Tyguy7760's 75 Gallon Tank Build

Thanks guys. I was concerned about them anyways but thought I'd ask

 

What about platys as a dither fish? I know I can't do as many because of the increased bioload, but instead of 15 diamond tetras, what about 12 platy's. 4 Male 8 Female? I know I'll have lots of babies, but wouldn't the cichlids keep the population down? Or would I still have to worry about overpopulation? If I did platy's and that many could I still do all male?

 

I wouldn't really consider them a dither fish, but they might work.....

 

Do you think the other fish will do a good enough job of eating the babies or would I do all male

 

Do you think the other fish will do a good enough job of eating the babies or would I do all male

I would do all male. Don't stress the females with repeated births if you don't want the babies.

 

Good point. Thanks

 

Update: Picked up some Matrix and media bags this weekend and started seeding them in my current sunsun403b. When I transfer them over to the 404b they should be well seeded and my cycle should either be instantaneous or at the very least shortened significantly.

Current tally: $260 for Tank, Glass lids, 48 inch led light, driftwood, rocks, sunsun404b canister filter, filter media, media bags

Proposed Stock:

3 Blood Parrots
1 Sajica Cichlid
2 Laetacara Dorsigera (again will need to be monitored)
1 Keyhole/Festivum
14 KuhlI Loach
1 Dojo Loach
10-12 Platy/15 Diamond Tetra

Not many changes other than eliminating the zebra loaches and adding 1 Dojo loach. Considering replacing the Keyhole with a festivum. I'm afraid the keyhole will be too shy by itself and will be outcompeted. Festivum's from my research seem to be almost as peaceful alone but aren't quite as shy and will stay closer to mid/top than the other cichlids. (would love to hear from people who have actually kept them though). Also considering doing platy's instead of diamond tetras to add color to my tank.

 

That seems like a lot of bottom dwellers. Are the Sajica and Laetacaras bottom dwellers?

At what temp are you going to keep your tank? Dojos aren't tropical fish.

 

Laetecara's are bottom and the sajica is more mid dweller (from my observations and research) as are the blood parrots. The only true bottom dwellers are the loaches and the laetecara. But if you or any others have differing opinions I'd love to hear them because I'm always wanting to gain knowledge about these things. I removed the zebra loaches for that very reason because I was concerned the bottom was getting too crowded. I replaced the 6 zebras (24 inches of fish) with 1 dojo (6-8 inches of fish) in an effort to reduce the crowd.

I was planning on keeping the tank at 75 which I believe is within the comfort level of all the fish I've got planned. I have also queried some of the fishlorians around here that have posted pictures of older dojo loaches (they get big!) about their temps and I believe they said it stays between 74 and 77 so I think 75 would be suitable.

 

Update: Picked up a small piece of driftwood for the tank. I will be going this weekend to pick up the lumber for the bones of the stand.

Current tally: $265 for Tank, Glass lids, 48 inch led light, driftwood, rocks, sunsun404b canister filter, filter media, media bags

Proposed Stock:

3 Blood Parrots
1 Sajica Cichlid
2 Laetacara Dorsigera
12 KuhlI Loach
12 Diamond Tetra
6 Platy
3 Synodontis Petricola

It's looking more and more like I'm going to have to rehome 1 or both of my dorsigeras. I've had the older male for some time and purchased what I thought was a female (very young) a few months later. Well now that the supposed female has grown I've been seeing signs of aggression between them. I'll have to monitor this. A few changes to the stock. I again removed the 4th species of cichlid as I just think it's pushing it too much even with something peaceful like a keyhole or festivum. Replaced that with some platy for a splash of color as well as decreasing my diamond tetra stock. Also decreased the school of kuhli's slightly and replaced the dojo loach with some synodontis petricola. Not sure about this choice but they stay small and seriouslyfish says they are extremely peaceful and the most peaceful synodontis. They stay small at about 4-4.5 inches in aquaria and are more temperature compatible with the rest of my fish than the dojo loaches were.

As always comments and suggestions on stock are always welcome.

 

I would recommend getting more S. petricola than that.

 

Ahh really? Probably don't have the room then. I had seen it suggested to do 2 or 3 on here.

 

How about hoplos instead?

 

Looks like the only one I can find is marbled hoplo. Megalechis thoracata .

Says they get about 5 inches. Could I do two with the current stock?

 

Imo, yes.

 

Any experience with them? Seeing some places saying either do 1 or several as they bully each other with small groups.

 

No, and I haven't heard of them bullying each other. Maybe it'd be best to have just one then?

 

Yeah maybe one would be better. I could re up my kuhlI loaches back to 14 that way

3 Blood Parrots
1 Sajica Cichlid
2 Laetacara Dorsigera
14 KuhlI Loach
12 Diamond Tetra
6 Platy
1 Spotted Hoplo

 

What about removing the hoplo or another large bottom dweller entirely and using the room for a single angelfish? Would it be ok with the rest of the inhabitants. I see aquarist houses angels with his BPs

 

I don't think taking something off the bottom is going to clear some space for a mid-top dwelling fish.

 

My thinking was the bottom was getting overstocked so I had more room in the mid and top areas. Disagree?

 

I think they're both about even, really.

 

In that case what would be the best fish to add to the stock then

Spotted hoplo
Bolivian ram


Edit: Nevermind, I think I'm going to stick with the hoplo

 

OK, sounds good.

 

Since it's starting to look like I may have to return one of my dorsigera, if I replaced it with a ram, do you think there is enough room for those 4 species of cichlid in a 75 gallon

 

I personally would try it, but don't be surprised if you have the same issue as you did with the other dorsigera.

 

Update: lumber bought for the bones of the stand

 

Update: Lumber is cut to size and all I need to do is screw it together

Current tally: $300 for Tank, Glass lids, 48 inch led light, driftwood, rocks, sunsun404b canister filter, filter media, media bags, 2x4's

 

Update: The base has been constructed and I put on the screw boards as well. I'm doing my best to keep this thing perfectly level but I think I'm going to have to do some leveling at the end when I install the top.

 

Update: I have finished the bones of the tank. Next up is building the drawers and next month wrapping in the face boards.

View attachment front.jpg

 

I'm assuming you finished your wife's projects?

 

Haha never. That's an always growing list

 

Well, the stand is coming along nicely. I really can't wait to see it finished.

 

No big updates but thought I'd give a small one since it's been nearly a month since I gave one. Lots of stuff happening in life and making it difficult to find time to continue the tank stand. But I did find some time this weekend to knock out several small but vital steps. I finished the floor of the inside of the tank and have leveled the top out so the entire tank sits flush to the top. I also have installed the drawer sides and built the frame of one drawer and installed it.

Current tally: $330 for Tank, Glass lids, 48 inch led light, driftwood, rocks, sunsun404b canister filter, filter media, media bags, 2x4's, drawer materials (runners, rods, and paneling for bottoms).

 

Nice! Got a pic?

 

not yet. didn't want to take a pic until both drawers are installed. But I will once that step is done.

 

Drawers are installed

 

Looking good! What color will the stand be?

 

Awesome to see the progress mate. Looking at doing something very similar with my 130gallon and atand so its nice to see some comparisons. Cant wait for the next update!

 

It will be white. I was going to stain it and make it really nice but the wife wants something that will match in the living room and the mantle and built ins are white so white it will be.

The drawers proved to be the most frustrating part so far. It's the first time I've built drawers from scratch and very well could be the last time.

I also picked up 2 marbled hoplos yesterday. They are pretty shy right now but when I can get a good pic I'll post them.