New 125 gallon native setup

[Megallo2727]

I've owned tanks for a number of years. 55g saltwater, 75g freshwater, and 29g community reef. Sold all my tanks and setup about 6 years ago and getting ready for a brand new setup.

125g tank with a fluvalfx6 with natural driftwood and river rock. Currently have my driftwood and river rocks curing. The tank will be heavily planted. I've decided to do a natural tank but have never kept any sunfish before.

First question I wanted to know if it's better to mix various species of sunfish species or stick with something like all pumpkinseeds? I'd prefer to have a mix of them of possible. I was thinking 7-8 sunfish a crappie and possibly a warmouth or green sunfish. Figured a few snails and crayfish as well for bottom feeders.

 

[FJB]

I would say a 125g is a nice tank, but not large enough for the fish you listed. I have never kept sunfish but I believe just the sunfish will be beyond what is possible due to levels of territoriality and aggression. Others may know better and I may just be wrong.
The driftwood you got looks great.
Good luck with the new tank!

 

[fishguy1978]

That Basset is definitely going to need a larger tank . Cute puppy. We had 3 different ones as a kid.

 

[Megallo2727]

Yeah, she kept wanting to photo bomb the pics since we wanted to do pre planning for the driftwood.

 

[The Masked Shadow]

jjohnwm D dogofwar

I would suggest a few sunfish and only that

 

[SalviniCichlidFan]

I would suggest a sunfish pair with some native dithers. That would be cool imo.

 

[The Masked Shadow]

I would suggest a sunfish pair with some native dithers. That would be cool imo.

+1

For Native Dithers, I highly suggest Flagfish

 

[SalviniCichlidFan]

minnows also work

 

[Megallo2727]

minnows also work

Wouldn't they eat the minnows? I know someone mentioned shinners as well. I've stocked creek chubs for awhile as catfish bait but I recall them getting pretty big.

I'm thankful for the suggestions so far. Think I am going to just stick with the sunfish with some other small mid level native fish. Couple people suggested the smaller species of sunfish and either to do 1-2 or do a group of a minimum of 6 so no one fish is singled out.

 

[AaronKWolfe]

Wouldn't they eat the minnows? I know someone mentioned shinners as well. I've stocked creek chubs for awhile as catfish bait but I recall them getting pretty big.

I'm thankful for the suggestions so far. Think I am going to just stick with the sunfish with some other small mid level native fish. Couple people suggested the smaller species of sunfish and either to do 1-2 or do a group of a minimum of 6 so no one fish is singled out.

Some minnows can get pretty large (4+ inches).