SA/CA biotype-ish ideas? Suggestions?

[smithj427]

So I'm wanting to set up a SA/CA biotype-ish aquarium with live plants. So far I'm liking and planning on getting a pair of keyholes and maybe a severum. But I'm wondering if anyone has experience mixing these together?
I'm also on the fence about getting some sort of dwarves in there? Any suggestions or mixing ideas woudl be great.
I'm looking for to maximize the amout of fish I can get in my tank since it's only a 46g. Oh ya and I'm not limiting to cichlids either but I figured they'd be my main starting point. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[smithj427]

Still nothing yet eh, that's alright, tanks not going anywhere or doing anything

 

[Lupin]

If you wish to keep live plants, avoid the severums. Look up apistogrammas, festivums, discus, rams and angelfish aside from keyholes. Severums are mild mannered so they won't bother your keyholes. The issue here is the severums know how to rip off the plants.

 

[smithj427]

Well thanks for your reply. I figured I'd bump the thread at a later time so that more people are online and I'd have a better chance of getting an answer.
Anyways, so if I were to ditch the severum idea would the apistogrammas, festivums, discus, rams and angelfish be alright with keyholes still? Oh and I came across checkerboard cichlids would they be alright too?
I think discus are out just cus of the small tank 46g.
Of course I wouldn't put all of these in the tank but if they're all compatible with each other then maybe i'd get like three pairs or something, size dependent of course.
Thanks again for any help

 

[Lupin]

Yes, they will be fine. I just realize the tank size so no discus there. Do you plan to put tetras there as well? If so, pick the deep bodied ones. Your cichlids might just try chomping on the small ones.

 

[smithj427]

Well I considered tetras but just if I could get a good number of cichlids in there but If I can get say 5 or 6 cichlids in there then I probably wouldn't go with any tetras. I'm having trouble finding info online about SA/CA specific fish that will go well with cichlids.
So some tetras that would work would be like hachetfish, black tetras? those are SA/CA right?

 

[Lupin]

Yes, all characins with a few exceptions from Africa are SA/CA.

 

[smithj427]

Ok sweet thanks!
What about barbs? Most of those are from Asian waters right?

 

[Lupin]

Ok sweet thanks!
What about barbs? Most of those are from Asian waters right?

Unfortunately, all are from Asia.

 

[smithj427]

Ok sweet. Well that narrows my search by a lot! Thanks so much for all your help Lupin! I'll just have to see what my lfss carry now then go from there as far as stocking. I'll post pics when all is said and done.