New 75gal / 300l tank setup

[Dolphin Junior]

Hey all - just bought a beautiful 300-litre tank (AguaOne 120), and it now has pride of place in the lounge, just sitting there, cycling, empty of fish... :( BUT, old tank has the new stock in it, rearing to jump from old to new home.

I have 4 severum (2 gold, 2 green (though I think one is more brown than green)) all 1.5-2" in size, plus 2 convicts, and 2 blue rams.

I know that they are all pretty much from the same geographical area, requiring fairly similar water conditions, and I'm aiming for perfect conditions for the rams seeing as they are the most susceptible to water quality, and, those convicts could probably survive in a toilet bowl...

My question is would it be best to have the new tank partially planted, for refuge's for the rams (I was thinking just a corner around the power head and heater, with the rest of the tank fairly open apart from some river stone caves etc (about 6-8" smooth stones arranged into caves etc), and if so, do you think using fake plant is any better than live? Would the sevs gobble up the plant? I've not really noticed the convicts take much interest apart from when they had fry and they seemed to break of a stem, let it rot, then give it to the fry to munch...

What type of plant would be best? Thin reedy types, or larger leaf?

Cheers,

D-J

[Rex Karr]

Honestly the Rams don't stand a chance in that tank with 4 Severums and 2 Convicts.

[wheelie]

I agree with Rex. Even if there is an area where only the rams could fit, they are going to be toast when the cons and severums get bigger and breed- if not sooner.

[ander]

AMEN! but the plant would still be good. live plants are always better than fake. i would go with some vallisinaria and maybe cabomba or amazon sword. good luck to u and the rams
-Ander

[demonblade442]

well most cichlids will de-root the plants, if you do plastic you can silicone them to the bottom or some rocks in the plastic piece on the bottom. Just save you $$

[jims2cool]

Not that I would recommend this but I have a pair of bolivain rams and about 8 cories in with 3 6" sevs for a long time (like 16months) with no adverse aggresion...but the cons will defineatly take out the rams.
2cool

[Dolphin Junior]

Well, they've all been in the tank now for going on three months, and not a hint of aggression anywhere

[christophero]

how big are those fish dolphin junior?

[Rex Karr]

I'm going to assume they are all still juveniles. I know the Severums are.

[Dolphin Junior]

Sevs are about 4"

[Rex Karr]

Like I said.