Fish suggestion (picture of my tank in attach)

[Marcelo]

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for a suggestion of a *center piece* fish - a big one - or max of two.

My tank is a 40 gal breeder.     KH 71 ppm   and   GH 4.5 dGH       pH about 7.2 

I have 8 neons, 6 tetra harlequin, 6 lemon tetra, 1 female betta and 2 killifish. Many small ones.

I have plants and i am working to have a not so density planted tank (carpet). I have injected CO2.

 

Do you guys have some suggestion for this “big center piece fish” ?
 

Look my tank.

 

thhhhhhannnnkkk you very much

[Fish Folk]

I love your aquarium!

There is a basic rule: "If it can fit in the mouth, it will eventually go there." I have found this to be true over and over again. So, whatever centerpiece fish you select, you need to keep in mind that it will eat your smaller fry, and if large enough will eat your small tetras at lights-on. Tetras are "woozy" in the morning, and I've watched larger fish enjoy a free breakfast too many times.

Having said that, my main question is this: what temperature are you keen on maintaining? If you're able to go hot -- ca. 82-F or warmer (28-C) -- then my answer would be 100% a pair of young Discus. I just add extra air to maintain enough dissolved oxygen. Here are photographs of my 55 gal. with Discus I've kept for years. They are as easy as any fish I've ever kept as long as you maintain warm water and water change 30%-50% once a week. I just use sponge filters. You will need to invest in quality food. I feed frozen foods 1x per day at least. Discus like groups, but will get along very well in a 40 breeder in pairs. Buy a young pair that gets along well. For whatever it's worth, Red Marlboro / Red Melon seem to stand out best against greens plants.

As for water parameters, in other tanks, I found that I needed to be careful about injecting too much CO2 due to my fairly low buffer (KH). If you keep injecting without regular water changes, you may find that your pH will eventually crash. Just a heads-up.

Edited September 22, 2022 by Fish Folk

[tolstoy21]

@Fish Folk

Is that a school of SAEs? Awesome!!!!!

[_Eric_]

Nice tank!  I haven’t done CO2 but should be great for the plants.

the issue you will have on a larger centerpiece fish will be your existing fish.  A lot of large centerpiece fish that would work in your tank size would eat some of the fish you already have in there.  Pearl gourami would be ok except they would have a higher chance of fighting with the betta.  Could work / could not.  

bolivian rams could be nice but they are not what I’d call a “large” centerpiece fish.  Definitely larger than what you have in there now though so may be worth checking out and trying.

If you are trying to fill up some space a group of 3 Siamese algae eaters could work nice.  I like how they look but they aren’t the most colorful fish.  
 

if you are good rehoming some of the fish,  electric blue acara are nice fish to build a community tank around.  The lemon tetras would probably  work with them and possibly the harlequins.  The neons would be dicey though.

[rockfisher]

On 9/22/2022 at 7:26 AM, Fish Folk said:

I love your aquarium!

There is a basic rule: "If it can fit in the mouth, it will eventually go there." I have found this to be true over and over again. So, whatever centerpiece fish you select, you need to keep in mind that it will eat your smaller fry, and if large enough will eat your small tetras in at lights-on. Tetras are "woozy" in the morning, and I''ve watched larger fish enjoy a free breakfast too many times.

Having said that, my main question is this: what temperature are you keep on maintaining? IF you're able to go hot -- ca. 82-F or warmer (28-C) -- then my answer would be 100% a pair of young Discus. I just add extra air to maintain enough dissolved oxygen. Here are photographs of my 55 gal. with Discus I've kept for years. They are as easy as any fish I've ever kept as long as you maintain warm water and water change 30%-50% once a week. I just use sponge filters. You will need to invest in quality food. I feed frozen foods 1x per day at least. Discus like groups, but will get along very well in a 40 breeder in pairs. Buy a young pair that gets along well. For whatever it's worth, Red Marlboro / Red Melon seem to stand out best against greens plants.

As for water parameters, in other tanks, I found that I needed to be careful about injecting too much CO2 due to my fairly low buffer (KH). If you keep injecting without regular water changes, you may find that your pH will eventually crash. Just a heads-up.

I still love your fish and agree that the both of those discus would really pop in that beautiful tank @Marcelohas. 

[_Eric_]

On 9/22/2022 at 6:26 AM, Fish Folk said:

I love your aquarium!

There is a basic rule: "If it can fit in the mouth, it will eventually go there." I have found this to be true over and over again. So, whatever centerpiece fish you select, you need to keep in mind that it will eat your smaller fry, and if large enough will eat your small tetras in at lights-on. Tetras are "woozy" in the morning, and I''ve watched larger fish enjoy a free breakfast too many times.

Having said that, my main question is this: what temperature are you keep on maintaining? IF you're able to go hot -- ca. 82-F or warmer (28-C) -- then my answer would be 100% a pair of young Discus. I just add extra air to maintain enough dissolved oxygen. Here are photographs of my 55 gal. with Discus I've kept for years. They are as easy as any fish I've ever kept as long as you maintain warm water and water change 30%-50% once a week. I just use sponge filters. You will need to invest in quality food. I feed frozen foods 1x per day at least. Discus like groups, but will get along very well in a 40 breeder in pairs. Buy a young pair that gets along well. For whatever it's worth, Red Marlboro / Red Melon seem to stand out best against greens plants.

As for water parameters, in other tanks, I found that I needed to be careful about injecting too much CO2 due to my fairly low buffer (KH). If you keep injecting without regular water changes, you may find that your pH will eventually crash. Just a heads-up.

I love this tank!  A 55 discus tank is my dream at the moment but I am still intimidated by the discus… 😆

[Fish Folk]

On 9/22/2022 at 7:53 AM, tolstoy21 said:

@Fish Folk

Is that a school of SAEs? Awesome!!!!!

Indeed. Big mammas in there. They love this tank.

[rockfisher]

On 9/22/2022 at 8:12 AM, _Eric_ said:

I love this tank!  A 55 discus tank is my dream at the moment but I am still intimidated by the discus… 😆

I wouldn’t be to scared. I have said this before and still think it’s true. Discus breed for several generations in tanks and not from the wild are easier to keep than they where 30 years ago. I would try to go with Snedeker Discus if you can find some or some that is breeding them. The uk it is common to keep Snedeker focus with tap water. I’m not say a ph of 7.6 would great for them but it is not really the changes in water chemistry that is important. 

[Marcelo]

Hi Guys, 

 

First of all - I loved the Discuss idea from @Fish Folk and still researching. And about Raimbow fish ?? Would them be a good idea ?