New tank setup

[Mazan]

As I have explained in my introduction, I am planning to keep fish again after a break of many years and I have a new tank 120cm x 40 x 50. I would like to set this up initially as a community but in the fairly near future will also set up a smaller tank for breeding. I would like to have some Apistogramma, don’t really mind which species, and my initial idea was to get a few angels for the mid water area and some shoaling fish like tetras, all South Americans. However I went to a couple of shops the other day, they are going to be getting some Apistos soon, but they had some nice baby severums which I happen to have a soft spot for having kept and bred them long ago, and it made me wonder if I could get a group of them instead of the angels with the idea of eventually keeping a pair and rehoming the rest. Would this be a big mistake? If I did get them which tetras would be best? And would there be any room for any other dwarf cichlids (eg Bolivian rams, Nannacara or Laetacara)? With the Apistos I would get one male and 2 or 3 females if they are sexable, otherwise a group of juveniles. I would have plenty of plants, caves and hiding places. Tap water pH is around 6.8, hardness 3-4. Any ideas or advice about the selection of species would be appreciated, then later I have a few more technical questions...

 

[Mazan]

I forgot to mention another cichlid I would maybe consider would be Mesonauta sp. They had 3 of adult size in one shop but they looked very shy, admittedly they were in a very small tank with no hiding places except for the filter and heater which is where they were trying to hide. I would prefer to start with juveniles if I decided to go for these.

 

[Mike Wise]

You don't mention the size of your aquarium. Severums get fairly large.

 

[Mazan]

Yes I know, that’s why eventually I could only keep one pair, it is 120cm x 40cm x 50cm high.

 

[Mazan]

That would be 240l, or nearly 64 us gallons without the substrate. Maybe it’s too small even to grow a group of severums to a size at which they would pair up?

 

[Mike Wise]

Yes it is possible in your size of tank. Severums can start spawning at a small size of 10cm/4". Still realize that breeding cichlids - apistos or severums - can cause problems in a community tank.

 

[ButtNekkid]

Are Mesonauta sp. fine on their own? Always wanted one.

 

[Mazan]

Thanks for the replies. I think I have read that Mesonauta are best in groups or a pair, but I have never kept them, they would look very nice in a group in a planted tank I think... I do have quite a bit of experience with cichlids( a long time ago). But not at all with Apistogramma. I would set up another smaller tank for breeding them, but would like to have a small community at first. If I do decide to get the severums as well, I was wondering in what order to introduce them and the Apistogramma, or would it be best all at the same time? Any suggestions of other small species I could include?

 

[Mike Wise]

Behaviorally, Mesonata species are similar to Angelfish/Scalare. One is OK but they prefer to be in loose groups. Since I never kept apistos with larger cichlids, I can't say one way or the other. When putting potential breeding pairs of cichlids in a community situation, I will say that you are asking for extra problems.

 

[Mazan]

Mmm thanks, well maybe I’ll have to rethink, anyway I am nowhere near ready to get the fish yet...