Stocking Advice for 90 gallon

[comprehend13]

Hello MFK! I currently have a 90 gallon aquarium (48" Long x 25" Tall x 18" Wide) lightly stocked with the following:

• 10 Black Skirt Tetras
• 3 Pictus Catfish (Pimelodus Pictus) which are ~ 3" right now
• An assortment of half-grown guppy fry

I also want to supplement this stocking with:

• 1 -3 Hoplo catfish (Megalechis thoracata), which I understand to max out at ~ 6"
• ~10 more tetras of a different color to complement the black skirts

I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions for a single centerpiece cichlid that will eat the guppies, won't eat the plants in the tank/plants I'm planning to put in the tank, and mostly leave the tetras alone. I understand that fish are individuals (so it isn't possible to guarantee compatibility), but I would love to hear your suggestions!

Thanks!

 

[Fishnerd360]

Angelfish, possibly blue acaras, and keyhole cichlids.

 

[Toiletcar]

A group of rams.

 

[Zanzag]

As the lone cichlid theres really a lot of options. What are your water parameters? That would give a better idea for reccomendations

 

[Audaxcity]

My angels wouldn't even eat dwarf rasbora. If you want something to coexist with tetras but still eat guppies, you'd need a small-medium piscivorous cichlid. Generally species with a higher degree of jaw protrusion are more likely to eat fish. I'd say Salvini cichlids and any of the dwarf pike cichlids would probably be your best bet, although I believe the former can be quite aggressive. Anything more adapted for evasive prey such as the guapotes and bay snook would probably not be very good for your tank.

 

[Zanzag]

Pretty full on the bottom though so maybe more mid water oriented cichlids.

 

[Audaxcity]

Also if you want a second tetra that works really well with blackskirts, I'd suggest serpaes. They're extremely active and fairly large, so they will neither stress out black skirts nor be harassed. They also swim lower in the water column so they will form separate schools. The colours contrast well too.

 

[Zanzag]

Columbian tetras would work well also.

 

[comprehend13]

Thanks for the replies! I apologize for not giving water parameters - my tap water is neutral (7.0 pH) and on the harder side.

I like the different tetras everyone proposed - I will have to think about how I want the tank to look!

Regarding cichlid choice - the Blue Acara and the Salvini are more along the lines of what I am looking for. I've also heard that the Salvini is very aggressive - would love to get input on how well it would get along with the tetras.

Would something like a Jack Dempsey work, or would they be likely to eat the tetras as well?

 

[Zanzag]

Blue acara are great. Also happen to be the pair in the picture i posted.