Biggest Cichlid for 4 foot tank and filter

[Bozatronia]

Hi All,

You have all been so great at helping me navigate the fish world so far, so thank you!!

Some may remember that I posted asking about a 5 foot tank and its potential inhabitants. I am now looking into a 4 ft tank instead as it is half the price.

I now wanted to get your opinion on what would be the largest cichlid I could comfortably fit in a 4 foot. To possible situations:
- cichlid would be alone
- cichlids that would do well with my current electric blue acara

I love big fish so the bigger the better, but of course I want them to be comfortable in a 4 ft tank!!

Also, for a 4 ft tank, would a Fluval 406 canister filter be enough?

Thanks again.

EDIT: I should mention the tanks dimensions would be: 4ft long x 18 in wide x 18 in tall

 

[bbortko]

Solo 12” or so would be fine. with the eba I wouldn’t get anything bigger, maybe 2 similar sized fish or a group of smaller fish.

 

[robham777]

If you have the space and the ability to pick it up, you may want to hold off a couple of weeks and see if Petsmart runs the 125 gallon black Friday sale again. Stocking a 6' tank is much easier than a 4'. I think they were around $400 with lights, lids, and stand last year, but of course quantities and availability are limited.

 

[Bozatronia]

If you have the space and the ability to pick it up, you may want to hold off a couple of weeks and see if Petsmart runs the 125 gallon black Friday sale again. Stocking a 6' tank is much easier than a 4'. I think they were around $400 with lights, lids, and stand last year, but of course quantities and availability are limited.

Unfortunately we don't have that sale in Australia, otherwise I would definitely be looking into it!

 

[robham777]

Unfortunately we don't have that sale in Australia, otherwise I would definitely be looking into it!

Gotcha, did not realize you were down under. I am no better off in the states, there are three Petsmart stores within driving distance of me and none of them stock the larger tanks.

 

[Gourami Swami]

10-12" max fish solo. Grammodes, p loisellei, most hericthys species would be fine. Female festae or amphilophus would work. lots of cichlids that get to that size, I would look at vendors like jeff rapps or cichlids of the Americas and see what they have, and pick a fish you'd like to grow out. Buy a few, and sell or rehome the others when they get a little size and you find one you like

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Some knowledgeable people have answered here and I don't mean to undermine their advice but I have to disagree.
Personally I feel a 12 inch fish is much to big for life in a 4 foot x 18 tank.
Personally I would look at a few smaller 4 to 6 inch fish or maybe a pair of small cichlids. Certainly nothing bigger than 8 inches.
There are no rules to stocking just lots of different views, and those are mine.

 

[sevs and sajicas for me]

I think a severum or perhaps a breeding pair of sevs would be fine in a 75. At the very least they would be fine for several years if you bought them as juveniles.

 

[Bozatronia]

I think a severum or perhaps a breeding pair of sevs would be fine in a 75. At the very least they would be fine for several years if you bought them as juveniles.

What about Jack Dempseys, green terrors, etc. would they be okay? Have they got much personality? I'd like a fish/fishes who would be comfortable in that size tank when fully grown.

 

[Rocksor]

What about Jack Dempseys, green terrors, etc. would they be okay? Have they got much personality? I'd like a fish/fishes who would be comfortable in that size tank when fully grown.

kept alone with only dithers, chances are high one of those (JD or GT) would work in a 48x18" tank. I find GT have more personality and JD's are hit and miss.