Centerpiece fish for a planted 75?

[Plec123]

I've got a 75g SA planted community tank with a BGK, diamond tetras, colombian tetras, 2 small pleco species (L239 and L037) and 4 whiptail cats. I figure this is pretty heavily stocked as is, especially with the BGK, but am wondering if I have any options for bigger fish that will be out during the daytime. The BGK is great, but when the lights are on he's wedged in one of his caves and the only visible fish are the tetras and the 2 whiptails that haven't buried themselves in the sand.

I have thought about a single blue (or brown... or yellow) acara as they're pretty peaceful and probably won't mess with my plants.
Also considered one of the smaller geophagus species but I'm pretty sure they all like groups and that their digging will uproot my plants.

Also, I'm aware that the BGK will probably go after my tetras eventually, but they're all nearly fully grown, between 2" and 3", so they should be safe for some time.

Anyone got any other fish ideas?

 

[Belly up]

The EBA are total powder puffs and are, ime plant safe. Since they don`t get too large a seventy-five will be a lifetime fit, so why not?

 

[Plec123]

The EBA are total powder puffs and are, ime plant safe. Since they don`t get too large a seventy-five will be a lifetime fit, so why not?

I'm def leaning towards the acaras for this reason. They seem like a pretty solid choice all around, just curious what everyone else has to say!

How is their growth rate? I've heard they grow fairly slowly

 

[Belly up]

How is their growth rate? I've heard they grow fairly slowly

[/QUOTE]

I would say mine have been somewhat slow growing. My JD are out pacing them and I have always considered them slow.

 

[J. H.]

three spot gourami. I just got 3 for my 55, and love them. They interact a lot like cichlids, challenging each other and choosing territories, without doing any damage, but are also social and will swim together, and do fine wirh small fish like tetras or livebearers.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I think the acara idea is a good one. Some other ideas I could think of, would be festivum, or angelfish. Would do a small group of them.
For a single centerpiece, ive also seen some members here have success with an electric blue Dempsey.

Personally I have a panamensis as centerpiece for a 45 gallon planted tank. I really like this type of setup, though the panamensis is probably not "ideal", as he occasionally will kill a tetra or snap the tail off a swordtail.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Blue acara is a good fish but not plant safe ime. They will rip up leaves and drag the plants around the tank sometimes. They may be safe around grassier type plants but they are definitely leaf shredders.

 

[Backfromthedead]

I'm def leaning towards the acaras for this reason. They seem like a pretty solid choice all around, just curious what everyone else has to say!

How is their growth rate? I've heard they grow fairly slowly

Mine went from 2.5"-5" in about a year. The alpha male seemed to hit a big growth spurt when they started competing to mate. Hes nearly 7" now.

 

[Zanzag]

Blue acara are plant safe if NOT a pair. Especially as the lone cichlid. Only really mess with plants when breeding. Ive got a pair of regular blues in a 55 thats fairly heavily planted and only occasionally would lose an anubias leaf or two before i took it out.
Now i just lose the occasional lotus leaf but it grows so fast im thankful for it

 

[tiger15]

I have a heavily planted 75 with 3 male EBA. I eliminated all the females because a breeding pair will dig out plants to make nest. Male EBA are fine with plants but not female. All female or a single female EBA will attempt to lay eggs and ruin plants. EBA are very peaceful and males only fight in the presence of female. They swim in the front during feeding time, and sometime disappear in the bush of plants as a planted scape seems to be roomy for more fish.