Thank you for the clarification. I will definitely look him up.
Stocking question for my 210g (72”x24”x29”) aquarium.
- Thread starter michaelyonis
- Start date
Isn’t FINWIN a woman? I could be mistaken.
Omg...she is a she...Im dead...I'm so sorry about that, FINWIN@ lolol. I saw on her profile that she is a she...
I bet FINWIN will get a laugh out of this...
I bet FINWIN will get a laugh out of this...
I found the story about Brick in my thread "Gutsy Mix, Can it be Done? 2.0" Its on the 14th page or section or whatever you call it...
As
duanes
said, check your water parameters before looking into what cichlids to get. Before trying to mix things, it’s best to at least have a ballpark of what will thrive in your water, then you can worry about who can live with each other without killing one another.
duanes
said, check your water parameters before looking into what cichlids to get. Before trying to mix things, it’s best to at least have a ballpark of what will thrive in your water, then you can worry about who can live with each other without killing one another.
The significance (bad or not) of a drop in pH depends on the reason for the drop.
If your pH drops because of acidification due to build up of fish waste (not enough water changes) that is not a good drop.
If natural calcium levels are low, that's another story.
What a fish store water parameters are, are not very significant, because they tend to hold fish for such short periods.
Water parameter significance comes in over time, when fish are held a long time, in water they are not evolved to live in, and is where chronic diseases come into play, because they are subjected to bacteria from certain water types, they have not evolved to resist.
A common example would be an oscar held in hard water, where not enough water changes are done, allowing nitrate to build up.
The obvious result, being HITH disease usually occurring at around 2 or 3 years of age
If your pH drops from 7.5 down to 6, this may mean its natural buffering capacity is not strong.
And more water changes are needed.
It may also mean you are simply not doing large enough, and/or frequent enough water changes in general to maintain water parameter stability.
To me, the oscar, chocolate, geo, and tetras mix in a 210 gal may work a long time, at least until they all reach adult size, and to maintain water quality you need to do daily, large water changes
The PH drop is definitely due to lack of natural calcium to support the higher PH due to the tap water additives, and not due to a lack of water changes or improper care on my part. The only reason I mentioned to LFS parameters is my tap water is same at first and slowly declines, so it would be a smoother transition to the proper PH levels than a drip acclimation. I also planning on using my HOB refugium that will have hornwort and dwarf water lettuce in it to help keep nitrates from running rampant and causing poor water quality and health issues. I also have a 40 gallon breeder tank I am planning on converting into a sump with a refugium section for plants. I know larger cichlids can be waste factories, which is why nitrates shoot up so high so quickly. What would be your thoughts on an Oscar, a pair of geos, a school of either giant danios or Silver Dollars?
Since I try to strictly adhere to biotopes, my choice would be something like (water parameters permitting)
a shoal, of 6 or more Geophagus abalios, with the dithers being a shoal geographically correct Venezuelan tetras.
Or......a shoal of G neambi and a shoal of Brazilian Rio Tocantins species tetras.
Besides my anal fixation with the perception of bio-correctness, I also find if fish are from the same river, they also are perfect water parameter tank mates, which works if species are correctly matched with whatever the tap water is..
I'd choose dithers representative of whatever area the Geophagines were naturally found in, whatever species of Geo was acquired.
I'd skip the oscar for a number of reasons.
1st, oscars prefer fairly placed waters, but most
Geophagines usually prefer moving waters that are highly oxygenated .
2nd oscars would eat most tetras I would consider appropriate for whatever type Geo
Geophagines are not normally piscivore unless dithers are too small..
The other reason is because of size, both oscars, and silver dollars are copious waste producers, and the more pristine the water quality remains, the better chances of success with the Geos.
a shoal, of 6 or more Geophagus abalios, with the dithers being a shoal geographically correct Venezuelan tetras.
Or......a shoal of G neambi and a shoal of Brazilian Rio Tocantins species tetras.
Besides my anal fixation with the perception of bio-correctness, I also find if fish are from the same river, they also are perfect water parameter tank mates, which works if species are correctly matched with whatever the tap water is..
I'd choose dithers representative of whatever area the Geophagines were naturally found in, whatever species of Geo was acquired.
I'd skip the oscar for a number of reasons.
1st, oscars prefer fairly placed waters, but most
Geophagines usually prefer moving waters that are highly oxygenated .
2nd oscars would eat most tetras I would consider appropriate for whatever type Geo
Geophagines are not normally piscivore unless dithers are too small..
The other reason is because of size, both oscars, and silver dollars are copious waste producers, and the more pristine the water quality remains, the better chances of success with the Geos.
Last edited:
Awesome information, I greatly appreciate all of it. I am thinking about the shoal of G. Abalios, and a shoal of the Venezuelan tetras. Is there any specific large individual cichlid species you would recommend to go with that mix? I do have a Red Spotted Severum in my 90 gallon planted that could be an option as well if they are in the same biotope.
LOL its happened before I was like "why they keep calling me HIM?" No worries.
M michaelyonis welcome to the forum, this is a really cool place to be. Post pics, make a journal of your fish journey! My largest tank is similar in size, a 225. I saw some of your selections.
Always plan on max size potential even if your fish don't get there. Makes it easier to decide how many/much.
Chocs to 12"
Parrots 6-10"
Oscars 10"-16+" give or take care and genes
Haven't had Geos so can't comment on those. They're a range of sizes depending on type. Like others said, check water chemistry and save yourself grief with incompatible fish.
Plus some of these fish live a good while so you'd want long term compatibility. Its trial and error sometimes because juvies don't have their full personality and fish that are simpatico as juvies fight as adults. It happens.
