Ca community tanks

[dan518]

There is always lots of discussion on this forum about community tanks so I thought I would show some of the different, proven ways people have managed to have long lasting ( over 5 years) successful communitys. None of these tanks are mine and full credit to there owners.
First tank is over 300 cm by 100 cm and shows what you can do with a large footprint

Second tank is a all male amphilophus tank, I have seen a few of these last for years but probably my least favourite

Next is a species only tank, rusty wessel runs alot of heavily stocked tanks like this.

And last is the biotope

All of these tanks have had alot of thought and fettling to get them to work, and none of them are just a random mix of fish just dumped in a tank

 

[isde02]

I love that first tank. I would love to do something like that.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Nice tanks. Especially like the bifasciatus tank.
As pointed out footprint is massive on these. Most commonly asked about stocking questions regarding c/a communities are normally in tanks under 200 gallons.
If only though, I would love something with an 8 x4 footprint. Just think of the possibilities.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Really like the videos, Over the years I keep trying to set up tanks for other purposes (geos, plants, etc) and somehow in the end they always turn into CA community tanks. That first one here is amazing, wish I had a 10 foot tank.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Tank size is key in this. I have a big tank, and a 125, and I can tell you that once my fish are 10-12 inches, I don't consider moving them into the 125. unless they are wounded or about to get wounded, it's jut not an option.

And, I think it's easiest to do with all Vieja. The mix of Vieja and Parachromis is very surprising.

 

[Milingu]

Tank size is key in this. ....

And, I think it's easiest to do with all Vieja. The mix of Vieja and Parachromis is very surprising.

Actually here in Germany a lot of the guys with big tanks keep Parachromis together with Vieja and other big CA/SA-cichlids.
A friend told me the bigger tank the smaller becomes the territory the cichlids defend.
Some even keep breeding pairs of P. dovii or C. umbriferum sucessfully in community tanks.

The tank in the first video belongs to Michael Pilack. He has a website which is quite nice. Especially "Reports", "visiting" and the "Pictures" are worth watching.

 

[dan518]

I like Michael youtube channel, I also like his tanks, why I chose one of his. I lived in Germany for 2 years and learnt a fair bit about how German and Dutch keep cichlids and still think some of the best quality vieja come from those countries

 

[dan518]

Tank size is key in this. I have a big tank, and a 125, and I can tell you that once my fish are 10-12 inches, I don't consider moving them into the 125. unless they are wounded or about to get wounded, it's jut not an option.

And, I think it's easiest to do with all Vieja. The mix of Vieja and Parachromis is very surprising.

Do you get much aggression in your tank? I was going to put a link up to it, another one of my favourites.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Very little aggression. A little bit of gill flaring, they nip at each other at feeding time while they're all at the front waiting for me to drop pellets in. Never any real fights, though. I'm 2 years into this tank, the biggest fish are all 2 years or older.

Some even keep breeding pairs of P. dovii or C. umbriferum sucessfully in community tanks.

Uh oh. Umbees? Really? I think I might give that a try. This is like the 3rd or 4th time I've heard that Umbee's are not the completely insane killers they're assumed to be.

Do the Germans do Umbees in a community in 540 Ga / 2000 L tank, or do they need something even bigger?

 

[Milingu]

I know one case were it worked in a 320x120x80 cm tank. But the guy doesnt keep them any more.
The other case is the tank of Richard Jahrstorfer. Its dimensions are 480x120x60 cm. Here is a videoof the pair.And here one can see the whole tank.