55g South American Tank

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Whires do best at room temps.
you mean white cloud minnows? I googled "whires" and didn't find anything fish related...

I keep a tank of guppies at 74 For so, that would be too constant a temp for the gymnogeos, right?
 
Yes I meant white clouds.
Balzani is not "the" most colorful.
To me the gymnoogenys clade are some of the most colorful types.
I just checked Wet Spots list and they have 4 species of Gymnogeophagus, one from the gymnogenys group, Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys "quillero", its in a photo posted in my first reply, just below the nanoluteus.
also Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura a colorful representative of the rhabdotus group.
and labiatus
 
Yes I meant white clouds.
Balzani is not "the" most colorful.
To me the gymnoogenys clade are some of the most colorful types.
I just checked Wet Spots list and they have 4 species of Gymnogeophagus, one from the gymnogenys group, Gymnogeophagus gymnogenys "quillero", its in a photo posted in my first reply, just below the nanoluteus.
also Gymnogeophagus terrapurpura a colorful representative of the rhabdotus group.
and labiatus
Let's go with a setup for quilero, or terrapurpura.

1) How many of the Gymnogeos can I put in a 55g with how many apistogramma borelli, and odessa barbs.

2) Should I set a heater to make sure the water doesn't go below a certain temperature, or is that pointless?

3) Is there some kind of resource that I can search for fish by their area and water temp etc? (I dont want to have to bother you for the next 10 years while I make up my mind lol)

4) I dont know if I WANT to do this, but would a fancy goldfish work in that setup, or are they too big and messy?
 
The only one I can answer for is the goldfish. Too big and messy, but more importantly, the cichlids and barbs would harass it likely to near death. I’ve kept goldfish with tropical fish before, they’re best left separate.
 
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Let's go with a setup for quilero, or terrapurpura.

1) How many of the Gymnogeos can I put in a 55g with how many apistogramma borelli, and odessa barbs.

2) Should I set a heater to make sure the water doesn't go below a certain temperature, or is that pointless?

3) Is there some kind of resource that I can search for fish by their area and water temp etc? (I dont want to have to bother you for the next 10 years while I make up my mind lol)

4) I dont know if I WANT to do this, but would a fancy goldfish work in that setup, or are they too big and messy?

I see no need for a heater
If they are juvies, I'd start with 6, and as they grow they may, or may not whittle the crowd down to 1 male and 3 females.
Apistogramma borrelli is a good choice, maybe a pair or trio.
With the barbs, I'd do 6.
IMO Goldfish will easily outgrow a 55, and create too heavy bio load requiring many more and frequent water changes than you may have time for,
but..... that said I have kept goldfish and Gymnos together in my ponds for years.
Even without the goldfish, the more fish in the tank, the more it will need water changes.
1607853579921.png
I consider the goldfish above, too large for a 55.
Below overwintering Gymnos and other Uruguayan cichlids with goldfish and koi in a 500 gallon kiddy pool, in and unheated basement
1607853864803.png
1607854024230.png
 
I dont think I can do this at this point, but if I got a large kiddie pool like that, and had it in my back yard, would the temp dropping below freezing like 4 separate times a year (maybe 3 days each, total 12 days with nights below freezing) hurt the fish?
I wouldn't want to buy a deicing heater, but would that keep the Gymnogeos and other Uruguayan cichlids happy? Or do they need it warmer?
 
I dont think I can do this at this point, but if I got a large kiddie pool like that, and had it in my back yard, would the temp dropping below freezing like 4 separate times a year (maybe 3 days each, total 12 days with nights below freezing) hurt the fish?
I wouldn't want to buy a deicing heater, but would that keep the Gymnogeos and other Uruguayan cichlids happy? Or do they need it warmer?
Yes, these fish are cool water tolerant, but not frozen-water tolerant. The temps going into freezing will kill the cichlids. The goldfish can take it if the pond is deep enough.
 
Yes, these fish are cool water tolerant, but not frozen-water tolerant. The temps going into freezing will kill the cichlids. The goldfish can take it if the pond is deep enough.
That is what I figured. I guess that whole plan will have to wait for another house, where I can dig a good size hole and maybe run radiant heat around the sides or something...

Would US fish (like a blue spotted sunfish) work in my 55g unheated tank or do they need more space or something? I had no idea the US had such cool looking fish (I just discovered Jonah's aquarium and was browsing...)
 
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Gymnos have seasonal changes in Uruguay with winter water temps down into the 50sF, summers up into the 80s.
Some of my Gymnos and other Uruguayans spent summers in a pond, and winters inside in the kiddy pool, others inside year round in unheated aquariums.
Here are some other Uruguayan cichlids that take the wide fluctuation in temps.
1607880236620.png
Australoheros above, probably better off an larger tanks than a 55gal..
Below same Australoheros in breeding colors
1607880399952.png
Below Crenicichla pike cichlids from Uruguay
1607880448952.png
Below Australoheros and Gymnogeophagus Paso Pache squaring off
1607880531107.png
Below Gymnogeophagus balzani withUruguayan Corys
1607880657566.png
 
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