Stocking ideas for a 90 gallon tank

[AverageApe22]

Hello, I have a 90 gallon tank (48in by 18in by 25in) I’m currently trying to decide whether to go with a semi-aggressive community tank or an American cichlid tank.

Stocking for both ideas is currently:

1 Oscar
1 gold sev
3 or 4 silver dollars
And maybe a convict or some other smaller cichlid

or

2 gold sevrums
2 pearl gourami
1 keyhole cichlid
3 angel fish
Some kind of bottom dweller
And maybe a blood parrot cichlid

Feel free to suggest other stocking ideas or modify my current ones.

I’ve have experience in the hobby before and am looking to get another opinion on stocking for my tank.

 

[Mudminnow]

Oscars can get pretty big, and while you can keep one in a 90 gallon (my dad had one in a 75 gallon for years when I was growing up), I personally think they deserve even bigger. Therefore, I like your second stocking plan a bit better.

I've not kept gold sevrums, so I can't speak to those. But, I have kept pearl gouramis and keyhole cichlids; I've even kept them together. These two species are more on the peaceful side in my experience. I'm not too sure how the angels would fit in with the rest either.

So, here's my 2 cents: I would go with the pearl gouramis and keyhole cichlids and then maybe get some little dither fish and a bottom fish to go with them. The dither fish could be some little tetras and/or rasboras. And, the bottom fish could be some cory cats and/or peaceful loaches.

 

[AverageApe22]

Thanks for the advice! I really want to keep the sevrums though, with angels (if that would work). I’ll definitely get some sort of dither fish though (I’d like silver dollars but I think my tank is to small) and I was thinking clown loaches for bottom dwellers.

 

[Mudminnow]

Thanks for the advice! I really want to keep the sevrums though, with angels (if that would work). I’ll definitely get some sort of dither fish though (I’d like silver dollars but I think my tank is to small) and I was thinking clown loaches for bottom dwellers.

Ah, if the severum is your must have fish, plan around that one. I'm sure you're aware, but sevrums get pretty big. Therefore, I'd stick to smaller tank mates than angels personally. It will leave you with more room for bottom and dither fishes.

Furthermore, I think a 90 gallon is probably a bit small for clown loaches. These get as big or bigger than the severums and do best when kept in a large school.

 

[AverageApe22]

Ok, and yes the sevrums are sort of my must have fish so in that case what would you do for stocking around them. I’m curious to listen to other ideas. Also I’ve always liked gourami so if I was to go with those as one of the tank mates what species would you chose? Also I really would like to keep fish on the sort of less common side since I always enjoy learning and observing new species.

 

[Mudminnow]

If I was to mix the sevrum with a gourami, I'd probably choose the three-spot gourami. They are semi-aggressive too and would likely work together.

Personally, I like keeping fish from similar parts of the world together. So, with that in mind, a stocking plan that would most appeal to me would be something like: 1 severum, 1 gold nugget pleco, 2 striped raphael catfish, and 12 red eye tetras. ...or something like that.

 

[AverageApe22]

Ok thanks for your help. I think I have a better idea of what I want to do now.

 

[TClare]

Mudminnow's idea is a good one, I like it. You could also have some festivums with the severum as another potential idea.

 

[AverageApe22]

Ok thank for the input. I’ve never heard of festivums but I will certainly research it!
So here is the current stocking I’m thinking of after your guys advice:

I gold sevrum

2 flag cichlids

4/5 keyhole cichlids

2 striped Raphael catfish

8 tiger barbs or clown barbs


plaese tell me if you think this is overstocked or if I should make changes due to aggression and that sort of thing?

 

[TClare]

Ok thank for the input. I’ve never heard of festivums but I will certainly research it!
So here is the current stocking I’m thinking of after your guys advice:

I gold sevrum

2 flag cichlids

4/5 keyhole cichlids

2 striped Raphael catfish

8 tiger barbs or clown barbs


plaese tell me if you think this is overstocked or if I should make changes due to aggression and that sort of thing?

Flag cichlids can either be festivums (Mesonauta) or Laetacara, you probably mean the Mesonauta, which is what I meant?. I think that is OK but I would switch the tiger barbs for some kind of large tetra, the barbs might be aggressive and annoy the cichlids. Plus tetras are from the same general area whereas barbs are from Asia. There are several species that would be suitable in addition to those mentioned earlier.

 

[AverageApe22]

Ok so what kind of tetra would you recommend?
I do like Mudminnow’s previous suggestion of red eye tetras but I’m wondering if there is any with slightly more colour.

 

[TClare]

Maybe bleeding heart tetras or Colombian tetras ( silvery but with red fins). Diamond tetras not exactly colourful but very sparkly.

 

[AverageApe22]

Thanks! Just one more question, I haven’t keeper many tetras but would different species school together or should I just go with one species?

 

[TClare]

Thanks! Just one more question, I haven’t keeper many tetras but would different species school together or should I just go with one species?

They don't tend to school together, a larger school of just one species would be best, two at the most.

 

[AverageApe22]

Ok thanks for all your help

 

[TClare]

Ok thanks for all your help

Good luck and keep us posted...

 

[AverageApe22]

Hi I have a 90 gallon tank (48 long by 18 wide by 25 tall) and I’m looking for stocking ideas? I currently have this and I would like to have maybe some other bottom feeder and I like the more oddball sort of fish. Any suggestions?

Current fish in tank:

1 striped Raphael catfish (2in)
3 golden red-tailed tinfoil barbs (just under 3in)

What I want to get:

Pair of gymnogeophagus balzanii
1 green terror or Oscar
1 Firemouth cichlid

What I might also get instead:

1 kissing gourami
Pair of honduran red point cichlids
African leaf fish

 

[fishot]

Welcome to the forum!

How old are the tinfoil barbs?

 

[TClare]

Gymnogeophagus Balzanii are subtropical, they need cooler water and should also have a “winter” period with even cooler temperatures so they would not work well with your other tropical species. Very nice fish though.

 

[AverageApe22]

Ok thanks for telling me. My barbs are probably about half a year old.

 

[fishot]

I would be nervous to add any large cichlids if they are so small.

 

[AverageApe22]

Ya I would add them when they are small enough do not eat the existing fish in the tank.