Redheads in a 55?

[J. H.]

I have a low tech planted 55 with 2x fluvitalis rainbows and 8x Praecox rainbows, a BIG sword (probably amazon, with 1'+ leaves), and a lot of moneywort and Christmas tree moss, and playsand. I intend to swap the tank out for a 90 that I already have in a few months. Here is the tank a month ago, the plants are bigger now (I'll try to get a new pic soon). I'd have to move the moneywort into the flowerpot with the sword, and cover the top of the flowerpot with stones to discourage digging and remove some of the rocks to free up more sand to dig in.

Anyway, I want to get a colony of geos and bristlenoses. I was thinking of redheads, because they look nice and are small. Ideally I'd have cactus plecos, Satanoperca Daemon, Temensis, and a black aro, but that will have to wait until I have more space and money XD . Anyone has any suggestions?
If they won't eat the 2-3" Praecox, it would be nice.

 

[Hendre]

A 90 may be good, I've heard of redheads needing a nice base area to explore and just very fine sand as a substrate. (can't make out what's there)

What are the dimensions of the 90?

 

[J. H.]

The 90 is 48L*19W*24H, I think, but I need to check. If it's too much off, it may be too much of a headache to replace the 55. I hope it's only 48". 1 or 2 months is more likely then "a few". Substrate is 50lbs of playsand. When I switch to the 90, I think I will add 100lbs to get a little more depth and some driftwood instead of the petrified wood that's there now. I think I will also replace the canister that drives the RUGF with an air-driven hamburg-matten or box filter.

 

[Gourami Swami]

90 should be fine for some redhead geos. I'd get 5 or 6. They won't eat 2-3" rainbowfish.

 

[J. H.]

Thanks. I hope my lfs will still have Redheads and BNs when I get there. Here are pics of the tank now. The black dots are fancy planted aquarium substrate mixed with the sand to drop the ph and fertilize a little (I know the shells raise the ph, but the Xmas moss loves to grow on them...)

 

[Hendre]

Rainbows generally like hard water and Geos soft water. Will that not be a struggle?

What rainbow species would you like?

 

[J. H.]

Rainbows generally like hard water and Geos soft water. Will that not be a struggle?

What rainbow species would you like?

I have Praecox, which are from Indonesia, not Australia. They like low ph, too.

 

[J. H.]

Could I do Geophagus Stiendchardti aka redhump instead? There are 6 available on aquabid, and I doubt my lfs will have more than 2 or 3 of any type.
I would also add a Syno Eurepterus, as I like them, and the same seller (Wetspot) has Redhumps, Eurepterus and BNs.
Stock of the 55 (soon to be 90) would be:
2X Fluvitalis Rainbow
6X BN
8X Praecox Rainbow
6X Geophagus Steindchardti.
1X Synodontis Eurepterus
Would that work?

 

[Gourami Swami]

I kept my Steindachneri as the only geophagus in his 90 gallon and he was fine with other SA cichlids like severums. With that said I have heard that they are very aggressive with conspecifics. The redheads would probably be a safer bet. Maybe somebody who has kept a group of steindachneri can chime in.

 

[J. H.]

Would Heckelli or Brasilensis be better than stiendachardti?