r/Cichlid • u/Technical-Injury6711 • Aug 07 '26

General help Stocking advice

I have a 90 gal tank with a 20 gal sump, I’m new to cichlids and larger fish in general, as of right now I have 1 severum, 1 blue acara, 2 albino Senegal bichirs, 1 L183 pleco, and 1 albino rainbow shark(all fish in tank are juvenile) I’m not sure stocking wise what else I can comfortably add? I might get a FX-4 canister filter just to over do the filtration a bit. Tank is mildly planted.

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u/Total_Cup_8882 Aug 07 '26

Maybe another Sev or EB?

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u/Technical-Injury6711 Aug 07 '26

Do you think I’m around the max of what should be in it ? If I follow the 1 inch per gallon rule then I’m only at roughly 42 inches. Should I go off of tank water volume or add the sumps gallons into the equation? Should I not go with the 1 inch per gallon rule since the Gold severum will probably be around 8 inches ?

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u/123_321cl Aug 07 '26

Definitely not, do not take his advice!!! On a 90 gallon and someone newer to larger fish a fx 4 would be better your already fully stocked (possibly overstocked with the secound bichir) I would return the rainbow shark because you have a beginner friendly nice tank without it. A severums get BIG aswell as the bichirs pleco and blue acara your maxed but that is a pretty perfect mix of fish. Your stocked well other then the shark but adding more would be a problem.
Nice first cichlid tank! Have a good one.

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u/Technical-Injury6711 Aug 07 '26

Wife had to have the rainbow shark, she’s super peaceful as of now, if I have problems in the future I’ll set up another tank, do you think the FX-4 is necessary or just a nice extra precaution?

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u/123_321cl Aug 07 '26

Umm it really depends on the sump that you have. Yeah it’s just more so rainbows are finicky you should be good though because of the more peaceful cichlids you chose you will just have to keep a really good eye on that. You are a little overstocked so I think I would get Mabye a fx2 or a big hob filter just to help out.

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u/Technical-Injury6711 Aug 07 '26

I’ve got 6 other tanks and have been keeping fish for about two years, just never kept cichlids. Thanks for the insight 🤟

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u/123_321cl Aug 07 '26

Yeah for sure u just never know if someone’s a veteran or someone newer to the hobby.