150 Gallon Tank Planted SA tank with Oscar, Discus and Severum

Hey everyone,
I want to create something like SA biotope.

I just got my 525 litres and I want it planted (with anubias, javafern, maybe jungle val, floating hornwort, and pothos.)
I already have to put on the tank:

7 Geophagus winemillerI and surinamensis.
150 Electric blue Acaras I might get down to 4-6.
9 Angelfish that I might get down to 4-6 as well.

But I wanted a big eye catcher for center piece, I thought about these 3 options:
3 Oscars or 8 to 10 Discus or 5 Heros severus(still deciding between gold, red or rotkeil)

What I took from what I hear and my research.

*Oscars: Quite colorful, cool powerful look, can learn how to be in a community if grown in there. BUT grow massive, massive bioload, might just be crazy and shred all my plants and all my fish.

*Severum: Big, colorful and peaceful. BUT doesn't show as much color until almost adult, is my least favorite shape, and might attack any plant I put in there.

*Discus: Plant safe, really colorful, is smaller so I can keep on a school, also my favorite shape. BUT could be out-competed for food, needs higher temperature, easy to spook, and I don't like the anxiety of "They are not getting to the food, are they eating enough? Am I about to kill 200 bucks of fish because I couldn't thoroughly gravel vac last week...?"

I want to hear what you guys think would be the best choice, what you could add and correct, or maybe even suggest another big South american fish that would fit my built better.

Thanks a lot!

 

I have a group of Rotkiel Severus that. Am growing out. Their tank is well planted with vals, crypts and anubias and they don’t bother them at all. I would do Rotkeil!

 

I highly doubt oscars would work well in this community...they would likely pummel the other fish and definitely would destroy your plants. Can't comment on the other two.

 

Out of those three I'd only consider severums personally. Discus can be hard, and mixing them with angels is controversial from what I've seen. With that stock though your water change plan is not likely to work long term. Especially if you decide to go ahead on multiple Oscars.

 

I have a group of Rotkiel Severus that. Am growing out. Their tank is well planted with vals, crypts and anubias and they don’t bother them at all. I would do Rotkeil!

What's is their size? And could you send photos here?

them with angels

I know right, but the plants x Severum combination is almost always with the Severum eating the plants. On the other side I even saw people keeping adult Oscars with discus so I am having problems to decide....

I highly doubt oscars would work well in this community...they would likely pummel the other fish and definitely would destroy your plants. Can't comment on the other two.

Your Oscars also eat your pants?

 

I bought 4. Joe Gargas sent me 10 that were thumbnail size in May. The largest are about 4 inches now. Color isn’t great yet. I have hope

 

Quickly I would say no to discus or atleast say goodbye to your money first !
Oscars only if that is what you want to end up with or focus on rehoming ..
Hate to say since you mentioned rehoming some fish but you are pretty stocked already ..
I noted a comment on water changes but did not see what your schedule is ??
Too many think big tanks make life easier ..50% is 50% big or little I know as I have 2 1/2g tanks and 180g..You can guess which is easier to maintain??

 

Oscars and discus won’t work. Temp is to far apart. Yes people may say they do it. But don’t believe it . Your best bet is severums. Some severums in store by me

 

If you do Severus study them a little. There is a large variance in potential size. The parents of my Rotkiel were bred in 17 gallon tanks. I expect mine to finish in the 6-7 inch range based on what the breeder to me

 

Oscars and discus won’t work. Temp is to far apart. Yes people may say they do it. But don’t believe it . Your best bet is severums. Some severums in store by meView attachment 629106

They look neat, but I literally already saw angelfish, Oscars and discus together lol

Color isn’t great yet

My choice was Severus but that's my fear after 2 years I'm still with a group of big grey banded fish, that might do, might not eat my plants.

Oscars only if that is what you want to end up with or focus on rehoming ..

I don't understand do you think the tank will get too small for them? Or I need a plan B in case the Oscar go rogue?

You can guess which is easier to maintain??

If I had to take a guess it will be the 50% on the half gallon. LoL

 

Good luck to you. I’m sure you will make the choice that makes the most sense

 

If you do Severus study them a little. There is a large variance in potential size. The parents of my Rotkiel were bred in 17 gallon tanks. I expect mine to finish in the 6-7 inch range based on what the breeder to me

I've been looking into it, I have read that most on the aquarium trade are cross breed
what ppl call green Severum can range from a lot of colors and they don't easily pair up
and the cross breed fry tend to be fragile.
And they eat
that's why I wanted just a group of one type, still deciding between gold, red or rotkeil.

 

They look neat, but I literally already saw angelfish, Oscars and discus together lol

I don't understand do you think the tank will get too small for them? Or I need a plan B in case the Oscar go rogue?

If I had to take a guess it will be the 50% on the half gallon. LoL

I'll respond in order to your above remarks and am not trying to seem against everything ..I set my 180g up with a 5 year plan. I have done this now 'a couple' times .
I have kept fish for over 30 years so like to plan ahead now [I have 16 clown loaches some maybe older then you !]..

Just because you see something once does not mean long term it works ..I have myself kept some pretty wrongly stocked tanks ..The fish and I paid for those lessons. My list of mistakes is probably longer then my accomplishments...Had no net back when I was starting ..

The best Oscar keepers I know Dawn Michele and a girl named Laurie from another forum keep their single Oscar in a 6 foot tank ..
Yea I think the fish will overwhelm your tank if you think it is for more then them ..They sure won't share your sediments ..It is for them and they can't hear you !

Bingo ! How do plan on changing water ? what is your filter ..
My 180 is automated so I can change 60-120g in about 6-10 minutes ..
Aquavisor has me at 230% stocked .. Your tanks is loaded already..Take it from a guy that knows !
Just for giggles you ought to plug in your ideas to aquavisor !!!! Start with just what you have already or just 6 Oscars in a 150....
I don't think you will like what they say ..They are not the end all be all but ?

All that being said I trust the two who said severums so follow mbkemp and Feohw advise on the sevs..

 

How do plan on changing water ? what is your filter

I have a ghetto pyton I've made for the water changes
I plan to overflow through a filter sock to my 70 litres tank, filled with sponges and Clayballs as midia, then my current JBL e902 for returning the water.

You guys are right, maybe just switching to plastic plants might be easier than the latter...

Thanks a lot!

 

I'll respond in order to your above remarks and am not trying to seem against everything ..I set my 180g up with a 5 year plan. I have done this now 'a couple' times .
I have kept fish for over 30 years so like to plan ahead now [I have 16 clown loaches some maybe older then you !]..

Just because you see something once does not mean long term it works ..I have myself kept some pretty wrongly stocked tanks ..The fish and I paid for those lessons. My list of mistakes is probably longer then my accomplishments...Had no net back when I was starting ..

The best Oscar keepers I know Dawn Michele and a girl named Laurie from another forum keep their single Oscar in a 6 foot tank ..
Yea I think the fish will overwhelm your tank if you think it is for more then them ..They sure won't share your sediments ..It is for them and they can't hear you !

Bingo ! How do plan on changing water ? what is your filter ..
My 180 is automated so I can change 60-120g in about 6-10 minutes ..
Aquavisor has me at 230% stocked .. Your tanks is loaded already..Take it from a guy that knows !
Just for giggles you ought to plug in your ideas to aquavisor !!!! Start with just what you have already or just 6 Oscars in a 150....
I don't think you will like what they say ..They are not the end all be all but ?

All that being said I trust the two who said severums so follow mbkemp and Feohw advise on the sevs..

You're right, with the current fish the tank is already plenty stocked. I'd leave it at that personally. This tank is also 140 gallons.

I have a ghetto pyton I've made for the water changes
I plan to overflow through a filter sock to my 70 litres tank, filled with sponges and Clayballs as midia, then my current JBL e902 for returning the water.

You guys are right, maybe just switching to plastic plants might be easier than the latter...

Thanks a lot!

Are you still planning on a low maintenance tank? With the current stock that won't work, adding the other fish would mean you would need plenty of water changes.

 

current stock

You mean the angels, the acaras and geos? Or counting the sev.?
I settled on feeling a sump with Clayballs like making it a big canister and using my current to pump water back

 

You mean the angels, the acaras and geos? Or counting the sev.?
I settled on feeling a sump with Clayballs like making it a big canister and using my current to pump water back

That won't change water changes ??
I use a pretty effiecient sump myself and say the best filter makes nitrates ..
Those require water changes .
Not even close to a low mantainance tank as is ..GO TO AQUAVISOR to see what a computer full of info says about your stocking..



Over stocked and underfiltered without 1 EBA or additional fish ..

 

Not even close to a low mantainance tank as is ..GO TO AQUAVISOR to see what a computer full of info says about your stocking..

but it didn't consider my sump with media, my canister fill up with 7 to 10 liters I guess with a sump 10x bigger I'll have more surface area ...

Could be more something like this, recommended 46% per week.

 

You got yourself up to 137% from my 112 % stocking ????
You need to embrace water changes if that is your approach ..
Filter are just a convenience for the keeper ..They extend the time between water changes ..
So you are still at 50%..Is that low ? It is their lowest acceptable level ?
For optimal health you should look to better IMO ..

 

With aqadvisor you want filtration 125%+ and stock 85%- for matured tanks. Not mature tanks you want 70%-

Also, the water change reccomendation on aqadvisor is really low. I entered a stock that only made me do 14% WC weekly. So your WC rate right now is much higher.

 

So you are still at 50%..Is that low ? It is their lowest acceptable level ?

yes here is the , and I don't mind making a bigger water change, just won't be cool do it more than once a week...

 

Instead of one big water change 2 separate WC every week is better. With water changes, I say don't change more than 50% at a time.

 

This is better. Work your way around this, but don't go over 85% stock.

 

This is better. Work your way around this, but don't go over 85% stock.

why not over 85?

 

I mean the filtration seems ok, and the fish doesn't fight for the same space in the tank I don't get the number...

 

Hello!!! Thanks for the mention Tom!!! I appreciate it!!! An Oscar will NOT work in that tank!!! It will beat up the other fish and destroy your plant's!!! They are wonderful fish with GREAT personalities!!! They need BIG tank's & clean water!!! Good luck!!!

 

Not over 85 so it leaves room for error, keeping tank stable and so you can keep a single 50% WC weekly.

 

Not over 85 so it leaves room for error, keeping tank stable and so you can keep a single 50% WC weekly.

Got it thanks!

They need BIG tank's & clean water

525 litres you don't think is enough for a pair? This time I'm going with the sev but if like to keep Oscars at least once...

 

Got it thanks!



525 litres you don't think is enough for a pair? This time I'm going with the sev but if like to keep Oscars at least once...

Hello!!! Is that a 150 gallon??? That would work for 2 Oscar's but that's all!!!

 

2 Oscar's

That's enough for me, but won't they fight if they're both male and there's only two? And what do you say about tank mates maybe a pair of firemouth and or convict?

 

That's enough for me, but won't they fight if they're both male and there's only two? And what do you say about tank mates maybe a pair of firemouth and or convict?

2 Oscar's but that's all!!!

I really think she means 2 Oscars only .
She keeps her 'Big Boy ' single in a 125 ...

 

I really think she means 2 Oscars only .
She keeps her 'Big Boy ' single in a 125 ...

Hello!!! 2 Oscar's ONLY!!!!