55 gal SA Cichlid idea

[Kevnesky]

I have an empty 55gal and was looking to put a few small-medium sized SA cichlids. Right now I’m thinking of 2-3 Blue Acaras with 2-3 firemouths with a school of either swordtails or tiger barbs and some sort of bottom feeder. The tank has fx 407 so I don’t think filtration is going to be an issue.

I’m not married to this idea at all and I’m looking for suggestions/ second opinions.

 

[Rocksor]

Firemouth harem (1 male 3 females) with the swordtails would be a biotope correct setup. You don't need a bottom feeder since both EBA (electric blue acaras are smaller than regular blue acaras) and FM scour the bottom for food.

Do a search for Lee Nuttall and Firemouth biotope if you want to see what it looks like.

 

[Deadeye]

You may want to drop either the acaras or the firemouths. If filtration isn’t an issue, there will come a time that the fish decide who can stay and who goes.
Single species setups are nice, or if you want some variation and little chance of breeding, you could try a convict, acara, and firemouth.
I wouldn’t do more than 3 cichlids, and they should probably be no bigger than 8 inches, 5-6 is a better size range.
A big thing is your water. Is it hard, high ph (good for most Central American cichlids), or soft, low ph (most South American)
Other good contenders for cichlids are rainbows, keyholes, other amantitlania, etc.

 

[FLA]

I would go with 1 cichlid species with a breeding pair of the following: Salvini, black acaras, bartoni, red ceibal, regani pikes, or a group of ivanacaras. Some of these could work with the swords some will not.

 

[Fishnerd360]

I agree with the idea for a firemouth harem. If you have softer water, a group of red head tapajos and a school of rummy nose tetras would make a stunning display.

 

[Kevnesky]

My water pretty close to neutral so that really opens thing up

The pair of Salvini’s is an idea what if any tank mates would work with them? But I do like the Firemouth harem.

 

[Deadeye]

Salvinis can get rough, best other fish would be large tetras, swordtails, giant danios, rainbow fish, etc.
Also plecos or other armored cats.

 

[Rocksor]

My water pretty close to neutral so that really opens thing up

The pair of Salvini’s is an idea what if any tank mates would work with them? But I do like the Firemouth harem.

A pair of salivinis might work, if they get along, once they start breeding, be able to stomach the loss of dithers like rainbow fish.