New upgrade 55 gallon stocking help - New to the forum

[Netengo]

Hi there I have just put a deposit down on a roma 240 with a fluval FX5 got it at a great price and couldn't be happier.

At the moment I have a Roma 125 (which is for sale) which is run on internals. This is my latest tank but I've been keeping fish for 4ish years though I have learnt much much more in the past 4 months with this tank than any other time in my fish keeping. I love this hobby and am in no doubt that I'm in it for the long haul now. My main reason for upgrading is to fuel my interest in cichlids. My stocking at the moment is -

2 Honduran Red Points (1M 1F)
3 Annostomus Ternetzi
1 L235
1 L135

In the new tank I would like to add 2 more of the Ternetzi as the trio I have at the moment are generaly okay but when they have a spat two go off together and the third hides for an hour or two. I would also like to add in a medium/large school say maybe 8 or 10. I am unsure of what I want or would like I keep saying columbian tetras because I want to keep it as an American tank but I keep being drawn to various barbs as options. I've also been thinking about adding a school of silver hatchets for a bit of activity at the top. But any other suggestions would be really appreciated!!

My plans with cichlids are to add maybe 3 or 4 more of a medium size, around 4-6 inches. The ones I am interested in are :

Aequedens Diadema
Krobia sp Rio Xingu
Geophagus Pindare
Threadfin Acara
Laetacara Buckelkopf

I know these are all South Americans and my HRP are centrals but I'm not opposed to the mix. My pair are quite placid and have accepted all the tank mates at present but obviously I have not tried to mix them with other cichlids yet. I know the risks of mixing cichlids and am ready with various options to deal with any issues that arise with extra tanks at my house, parents and friends or as a last resort a reliable LFS.

If people could advice me on a good mix of the above with my HRP it would be greatly appreciated. I know some of them on the list are quite rare but I have a fantastic LFS that I believe will be able to get hold of them at some point for me. I have found other ways of potentialy getting hold of them as well.

Thanks for any help and advice given in advance!

Netengo

 

[peathenster]

wow, an FX5 for a 70g tank is pretty sweet.

What's your pH?

 

[Netengo]

Hi yeah I was really happy to find it

My tap Ph is 7.2 but in my tank it sits around 7

 

[MonteSS]

Ph sounds about right.

I am not that familiar with the fish you mention.

I really like the look of my Columbian and Serpae Tetras but they stay low and dont school much at all

GL....Bill

 

[Netengo]

Aww I didnt think that these fish were that rare Ive had that response on 2 forums now lol I think I will play this safe and forget the Pindare all together as they had the biggest question mark above them for me.

Also being drawn more towards the hatchets now as they will add more action to the surface I have had them in the past and they were an awesome feature to the tank!

Ive decided to add 2 more of the Anostomus as well because my trio just have to many ***** fights so I want to try and spread that out. The ternetzi are the red lipped ones so they stay small but lack the red fins of the other ones they are also meant to be the most peaceful of the commonly traded striped headstanders.

Thanks for the replies so far guys I keep wanting to help on other posts but I've not seen anything I can add to the posts lol.

Netengo

 

[peathenster]

heckelii will be much bigger than the 4-6" that you want....

I'm more concerned about your HRPs, which can get nasty comes breeding time.

 

[Netengo]

At the moment the HRP breed every Saturday after waterchange without fail I have a constant supply of fry which I have outlets for but yeah. So far they have been totaly fine in a 3 foot with the headtanders and the plecs. At one point they had some ruby barbs with them but I gave them away again it all worked okay. But I know that mixing with other cichlids is a totaly different thing but I have rehoming options available to me. In my judgment I would 90% trust them with other cichlids but I know it could still go either way...