The Puffer Forum

I currently have 2 SAPs in a 60l and will upgrade them soon to a larger tank. As I would also like to get some more I have decided on getting the Rena Aqualife 120 x40 aquarium. This holds about 330L but would probably be less. According to my calculations this is about 87 US gallons, which means that I can keep 8 SAPs together, is this right? I will have to externals on it, the Rena XP2 and a Tetratec 600, so filtration wise, I will be fine. I would also be putting 7 otos in there. Would you recommend adding any other fish - some small plecs maybe??

8 SAP's will go in that tank. If you want small plecs along with the Oto's it's worth a try and see how it goes.

I would say that should be a decent stocking level, although its getting close to full with the SAP's and otos. You might want to consider a larger filter, I use a Rena XP3 on my 33 gallon tank and SAP's love a LOT of current. I'm not too familiar with the Tetratec 600 though, so combined they might be enough. For the extra couple dollars I'd upgrade to the XP3 though.

I would try to get a bristlenose or rubbernose pleco in there, just for algae eating, maybe cut down to 7 SAP's (I've heard fish schools seem to get along better in odd numbers for some reason).

Lots and lots of plants and stuff for them to hunt around in, these fish are super active and need things to do.

Just remember: the more SAPs, the more dentistry you will have to do.

oh the dentistry, I keep forgetting. Well I suppose if you're doing 2, you might as well do more. At least you'd get really good really quickly!
Yeah I think 7 SAP's, 7 otos and maybe a bristlenose.
Another question - if I was to put the original 2 in first and then introduce the other 5 at the same time, would you get fighting to do you think?? Would I have to rearrange the tank to mess up the territories??
Oh and filterwise, that tank comes with an XP2 filter anyway and I have a matured tetratec 600, so was going to put that on, along with mature water and hope that my tank doesn't go into a cycle. If I was then to get another xp2 or xp3, do you think that would be overkill, having 3 externals???

SAPs do not have territory and do not fight when in groups, so how you introduce should matter little, other then never more than doubling the bioload every week until fully stocked.

sounds like great idea to me, I would go for 8 for sure, though the dentistry would be daunting, but like you say if you've got 2 to do.....

I would love to see pics of this tank once setup

Well, if you have the established filter and the tank comes with the XP2, there you go!

I wouldn't add "mature" water to the setup when you fill it, that's just dirty water and the good bacteria lives on surfaces, not in the water column. The filter will bring over plenty (assuming you don't leave it sit shut off for any length of time) and if you can steal some decor from an established tank or especially if you plant it with live plants you shouldn't see any spikes at all I wouldn't think.