It's been awhile, thinking about getting back into the game.

[topoftheline77]

I'm going into my senior year (well fourth year of college), majoring in GeoScience so I can go to the Graduate School of Freshwater Sciences here at UWM. I'm considering getting a 55g and setting up a cichlid tank when I move back to school after summer. I've kept my fair share of cichlids, but it's been 3-4 years since I had my last real tank up an running. I've kept anything from convicts, to Jaguars, to a couple of pike cichlids. My issue was I got most them before I had adequate housing for them, or attempted the "wet pet" and got bored and sold them. (These were all in a 35g tank, got them when they were juvies, one thing or another happened that I couldn't/didn't want to buy a bigger tank). So I sort of want a "community" with multiple cichlids, a clean up crew, and maybe some dithers.

What I'm thinking for the cichlids:
Cubans, Firemouths, convicts, JD, salvini...

And for the cleaning crew:
Raphael Cat, BN pleco

Dithers (maybe):
Tiger Barb like fish?

Obviously I know not all of these couldn't fit, I'm pretty much just giving you what I'm interested in and seeing what you would do or recommend I do.

Thanks,
Mike

PS- I know going up to a 75 would be better, but I don't want to spend too much money and most of the houses by my school (UW-Milwaukee) are old houses with floors that I don't trust with too much weight. So I'm hoping I can find something I like for a 55g.

TL;DR - What would you recommend for a 55g cichlid 'community' tank?

 

[macframalama]

tiger barbs or bala sharks...small ones
raph cats are great clean up

been a while since i have seen some nice firemouths

 

[Arowana Breeder]

The fire mouths will eat him

 

[macframalama]

i doubt it , there called armored catfish for a reason....
and bala sharks are pretty zippy and if they get eaten .... its a bala

 

[BellycrawlerJaws]

i doubt it , there called armored catfish for a reason....
and bala sharks are pretty zippy and if they get eaten .... its a bala

Bala sharks get far too large for a 55, since they get to be 13" full grown and need to be in groups...

Cubans get too big for a 55 too

I'd do..

1 pair Nicaraguense OR 1 pair Salvini OR 1 pair firemouth
12 columbian tetra
1 spotted raphael


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[macframalama]

i assumed at some point reality would set in that a 90 isnt really any bigger of a foot print than a 55 ... and i assumed that the bala`s were simply dithers untill the others got larger

 

[macframalama]

55 gallons is such a stupid shape 12 inches wide is useles,

they need to reconfigure what `standard`sized aquariums are even a 24 inch bottom is dumb

my tank is a stupid shape too im not poo pooing on your set up, mine is 4`long 3`tall and 30 inches wide.....

why you need 3 feet of height is unknown to me i wish mine were 4 x 3 wide x 30 inches tall.... but i dont run the world

 

[virgil2090]

for a community to be possible in a 55,it would be better to stick to smaller growing cichlids:convicts,sajicas,etc.also if you get a group,they will most likely pair off.i would try to get all M or F if you go with community.i would personally try {bellycrawlerjaws} ideaair of nics,sals,or firemouth

 

[topoftheline77]

I would have to check out the house that I'm moving in to. Just for kicks and giggles what would you do in a 75 or 90 gallon?

 

[topoftheline77]

What about a Salvini, FM, and a convict in a 55? Then whatever other non cichlids. I'm not looking for a pair of anything atm.

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