95 Gallon Central American tank

[mindstate]

Hi everyone,

I am planning to setup a 95G tank and would love to have some CA Cichlids in this one.

Tank dimensions: 150 x 45 x 60 cm

What would be a cool stocking for this tank ?

Fish I'm interested in; Firemouth, Convicts, Nicaraguan, Jack Dempsey, maybe T-bars.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[duanes]

Since I have kept all the species you mention, and knowing the actual territorial foot print they require, and that the tank is fairly limited, in size I would not combine more than 2 species.
For example (since they live in shoals) a group or 4 or 5 FMs, and one pair or trio. of another single cichlid species.
Because all the cichlids you mention are bottom huggers, and would tend to get in each others way, (causing turf wars if) crammed together in such a small footprint.
You could augment the cichlids with some non- territorial non-cichlid dither types to add action to the upper levels of the tank.
Other Central American Non-cichlids such as swordtails, or mollies, or Astyanax tetras might be apropos.


Amatitlania left, sajica (T-bar) middle, nicaraguans right

 

[mindstate]

Since I have kept all the species you mention, and knowing the actual territorial foot print they require, and that the tank is fairly limited, in size I would not combine more than 2 species.
For example (since they live in shoals) a group or 4 or 5 FMs, and one pair or trio. of another single cichlid species.
Because all the cichlids you mention are bottom huggers, and would tend to get in each others way, (causing turf wars if) crammed together in such a small footprint.
You could augment the cichlids with some non- territorial non-cichlid dither types to add action to the upper levels of the tank.
Other Central American Non-cichlids such as swordtails, or mollies, or Astyanax tetras might be apropos.
View attachment 1550947View attachment 1550949
View attachment 1550957View attachment 1550956View attachment 1550955
Amatitlania left, sajica (T-bar) middle, nicaraguans right

View attachment 1550949

Thanks Duanes! So like 4-5 FM with a couple of either T-bars or Nic's would work you think? Can I use other big tetra's as dithers? I don't like the blind ones.

 

[duanes]

Any large enough tetrars that work in your water parameters.
I assumed since you are asking about Central Americans, your water is hard, and with pH above 7.5..

 

[mindstate]

Any large enough tetrars that work in your water parameters.
I assumed since you are asking about Central Americans, your water is hard, and with pH above 7.5..

Been a while since I tested and can't find the exact values but it's neutral. pH is 7.0-7.1-ish and gh around 10 or 11.

 

[celebrist]

Since I have kept all the species you mention,

duanes could start nearly every post with this statement and likely bred them as well
one of the best sources of information you will ever come across

 

[mindstate]

duanes could start nearly every post with this statement and likely bred them as well
one of the best sources of information you will ever come across

I know, I know. I also know he won't like me going against my tap water parameters but he has been a great help with advice when I set up my 300 gallon SA Cichlid tank over a year ago and couldnt be happier with that tank.