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I've got a planted 90 gal and I keep changing my mind about the tank, but for the moment I want to get some big fish for it (6" or more). I'm willing to get rid of the current tetras, but I want something that is not going to pick on my siamese algae eaters or my bristlenose pleco. I also want something that is not going to destroy my plants. It should be reasonably hardy and not too sensitive to water parameters. I'm also not terribly in to gouramies and Bala sharks.

Edit: I'd also like the fish to be okay with smaller, but not tiny species (e.g. dwarf cichlids, rainbowfish, stuff around that size that I may add later)

Suggestions?

So far I have considered:
Severum - no way, will kill plants
Acara - they like to dig so my plants may get uprooted. Any thoughts/experiences on this one?
Angelfish/Discus - too fussy with water parameters. May do a dedicated discus tank at a later date.
Firemouth - my plants are not always well rooted due to my habit of rearranging, and are not generally potted. I think a firemouth would uproot them. Comments?
Festivum - these are supposedly sensitive to Nitrates. Does anyone knoe what the acceptable range for them is? Mine can get a bit high at times.
Synspillum - will eat plants.

a pair of aurus?

Hmmmm tough call really, I guess i would suggest either:
2 pinktailed charcins
1 Pike cichlid ( i have had no trouble with them and plants)
2 firemouths ( you may be alright with them, mine don't dig, but you never know )
2 African Butterfly fish
1 Black Ghost Knifefish
3 Piranha

Large but peaceful fishes - could be a tall order! However, Moonlight Gouramis, Trichogaster microlepis, spring to mind as excellent candidates if you don't mind having 8 inch fishes in there!

Some of the medium sized Barbs, while active and presenting a biofilter loading challenge, could also be worth considering. Spanner Barbs, Barbus lateristriga, are good choices, as are Longfinned Barbs, Barbus filamentosus, Clown Barbs, Barbus everetti, and if you can afford them, Denison's Barbs (drop dead gorgeous but hideously expensive at the moment!).

Congo Tetras would also make a GREAT display in a 90 gallon - they reach 6 inches, and become prismatic rainbow coloured jewels if they catch sunlight entering the aquarium! You could have a pretty decent sized shoal of those in there no problem.

One fish species that might be pushing it even in a 90 gallon, but is worth looking out for if you want an unusual addition, is the Apollo Shark, Luciosoma setigerum. This is a distant relative of the Rasboras, and reaches 10 inches, but is a very attractive fish if given the right setting. Here's an article about them with photos.

Hope this proves useful!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Zach: Auru = Synspillum. I like them but sadly they eat plants.

Fish Guy: I'm not too much of a fan of the pink tailed characin. Maybe if I saw one in person I'd feel differently. I am worried that the pike cichlid might try to eat my SAEs given that it's a pretty large fish. What do you think? I may try the firemouth. I've been warned against them, but you never know until you try. I also don't like that they don't feed from the surface, but that's not a show stopper. The butterfly fish is a bit smaller than I want. Ghost knives are too timid during the day and too agressive at ngiht for my tastes and Piranha... well, they're illegal in my state. I think it would be cool to have a school of them, but I really like to keep my fingers :-)

Calilasseia: It's not the size of the gouramies I don't like, I'm just not a big fan of them in general. Don't really know why. As for the barbs - I was looking at Denisonii a while ago. I ruled them out because they are supposedly fairly sensitive and as much as I hate losing fish, I would hate losing a $100 school of them even more. I am going to India in a few weeks though - I wonder wha the import rules around fish are.... Think I'll start another thread about that. I'll look into the other barbs. I have always heard congo tetras were smaller than that, which is why I ruled them out. And last but decidedly not least - I think the apollo shark is cool, but I think it would prey on the SAEs as well.

oh sorry, i didnt know they eat plants. if you dont want your plants getting destroyed then DO NOT get congos. theyve destroyed all of the plants in my tank, including my swords. also ive never heard of them growing to 6in

Butterfly fish can get to be a nice size really. Ok how about a Walking Catfish, I have one in my 75 gallon and it is doing fine. I have the tpye that only gets 14", I have cories and a BN in with him and he don't bother them. Maybe some Tinfoil barbs.

Hmm - the walking cat might be worth considering. Do you know a good source of info on them?

Then I could still get a pair of butterfly fish since they are top swimmers and some other fish to fill out the middle...

So do you guys think this combination might work, or am I mixing too many Cichlids in?

2 African Butterfly fish (they're just too cool not to try)
2 Checkerboard cichlid (I love these fish!)
2 Blue Acara (these would be the "centerpiece"
2 Keyhole cichlid
Some other assorted small-medium fish once the tank is settled

Already have:
4 SAE
1 BN Pleco
A few existing Tetras and danios - these might get eaten, but I'd probably leave them in there at first since i would be purchasing most of the new fish as juveniles.

Edit: Also, I am thinking I should add the smaller cichlids first, so they have some established territories, then re-arrange the tank and add the Acaras then add the butterfly fish last. Would you recommend changes to this order?

The Checkerboard's and the Keyholes are very nice fish, but do not get very big. I would be afriad that the acars would give them a hard time, but it all depends on how much plants and rock work you have in there. ( do you have any rock work ) This tank with all it plants would be great for the checkerboards aswell as the keyholes but I think you would hardly see the 2 checkerboards in a 90 gallon tank. If you go with this stocking list I would most difenatly put the acaras in last, b/c they will be the largest threat to the existing fish.