View Full Version : A little Feedback Please
pǝʇzıʍʇ
12-11-2008, 7:57 PM
got a 55g givin to me the other day and i would like a little feedback on my stock list.
1x Salvini
1x Red Spotted Gold Severum
2x Jack Dempsey
1x Common Plec
1x Firemouth
I have one AC110 and one AC50 for filtration.
Wyomingite
12-11-2008, 8:24 PM
Nix the severum, one dempsey and the pleco. Change to one dempsey, one salvini, and one or two firemouths, and be prepared to deal with possible aggression issues with that stocklist. Once they're all full grown, you'll be pushing max stock in a 55 even with excellent filtration. Note, I know that most references claim a max size of 6" for firemouths, but in 25 years I've never seen a firemouth larger than 5" TL.
Don't know enough about AC filters to know if that's adequate or not.
WYite
pǝʇzıʍʇ
12-11-2008, 8:34 PM
well the sev is the main fish i want for the tank. what else can i keep with the sev? i like my tanks to be a little over stocked (so shoot me).
Wyomingite
12-11-2008, 8:48 PM
Switch the sev for the other dempsey and ya'd probably be okay. Personally I think a 55 is a little small for a sev, but I don't want to start a debate on that here. I'd consider a t-bar and a couple of rainbow cichlids if ya have access to them, as well, in place of the firemouths and salvini. Both are a little more mellow than firemouths and salvinis. The sevs I've had over the years have varied greatly in temperemant. Some would hold their own with oscars and jags, others were babies that could be kept with anything that they couldn't accidently swallow.
WYite
ChiaJesus
12-11-2008, 9:19 PM
I have a sev in a 55 with three blue acaras, one firemouth, and one bristlenose pleco. I think the JDs will get too big for that tank - they grow pretty fast. In addition, that pleco will outgrow your tank as well.
krytan
12-12-2008, 12:13 AM
You have listed enough fish to fill a 150g tank, ditch the Salvini, JD's and swap the common pleco for a smaller pleco and you should be good to go.
Wyomingite
12-12-2008, 11:20 AM
You have listed enough fish to fill a 150g tank, ditch the Salvini, JD's and swap the common pleco for a smaller pleco and you should be good to go.
Disagree.
A BN or other smaller pleco will get picked on too bad if the posting party (what's up with the squares?) decides to stick with the salvini and firemouth, and the larger plecos add too much bioload, therefore skip the pleco altogether. Good chance you'll end up with bristles torn off and/or bloodied/torn fins. Ya won't see the pleco much as it will always be hiding. A pleco isn't a solution for algae and it doesn't replace good old-fashioned maintenance.
If ya want the severum as your center piece fish, I'd suggest a t-bar cichlid and a couple of rainbows. Far less aggression. If ya insist on the severum, salvini and a firemouth or two, then have a back up plan for aggression, which may or may not occur at an unacceptable level.
WYite
snoopy65
12-12-2008, 12:00 PM
A severum, 5 bolivian rams, a BN pleco,and a shoal of cories. I have this in a 55 and have had no issues so far. My sev is 4", but sevs are not known to be overly aggressive unless you have a mated pair.
pǝʇzıʍʇ
12-12-2008, 3:32 PM
:liar:ok well the fish i listed in my first post have been in my 55g for 4.5 years. they are all perfectly healthy and thriving. never had any agression issues or torn fins. maybe its because they all grew up in the tank as juvies. i just wanted some other peoples opinions on it thanks.
AfroCichlid
12-12-2008, 4:51 PM
got a 55g givin to me the other day and i would like a little feedback on my stock list.
1x Salvini
1x Red Spotted Gold Severum
2x Jack Dempsey
1x Common Plec
1x Firemouth
I have one AC110 and one AC50 for filtration.
I don't get it. Why would you say you just got the tank in your original post and then contradict yourself here? The question you should have posted is not whether you can, but whether you should. Yes, you can. No, you shouldn't, for the reasons given by other posters. It's good, sound advice. You should take it now rather than later, when the problems arise. And with your current stock, they will. Take it from someone who used to do the same thing.
jpappy789
12-12-2008, 4:59 PM
I agree with afro...why ask for opinions on a stock list then turn around and say you've had the tank for over 4 years?
In the long run your tank WILL NOT WORK.
pǝʇzıʍʇ
12-12-2008, 5:15 PM
its worked fine for 4.5yrs all my fish are full grown and iv got no agression
issues. not everything the book says is the truth some people choose to
follow the book I DONT never have never will. imo as long as a fish wont
grown longer than the tank is wide your good to go. thanks for all the feedback keep it coming flame away :devil:
jpappy789
12-12-2008, 5:17 PM
its worked fine for 4.5yrs all my fish are full grown and iv got no agression
issues. not everything the book says is the truth some people choose to
follow the book I DONT never have never will. imo as long as a fish wont
grown longer than the tank is wide your good to go . thanks for all the feedback keep it coming flame away :devil:
That is one of the worst stocking rules I've heard but go ahead...
pǝʇzıʍʇ
12-12-2008, 5:36 PM
That is one of the worst stocking rules I've heard but go ahead...
wasnt asking for permission but thanks!
Wyomingite
12-12-2008, 5:51 PM
:liar:ok well the fish i listed in my first post have been in my 55g for 4.5 years. they are all perfectly healthy and thriving. never had any agression issues or torn fins. maybe its because they all grew up in the tank as juvies. i just wanted some other peoples opinions on it thanks.
LOL, now ya're killin' me. I can't resist asking. Did the listed fish come with the 55 ya were given? Or do you have a 55 already that had these fish and now ya were given another 55? If these fish have all been in your 55 for nearly 5 years, then the best choice would be to split the stock between that 55 and the one you've just been given. If ya only have one 55, then get rid of some of the fish, to a hobbyist or the LFS. A lot of LFS will take fish on trade. In either case, nix my suggestion on t-bars and rainbows as tankmates for the sev. Ya have enough fish already. Regardless of personal opinions on stocking levels, the general consensus has been that that is TOO much stock for one 55 gallon tank.
How big are these fish now, after 4.5 years? They all should be full grown. Sev 8-9", each dempsey 8-10"+, salvini 5-6", firemouth 5" and pleco 10-12"+ dependent on species. If they're not, then they've been stunted by overcrowding already. jpappy and afrocichlid already hit the nail on the head, you're headed for trouble sooner or later.
Seriously, and it's not intended as a flame, minimum footprint on a tank should be a length of 4 times the fish's length by a width of 1.5 times the fish's length. Ideal would be a length of 6 or more times the fish's length by a width of 2 or more times the fish's length. I'll grant there's a little room for fudging in there, and you'll find recommendations of 1.2 times the length of the fish for the width. Footprint isn't everything, though. Even if I grant your "width as long as the fish" stocking rule, you're not taking into account the biomass of the fish you have in that tank. All of them are heavy bodied fish. Ya're easily double what ya should be if all of them are full grown.
Feel kinda taken in now that I know ya already had an opinion and ya're gonna do what ya want anyhow. Won't be posting in this thread again.
WYite
pǝʇzıʍʇ
12-12-2008, 6:03 PM
LOL, now ya're killin' me. I can't resist asking. Did the listed fish come with the 55 ya were given? Or do you have a 55 already that had these fish and now ya were given another 55? If these fish have all been in your 55 for nearly 5 years, then the best choice would be to split the stock between that 55 and the one you've just been given. If ya only have one 55, then get rid of some of the fish, to a hobbyist or the LFS. A lot of LFS will take fish on trade. In either case, nix my suggestion on t-bars and rainbows as tankmates for the sev. Ya have enough fish already. Regardless of personal opinions on stocking levels, the general consensus has been that that is TOO much stock for one 55 gallon tank.
How big are these fish now, after 4.5 years? They all should be full grown. Sev 8-9", each dempsey 8-10"+, salvini 5-6", firemouth 5" and pleco 10-12"+ dependent on species. If they're not, then they've been stunted by overcrowding already. jpappy and afrocichlid already hit the nail on the head, you're headed for trouble sooner or later.
Seriously, and it's not intended as a flame, minimum footprint on a tank should be a length of 4 times the fish's length by a width of 1.5 times the fish's length. Ideal would be a length of 6 or more times the fish's length by a width of 2 or more times the fish's length. I'll grant there's a little room for fudging in there, and you'll find recommendations of 1.2 times the length of the fish for the width. Footprint isn't everything, though. Even if I grant your "width as long as the fish" stocking rule, you're not taking into account the biomass of the fish you have in that tank. All of them are heavy bodied fish. Ya're easily double what ya should be if all of them are full grown.
Feel kinda taken in now that I know ya already had an opinion and ya're gonna do what ya want anyhow. Won't be posting in this thread again.
WYite
yeah their all pretty much the sizes you mentioned giver take. untill i see some sort of agression they will be staying in the 55g i do have a 300g but they will be an expensive meal for the SH's
jpappy789
12-12-2008, 6:05 PM
wasnt asking for permission but thanks!
And I don't need yours to comment.
Honestly, I see no reason for you to post a stocking question, looking for advice, only to turn it down because it isn't what you want to hear.
WYite hit it dead on, your stocking "rule" fails because it doesn't take into account biomass of fish and also I would like to add that it doesn't factor in the territorial issues of the fish you have either. Sorry, but you are still overstocked.
pǝʇzıʍʇ
12-12-2008, 6:11 PM
you know where dinner dangles bud
AfroCichlid
12-12-2008, 6:43 PM
For shame...
jpappy789
12-13-2008, 1:56 PM
Well, seems like you don't want any more help so I won't even bother posting in your thread anymore...goodbye and good luck with your fish.
so then, you are basically trolling for people to argue with? you ask a question and then fight against the general consensus?
how is the 55 given to you the other day related to this stocklist that you have had working together for 4.5 years?
i don't understand what the real question is.