Setting Up a 125 Gallon Aquarium for Geophagus winemilleri and Severums

[@LickyMy9]

I scaped my new 125 today. I finally got to use my river birch root. Its a huge piece of wood with two humps in it and some awesome intertwining roots below. The two humps conjoined is what gave me the idea that it belonged to a small birch. Can’t wait to stock it.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That sounds cool!

[@TMAquatics]

The tank turned out great Jason. Looks perfect without any plants. More of a true biotope where those fish come from. Also like the subdued lighting. No plants equals no need for a super bright spot lights. Well done! 👍

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Ya, didn't feel like watching the severums eat a bunch of live plants. Haha

[@CaylorsReptilesAquatics]

You guys are doing an amazing team project on this. Something to really be proud of! Joanna did an awesome job on the scape. It's perfect for the fish and their behaviors. The wood, local? It's perfect for the tank. These are my two favorite fish, ever. I keep several large Severum and several large Geophagus. My fav Geos are Jurapari. They aren't seen as often as they should be in the hobby. You have an incredible tank with incredible fish. Loving following this project and the results!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Jurapari are definitely on my list of "must haves". : -)

[@bunnyviperaquatics2108]

That’s great! Jason, looks like you make a great helper ! 😎 But seriously, great video & congratulations!! I’m really happy for y’all, (success & awesomeness!)- couldn’t happen to nicer people, truly. Blessings all around, Sincerely, Ivey

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! :-)

[@tacomanaquatics6757]

Tank looks great, nice work! can't wait to see the fish mature

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@WeldonTanks]

New tank looks incredible! I have enjoyed following your build. You are a major part of my inspiration to build out what i call my fish nook

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Awesome! A fish nook is a wonderful thing. 😀

[@TheFishNerd]

Great work, Joanna!!! Scape looks awesome!!! And those fish! Two of my favorite cichlids. Tank envy. I have it.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thanks Carlos! Been wanting to do this combo for a while. : -)

[@monsterfishgal]

Love the Geophagus Winemilleri beautiful fish. The 125 beautiful tank great video as always

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@Aiden-V2.0]

This tank is epiiiic. Geos and Severums are some of my favourite fish that I'm unfortunately unable to keep do to size restraints on my tanks. Guess I'll just have to live vicariously through you! I've kept severums with java fern, anubias, and aponogeton without any issue.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Thats good to know. So far, my older severums have eaten every piece of green plant I've put in the tank. Haha

[@Aiden-V2.0]

Oh man, that’s a bummer. That makes sense though, mine were pretty small so I guess that’s not a good survey of severum behaviour! I’d guess they were around 4-5 inches when I had to rehome them.

[@catfishcave379]

Fabulous combination of fish - and two of my favorites! And the thank looks terrific! After the super reds I would add a loner type of fish. Maybe an elephant nose or a redtail or rainbow shark. (secretly I think 10 zebra loaches would be great... but I know you want to keep all the winemilleri as long as possible) Eagerly waiting the next installment... or next video...

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Ya, still trying to feel out how the combo is going to play out. So far it’s working well. 😀

[@rickrodriguez6675]

Excellent game play plan between the two of you. Love guys

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@stevemalone6012]

Beautiful fish. I've got two red shouldered severum and one fire red.. They're huge broccoli fans!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Very cool!

[@audrisampson]

Love this combination of fish. Beautiful tank!!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@jlathem56]

Awesome looking tank. Great addition to the room !

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Looking forward to seeing them grow up!

[@pamelapilling6996]

Can't wait to see the follow up videos.

[@Ourfrenchiegirls]

They’re beautiful! Love it!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thanks!

[@leeandmandybattersby5958]

Great video i am looking for these geos for my tank loving the severums especially that colour could i keep them in a 65 gallon

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I'm assuming the 65 is the taller version of a 40 breeder - so 36x18? I think a pair of severums would probably work if stocking was limited besides them. The geos do get big - 8-10" so that might be a little tough for them long term. The nice thing is most geos grow VERY slowly so if your plan is to upgrade in the future you probably have a couple years before you would need to upgrade.

[@AquariumRick]

What would you recommend for a 30 gallon Tanganyika. Like a couple of julidochromis transcriptus kissi? I have one 30 gallon with 15+- lamprologus multifasciatus. With a single julidochromis.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Cool tank! If you have the rock work that may work for the julies. I’m surprised the multis aren’t attacking the one that’s in there if/when they have babies around.

[@growinginportland]

See you on the flip side. Thanks for sharing......

[@brooke3140]

I love this tank sooo much! Seriously I'm obsessed with geophagus winemilleri and really love the severums (the orange/red spotted ones are my favorite) but I know they eat plants. I love my planted aquariums. What's the smallest tank size and number of geos I can keep? Also what are some good dither fish for geos? Everyone says large tetras (like lemons, rosys) but what else?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

The winemilleri are some of the coolest geophagus! Ideally, a 75 gallon or larger would be nice for one. If I'm keeping a group I like 6ft tanks. They really don't pay much attention to other fish. Any tetras large enough not to be eaten (so about lemon tetra size), brilliant green rasboras, hatchet fish, cory cats, BN plecos, and rainbow fish all might be good options. :-)

[@brooke3140]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics awesome thanks so much! I absolutely love geophagus! Winemilleri and topajos are for sure my favorites. I need to convince my family we need a 6ft tank. They think I'm crazy as it is but they're coming around. Shrimp breeding is helping my fight lol. Thinking about breeding guppies or endlers to really get them hooked. Thanks so much for the reply, I love this channel and appreciate what you guys do! I would have lost every tank without you!

[@sherrysfishroom6597]

Joann did an awesome job. Wtg girl.. Love ya Great video.. love the severums. oh so pretty.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@AnimalJones_outdoors]

Love the tank looks awesome. What kind of black sand did you use in there and how many bags do you think I would need for a 75 gallon?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I believe we used Caribsea Naturals in this tank. I'd probably go with around three 25lb bags in a 75 gallon. Thanks for watching!

[@Aquariumswithty]

Can’t wait to see the progress

[@CreativePetKeeping]

That tank is sooo big !!!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Nothing like a double stack of 125's to look at, well, unless it was a double stack of 180's, or....... : -)

[@CreativePetKeeping]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics if I was building a rack it would be for 2 5 gallons and it would be the most badass of badass racks

[@tyson3897]

Jonah You should tie some Java moss on to the driftwood that's on the left side of the tank to make it look like a tree they would be Badd a**

[@stephenkendall839]

My Severus ate the Java moss as well as the Anubis’s lol. Great looking tank very impressive. May keep a watch on the wood if you do get a dominant male as I have had fish damaged by wood of this type when chased by a dominant fish. The Severum’s eyes are exposed so you need to be careful Next project? Lol

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Ya, my severums even eat hornwort and duckweed. : -) Very good point about the wood!

[@beliefisnotachoice]

What are the blue fish over your right shoulder in the beginning of the video? Really like their color.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Those are Star Sapphire Cichlids! Check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/foG5YoyPi7uNq8U

[@hsmom45]

looks great /thinking of setting up a 125 with 7 sveni geos / what do you think

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That sounds cool!

[@tyson3897]

Hopefully in a year or so I'll be breeding them next on my list is some lake Victorian neyphogh cichlids

[@NittanyFins]

Awesome...what brand/type of tank did you use in this 125?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

This one is a Marinland tank.

[@joshdeskin6766]

Jason, awesome tank. I’m not sure if you mentioned it or not but what brand black sand/substrate are you using? I really The the look.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

It’s caribsea super naturals😀

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

I set up a tank with threadfin acaras (geo close relative), angels and red spot severums, quite like the tank you are setting up. Had a bed of beautiful anubias grown over the past year. The sevreums destroyed the anubias, clipping off any new growth. As much as I love live plants, I had to convert the tank to plastic plants. Till looks great to the casual observer, but I know the plants are fake.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That's an awesome mix. I love Heckeli as well. Did the same mix. Had to laugh at the severum misfortune. I've had that happen as well. : -)

[@DTaylorYoutubeChannel]

Love the dark sand!!!! Did you have to rinse it?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

We don’t usually rinse sand made for aquariums.

[@DTaylorYoutubeChannel]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics Good to know. How long does it take for the dust to settle and the extra to go away. Because I put sand in my new aquarium but I rinsed it and rinsed it and rinsed it. Still had some dust at the top of the water for a little while. Am I doing it right?

[@johnanders8221]

Nice job 🙂👍

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@gore1]

Beautiful! Tempts me to do the same setup, but the plant eating nature of severums always give me pause. I also hear that geophagus love to dig up plants. Has that been your experience with them?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I’ve found it depends on the geos. My tapajos and brasiliensis dig quite a bit. The surinamensis and steindachneri not as much. The winemilleri aren’t quite as bad either.

[@jimmycole2725]

What kind is sand did you use in the 125. Thx

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I believe that was topfin?

[@lukeb1984]

Nice tank thinking of doing something similar, how big is the tank dimentions?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Its 6ft long x 18" front to back and 23.5" tall

[@tayson1222]

Hey jason I just did the same setup lol. Thanks for your inspiration. 5 Severm (might add 2 more) and 7 geophagus . I'll post a video soon

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Very cool!

[@tayson1222]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics why dont you sell fish ? Where do you get your fish from ?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I sell fish, but only at local swaps and auctions. Don't feel like dealing with the headache of shipping. : -) Almost all my fish come from local club meetings/swaps/auctions - usually really healthy and we have good luck with them.

[@tayson1222]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics yea I do not blame you shipping fish is stressful lol , I still do not understand how they do it . Where r u located ? I live in florida

[@tayson1222]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics one last question , what is the growth rate of severums ?

[@pokefusion746]

Did you have to attach any of your racks to the wall?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I have not, but if I had small children I probably would have on some of the narrower 12" tank stands.

[@dawnmariebrock909]

Beautiful!!💕

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@tympanum59]

I might be feeling a tinge of jealousy.lol....two thunbs up all around very nice.love the scape the fish ...all of it

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@cichlidkingaquatics5988]

I love it Jason!

[@Aquatic_Amigo]

What kind of rock are you useing in this set up

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I don't remember what they are called. We got them from a LFS, but it's been a while since we bought them. :-)

[@yancyhammondjr]

Can you put the Severums with African Cichlids?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I personally probably wouldn't do it just because most severums are fairly docile and slow moving compared to Africans.

[@tizzledexter6260]

I may have missed it in the video but what type of sand is it you are using in this tank?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

We’re using caribsea naturals for this tank.

[@tizzledexter6260]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics thank you that is such an amazing color. We inherited a 150g reef tank that we are going to set up cichlids in I think it will make a great substrate

[@Brantov]

Interesting video, very nice.

[@adeelshaikh2129]

Nice to see you in swap Good one

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Great seeing you as well. : -)

[@tyson3897]

I just got 5 geophagus winemilleri 2.5 inches I put them in a 65 gallon tank

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They are going to be AWESOME!

[@sandypandys]

great fish

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@BradK02]

Once u have the wife on board, with the fish tanks. You made it in life. 😁

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Haha, it certainly makes it easier. : -)

[@tyson3897]

Good job joanna I dont thing you get the credit you deserve Jason always gives you the credit but i dont think people realize the people who are in the background

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Ya, she is doing a lot of the hardscaping now. I stink at it. : -)

[@tyson3897]

I love them

[@glove8884]

Yay!!!

[@davraydumas8637]

Hello I was wondering if you sell 5 baby geophagus winemilleri for my 125 gallon, & I'm in Cincinnati, Ohio if possible & ready to buy . Please let me know. Thanks.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Hey - we don't ship fish. We just sell at local swaps and auctions.

[@rev.jesseabelchristianlife6693]

Phase 5 ..... built on addition to fish room. LOL

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Now that would be cool!

[@rev.jesseabelchristianlife6693]

And ........ then there was room for more fish in the old tanks. LOL

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Well, there was. haha

[@theWazimu]

you dont wanna keep Geophagus Winemilleri on sand? Not natural for them to feed on gravel, gills are tiny and could get damaged compared to the sandy bedding they feed on in the wild :O

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That tank did have sand.

[@n1khiel]

Hi, I wish I had fast wifi. Am I still first? Anyway, nice video as always

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

You are!

[@theone5404]

The tank looks nice, but too much rock work. Minus the wood, it looks like a set up for African Cichlids. However, if you remove some of the rocks, 3 of the geophagus, and you'll be able to keep them all in there. If those geo's aren't F1 or f2, they may only get 8 inches. I keep geophagus sveni and satanoperca demon. They do prefer less rock and more surface to shift.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

We’ll probably make adjustments as time goes on. 😀

[@theone5404]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics that's what I do. Make adjustments in time. What type of black sand is that?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

The One That’s Caribsea Super Naturals.

[@tyson3897]

Sorry auto correct sucks

[@thespeeder123456]

maybe a few amazon swords?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

If it weren't for the severums that like to eat all things green that would look cool!

[@G4U-y6e]

Geophagus winemilleri？this looks more like geophagus brachybranchus

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

We got them from a breeder who collects in South America, so I'm fairly confident in his identifications.