aggression issues if they are raised together as juveniles or in general does it not matter too much and more down to the individual once they mature?

I have no problem moving troublesome individuals if need be later on once they mature, I'm always looking for a reason to get a new tank

 

[TClare]

Usually juveniles get on fine together, but as they mature they are likely to become more territorial and aggressive, sometimes one will be dominant or sometimes one will be picked on by the rest , or two that both want to be dominant might fight. It will depend to an extent on the individuals.

 

[RyBamJo]

Usually juveniles get on fine together, but as they mature they are likely to become more territorial and aggressive, sometimes one will be dominant or sometimes one will be picked on by the rest , or two that both want to be dominant might fight. It will depend to an extent on the individuals.

Great thanks,

Appreciate the tips!

 

[RyBamJo]

Hi All,

Apologies for lack of updates life took over and never managed to find the time to come back and update this thread! Good news is I've had the tank up and running for a while and had little to no issues apart from 1 hiccup while I was away on holiday and a friend was looking after the tank. Going to start a new Thread with a dump of photos of the fish I went for and the variety of scapes I have changed along the way