Something interesting or pretty for a 6 foot 300 gallon tank?

[duanes]

Everyone has different tastes in fish, that's what keeps the hobby interesting and alive. It's YOUR tank. Don't be overly concerned with what others like or don't like.

Agree.
The only real factors that determine what or what not to keep for me, is whether or not the species I keep are a good fit for those, and my water parameters, and that goes along with the biotope concept I adhere to.
I must admit, I don't care what anybody else thinks of my tank or fish.
Right now all the fish I keep all come from only 1 small stretch of the Momoni river.
The parameters of that river, match the parameters of my tap and tank water.

The nitrate concentration and pH of the Mamoni above.
Th pH and nitrate concentration of my tank below.

 

[Omrit]

I'm a bit confuzzled...what exactly are you looking for in fish? Are you getting a setup for yourself or based off other people's opinions? I'd say think about your own preferences. Do you like all bottom dwellers? Or surface? A combination of all levels?

Types of fish you gravitate to
Thick/chunky
Long/Lean
aggressive or not?
Dither type or wet pet?

Also background, substrate and decor can enhance or minimize colors in fish!

Everyone has different tastes in fish, that's what keeps the hobby interesting and alive. It's YOUR tank. Don't be overly concerned with what others like or don't like.

While it is my tank it is not just my house. I feel a bit bad having fish no one else likes because I do share the house, and the tank dominates a room in said house. I guess this is strange to some people, but having my family enjoy the aquarium does matter a lot to me. If left to my own devices I will stock a tank with silver/brown/black fish because I am drawn to "less common" fish. Like I got what I think is a wild-type blue acara because I had never seen one, but the electric blue probably would have been a big hit with everyone else while this fish has a more subtle beauty that no one else finds interesting.

I like all fish (with a few exceptions) so there really isn't anything that is totally off limits.

What I am thinking is either a pearl eartheater, clown knife, or a larger pike cichlid. I had a green terror that was beautiful and really "completed" the tank, but it fought with the chocolate cichlid constantly so it had to be removed so hesitant to try try one of those again.


For those asking the tank is elaborately decorated. I have several large strawberry pots(clay pots with a few big holes in them), driftwood, and fake plants all over the tank.

 

[duanes]

One of the non-anthropomorphic considerations when adding cichlids of the genus Andinoacara (except maybe A pulcher) and those of the genus Mesoheros to a community cichlid tank, is that they are from west of the Andes. (Whar's the big deal ? Right?)
Actually this area of S America is totally different than Amazonia in many ways, and so are its cichlids..
The water parameters are different, pH, alkalinity, and even temp.

The waters of the Amazonia are generally soft, slightly to drastically lower in pH, and warmer (80sF), they also are populated with a miriade of cichlid species, so this miriade is more adaptable to living in a community oriented situation.

The rivers west of the Andes are more alkaline, higher in pH, cooler (low to mid 70sF,) and often only populated with 1, 2 or at most, 3 cichlid genera/species, and the populations of these cichlids are much less dense, they are more more like Central Americans in attitude, and aggression, which makes them, less community tank viable than their eastern Amazonian cousins, as you have experienced with your Andinoacara.

There is a clade of Geophagus from west of the Andes, and even they, are hyper aggressive and more solitary compared to their many Amazonian cousins.

So to me "not" keeping cichlids from west of the Andes with Amazonian cichlids isn't only a persona preference decision, but a question of logistical reality.

 

[FINWIN]

While it is my tank it is not just my house. I feel a bit bad having fish no one else likes because I do share the house, and the tank dominates a room in said house. I guess this is strange to some people, but having my family enjoy the aquarium does matter a lot to me. If left to my own devices I will stock a tank with silver/brown/black fish because I am drawn to "less common" fish. Like I got what I think is a wild-type blue acara because I had never seen one, but the electric blue probably would have been a big hit with everyone else while this fish has a more subtle beauty that no one else finds interesting.

I like all fish (with a few exceptions) so there really isn't anything that is totally off limits.

What I am thinking is either a pearl eartheater, clown knife, or a larger pike cichlid. I had a green terror that was beautiful and really "completed" the tank, but it fought with the chocolate cichlid constantly so it had to be removed so hesitant to try try one of those again.


For those asking the tank is elaborately decorated. I have several large strawberry pots(clay pots with a few big holes in them), driftwood, and fake plants all over the tank.

Maybe you could do some research with different fish and go over it with your family with some images. Then thin it down to what works with your water chemistry and compatibility, and one or two 'must haves' you won't compromise on. That might work for everyone.

 

[EricTheRed]

I think a school of bottom sifting Geophagus would add a lot of interest to your tank. They also grow quite colorful when mature. They remind me of the bar scene in the first Star Wars movie.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Barbs! Sounds to me like you need more color and movement to impress those adhd onlookers. There are a lot of medium-large size barbs you could add in small groups or one larger group to accompany and compliment what you already have. Among these are rohani barbs, filament barbs, roseline barbs, spanner barbs, bala sharks, tinfoil barbs, beardless barbs. Maybe even some comet or shubunkin goldfish.

I personally find arowanas and oscars played out, not really that interesting, but i guess thats cause ive seen so many tanks with these fish jammed into them. If these are the only ones that appeal to your friends i say you need new friends not fish lol.

 

[EricTheRed]

What did you end up going with, if anything? In rereading this post, I would suggest trying with another smaller Green Terror, especially a female. IME the females are far less aggressive than the males while still getting very colorful and having an entertaining, inquisitive personality. Just don’t get one so small, your larger fish can eat it immediately after you introduce it to you tank.

I bet your problem Green Terror was a male, with an unusually aggressive personality. Everyone who has raised Green Terrors eventually encounters one of these mixed in with the majority of other Green Terrors, who are mostly peaceful .