My 125 tank dilemma

[aussieman57]

I agree, since there are about 3,000 species of catfish, 1500 species of cichlids, 1600 species of tetras worldwide etc etc, narrowing the search down to what you both actually like (as opposed to what I, or somebody else likes) would help a bit.

I'd like something with these attributes:
1. Temp range 73-77 degrees> I have central air and my tank for the most part stays right @ 75 degrees F.
2. Medium size cichlids @ 4-7 inch range or a couple/3 larger fish that are compatible.
3. Interactive & not afraid of activity in the room.
4. Decent color.
I know this still leaves a lot of options but maybe we can start here? I'm going to leave the 6 big swordtails in the tank.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

It seems my suggestion fit everything except number 2, lol.

 

[aussieman57]

I don't have all the fish yet, but here are the fish I do have plus a full tank shot.

View attachment 1501047
View attachment 1501048
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View attachment 1501051

I'm going to stick with the &hole american cichlids but I like your tank.

 

[aussieman57]

It seems my suggestion fit everything except number 2, lol.

Yeah I love cichlids.

 

[duanes]

Is your water soft, hard, or neutral?
Do you prefer South, or Central Americans cichlids?
If water is hard, Central might be the best option, in that size range

Herotilapia multispinnossa above
Almost any of the genus Amatitlania
Below Amatitlania myrnae


Above Amatitlania cutteri in spawning dress.
below Panameus panamense

Honduran Red Pt below

Being a cichlid guy, these are only the tip of the iceberg, I could go on ad-nauseam , although because I always had hard, mineral rich water, I skipped keeping many beautiful, soft water S American species I would have like to keep.

 

[aussieman57]

Is your water soft, hard, or neutral?
Do you prefer South, or Central Americans cichlids?
If water is hard, Central might be the best option, in that size range
View attachment 1501052
Herotilapia multispinnossa above
Almost any of the genus Amatitlania
Below Amatitlania myrnae
View attachment 1501053
View attachment 1501054
Above Amatitlania cutteri in spawning dress.
below Panameus panamense
View attachment 1501055
Honduran Red Pt below
View attachment 1501056
Being a cichlid guy, these are only the tip of the iceberg, I could go on ad-nauseam , although because I always had hard, mineral rich water, I skipped keeping many beautiful, soft water S American species I would have like to keep.

Sorry about the delay was out mowing the 1/2 acre.
Water parameters in tank:
kH 3 degrees (53.7 ppm)
gH 9 degrees (161.1 ppm)
pH 7.4
Tend to lean more toward Central American Cichlids. Already have 6 Herotilapia multispinosa in 3-4 inch range. Looks like 5 males 1 female which is not a great ratio.

 

[aussieman57]

What about this combo:
6 Herotilapia multispinosa
6 Amatitlania sajica
1 Oscura heterotilapia (Montecristo Cichlid) OR 1 pair Hypsophrys nicaraguensis (Macaw Cichlid)

 

[bkfamus]

If you go with option 2 I'd recommend Hypsophrys nicaraguensis. I've got a harem of 1 male 3 female nics and a harem of 1 male 3 female Cribroheros longimanus in my 125.. I've had a variety of other tankmates with them over the last year from A. septemfasciata, to C. alfari, to T. maculipinnis to H. multispinosa to A. nanolutea but ultimately moved each.. the nanolutea were the most aggro of all the cichlids I moved out.. I added some Phenacogrammus aurantiacus as dither and a L240 Pleco in the last few months and seems to be working well.. Nics are cool cichlid.. active but not too aggro..

 

[bkfamus]

What about this combo:
6 Herotilapia multispinosa
6 Amatitlania sajica
1 Oscura heterotilapia (Montecristo Cichlid) OR 1 pair Hypsophrys nicaraguensis (Macaw Cichlid)

I thought about moving my sajica into my 125, but moved them to another tank w/ cribroheros altrifrons and A. lyonsi.. Sajicas are awesome.. very chill...

I'm also currently thinking about adding a H. multispinosa harem again, but not sure.. my experience with them is they breed alot...

re: O. heterospila, they look cool, but my experience with them was they were very passive (boring) and extremely slow growers.. but most others seem to like them so you may as well...

 

[duanes]

Those are good water parameters for Centrals.
Any of those combinations of species may work. But.... sajica get fairly large, and territorial, when I kept them as adults, I could only keep 1 pair of that species per tank, the alpha pair always put too much pressure on a subordinate pair, or other similar pan type cichlids by the time they hit the size of a soccer ball.

Nicaraguans may be a better choice to try and keep with Oscura. being very different in appearance.