I'm looking for some advice on my first Cichlid Tank.
I've currently got a standard 55 gal aquarium 4ft x 1ft x 1.5ft (H). Its a planted tank, currently housing 6 Congo tetras and will need to house a 5-6 inch Rainbow Shark. The shark is pretty quick and aggressive so it should fit in with medium sized adult cichlids. My concern is more for any cichlids I buy being bullied before they can put on some size/mass, hopefully dithers fix that issue.The plants should grow to cover the whole back of the tank and the duckweed (currently top right) will eventually cover the entire surface.
Upgrading the tank size isn't something I want to do for space reasons, so I'd want fish that can live in this tank for life.I believe that means the biggest fish should top out around 8 inches (10 at the most), depending on how many fish are in there once fully grown. These are my current ideas,mostly combinations of medium sized cichlids or a single medium cichlid with a larger dither school size. Please let me know what could work from your experience
#1-
Dithers:
- 6 Congo
- 14 Barbs (One group of either Tiger, Moss, Denison, Odessa or Cherry barbs)
Main Fish:
- Jack Dempsey
- Rainbow Shark
#2-
Dithers:
- 6 Congo
Main Fish:
- Firemouth
- Red Jewel
- Blue Acara
- Salvini
- Rainbow Shark
#3-
Dithers:
- 6 Congo
- 6 Barbs (One group of either Tiger, Moss, Denison, Odessa or Cherry barbs)
Main Fish:
- Jack Dempsey
- Salvini
- Rainbow Shark
#4-
Dithers:
- 6 Congo
Main Fish:
- Firemouth
- Blue Acara or JD
- Salvini
- Rainbow Shark
#5-
Dithers:
- 6 Congo
- 14 Barbs (One group of either Tiger, Moss, Denison, Odessa or Cherry barbs)
Main Fish:
- Firemouth
- Red Jewel
- Blue Acara
- Salvini
- Rainbow Shark
If I haven't made it obvious yet the fish I like most in order would be the Jack Dempsey (possibly too big and lowers other options due to size), Salvini, Acara, Firemouth and red jewel.
I've currently got a standard 55 gal aquarium 4ft x 1ft x 1.5ft (H). Its a planted tank, currently housing 6 Congo tetras and will need to house a 5-6 inch Rainbow Shark. The shark is pretty quick and aggressive so it should fit in with medium sized adult cichlids. My concern is more for any cichlids I buy being bullied before they can put on some size/mass, hopefully dithers fix that issue.The plants should grow to cover the whole back of the tank and the duckweed (currently top right) will eventually cover the entire surface.
Upgrading the tank size isn't something I want to do for space reasons, so I'd want fish that can live in this tank for life.I believe that means the biggest fish should top out around 8 inches (10 at the most), depending on how many fish are in there once fully grown. These are my current ideas,mostly combinations of medium sized cichlids or a single medium cichlid with a larger dither school size. Please let me know what could work from your experience
#1-
Dithers:
- 6 Congo
- 14 Barbs (One group of either Tiger, Moss, Denison, Odessa or Cherry barbs)
Main Fish:
- Jack Dempsey
- Rainbow Shark
#2-
Dithers:
- 6 Congo
Main Fish:
- Firemouth
- Red Jewel
- Blue Acara
- Salvini
- Rainbow Shark
#3-
Dithers:
- 6 Congo
- 6 Barbs (One group of either Tiger, Moss, Denison, Odessa or Cherry barbs)
Main Fish:
- Jack Dempsey
- Salvini
- Rainbow Shark
#4-
Dithers:
- 6 Congo
Main Fish:
- Firemouth
- Blue Acara or JD
- Salvini
- Rainbow Shark
#5-
Dithers:
- 6 Congo
- 14 Barbs (One group of either Tiger, Moss, Denison, Odessa or Cherry barbs)
Main Fish:
- Firemouth
- Red Jewel
- Blue Acara
- Salvini
- Rainbow Shark
If I haven't made it obvious yet the fish I like most in order would be the Jack Dempsey (possibly too big and lowers other options due to size), Salvini, Acara, Firemouth and red jewel.
Last edited: