American cichlid stocking

[Aussie_JD]

Hi guys, I'm looking at starting fresh with my stocking for a 4x2x2 tank. I like the american cichlids (not picky over central or south) and want to have something at least a half decent size.

What suggestions would people have? I do plan to upgrade to a 6 footer next year as well.

Some I like include: oscars, chocolate cichlid, golden saum, severum, fire mouth, neon blue acara and red head geophagus. Obviously wouldn't stock all of these at once, just listing these as a reference.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Lots of directions you could go, just not all at one time. 4x2x2 is a decent size but not big enough imo for a community of aggressive fish. The ones you posted are generally not that aggressive. What are your water parameters like from your tap (pH and hardness), that may make the decision of CA or SA for you.
If you have softer water, something like a severum/chocolate for a centerpiece and some red head tapajos or a EBAs as well, would be do-able. Alternatively could just do a larger group of the Geos, they would fill the tank themselves. For the SA setup could add some large tetra species and small catfish.
If your water is harder, I would go with the firemouths. 4x2 would be a good size for a group of 6-8 or so. There are lots of thoricthys species that could be interchanged with the FMs, and other CA options as well (for example a pair of nicaraguan macaw cichlids should be OK in this size).

 

[tlindsey]

Hi guys, I'm looking at starting fresh with my stocking for a 4x2x2 tank. I like the american cichlids (not picky over central or south) and want to have something at least a half decent size.

What suggestions would people have? I do plan to upgrade to a 6 footer next year as well.

Some I like include: oscars, chocolate cichlid, golden saum, severum, fire mouth, neon blue acara and red head geophagus. Obviously wouldn't stock all of these at once, just listing these as a reference.

Firemouth with livebearer for dithers.

 

[duanes]

I agree with the above comments,
hard water, a shoal of Thorichthys and some dithers.
Soft water, South Americans like a shoal of severum, or....a pair of chocolates and S American dithers
Neutralish water, a shoal of acaras.
I have watched an alpha male, or mated pair of adult JDs defend an area of about 250 gallons in nature from any other cichlid, and find that area about normal for almost any alpha type medium cichlids.
The other option is cramming so many together, no one can have or try to take territory. But this must be watched carefully, and adjustments made at a moments notice.
But water quality often suffers in such an arrangement unless daily water changes are done to maintain a healthy environment.

 

[Aussie_JD]

Thanks for the information guys. I bought the api master test kit but that doesn't come with the water hardness tests, I'll grab one this afternoon after work. My ph both from the tap and in the tank sit at 7.4, my tank has a couple bunches of java fern tied to driftwood or ornaments and an anubias tied around a small piece of lava rock.

I'm not to keen on cramming fish together as I've just had a baby and would like to keep the tank relatively simple when it comes to maintenance.

I was hoping to stick to one of each fish plus a smaller group of the geos, is that feasible?

 

[Aussie_JD]

Lots of directions you could go, just not all at one time. 4x2x2 is a decent size but not big enough imo for a community of aggressive fish. The ones you posted are generally not that aggressive. What are your water parameters like from your tap (pH and hardness), that may make the decision of CA or SA for you.
If you have softer water, something like a severum/chocolate for a centerpiece and some red head tapajos or a EBAs as well, would be do-able. Alternatively could just do a larger group of the Geos, they would fill the tank themselves. For the SA setup could add some large tetra species and small catfish.
If your water is harder, I would go with the firemouths. 4x2 would be a good size for a group of 6-8 or so. There are lots of thoricthys species that could be interchanged with the FMs, and other CA options as well (for example a pair of nicaraguan macaw cichlids should be OK in this size).

Hey gourami swami I bought a test kit for the hardness and it came back at gh:150ppm and kh:40-80ppm (kh was kind of in-between the colours on the test kit)

Would these levels stop me keeping healthy south Americans?