Community cichlids????

[Finagain]

Hi I'm setting up a 55 gallon community tank. I already have angels from which I will choose 6 non-breeding individuals. I know they only exhibit minor aggression among themselves but I want to make this tank as peaceful as I can so no paired angels. I will also have 16 lemon tetras. To fill out my stock list I also want to add some smaller peaceful cichlids. I have been thinking 8-10 GBR but I would rather go with something that I haven't kept before. The other 2 that I am considering are rainbow cichlids or keyhole cichlids. (sorry, I have been keeping fish almost my whole life but still use mostly common names for them). I will want 6 of either but the question is will they be mellow enough if I separate any pairs to their own breeding tank? Also, my male angels are more impressive than my females so I will make the 6 angels males. Will this work for either of the other 2 species, or would males be overly aggressive in a small group? If there is no or little difference in the 2 choices what would be your favorite to pick?

Aside from this project I have a pair of salvini raising fry right now and plan to keep some "monster" cichlids at some point in the future.
Thanks.

 

[Binge]

Could always do electric blue acara.

 

[Finagain]

Could always do electric blue acara.

Pretty fish, but I'm not a big fan of artificial varieties. I did think about maybe yellow or blue acaras but I think I'd just rather the rainbow cichlids or the keyholes. Both supposedly mild mannered when not breeding and just plain appealing to me.

Do you like either one more?

 

[Binge]

Do not realy have experience with either one.

 

[jonclark96]

I think that having 12 cichlids in a 55 will get pretty tight, especially as the angels mature. Maybe a pair of rams would be okay depending on water maintenance. Keyholes may also work, but not 6 of them. Rainbows are great fish, but they can be a little robust and I wouldn't trust them with bite sized tetras over time.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Bigger tank?

 

[bbortko]

Biitodoma cupido are a fun little fish that will work.

 

[dan518]

apistogramma

 

[Finagain]

I think that having 12 cichlids in a 55 will get pretty tight, especially as the angels mature. Maybe a pair of rams would be okay depending on water maintenance. Keyholes may also work, but not 6 of them. Rainbows are great fish, but they can be a little robust and I wouldn't trust them with bite sized tetras over time.

I do habitually over stock but I am a stickler for daily water changes. 10-20 % depending on how well I can get the filtration flow maximized. Right now I have 9 nearly full grown angels in a 29! Aside from the bickering when 1 of the 3 pairs decides to spawn it works pretty well. When a pair spawns they crowd the rest into a really tight area so I need to address that recurring situation. I intend to give away most of them except for a pair that will remain in the 29 and juggle the offspring until I end up with 6 males in the 55. I haven't kept keyholes or rainbow cichlids but I'm hoping one or the other will be as amiable as the angels, or nearly so, if I do the same. That's my primary reason for the thread.

Haven't kept lemon tetras either but I thought they were more the size and shape of black phantoms. Do you really think they would be at risk from the rainbows?

 

[Finagain]

Bigger tank?

If need be I will subtract fish once I've given this concept a try. I'm going to be breeding a few angels and whichever other cichlid I decide on. Maybe the tetras too. If I get some people coming to buy some fish I'd like this to be a nice display. I don;t want to take up any more room than a 55 where I want this set up. Besides, I already have the 55.