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i've got a tall tank, which has a sand substate and rocks and bogwood in the bottom 1/4 and then open space above that. (36x15x24)

the only fish i have at the moment are neons (13) and a bristlenose pleco. i intend to increase neon shoal to about 25.

i also have 3 swordtails used for cycling which can be exchanged.

i would like at least a pair of (American) cichlids for the tank. what would you suggest

Karl

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

I don't think you can keep neons and cichlids together because cichlids like hard water and neons soft. why not keep some other tetras like serpeas or bleeding heart

you can, have to have soft water cichlids - thats why i said i'm having americans, such as discus, angels, dwarf such as rams etc, all perfer soft water.

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

i would highly recommend a pair of cacatouides. here is a pic of my male cac. and possibly think about a school of corys
http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/dynoGallDetail.asp?photoID=1393667&catID=&style=&rowNumber=1&memberID=45335

African Rift lake cichlids prefer hard water.

I usually recommend Cichlid-forum's cookie cutter setups for a place to start. Since your tank is a 'tall', here's the link for a 40g]http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/cookie_cutter_40g.php[/link] and for a [link=55g.

A tall tank is nice for angels, but neons are natural prey for them. Some people keep them successfully together but I never have so I can't give you a personal experience opinion.

There are actually a number of cichlids that would techincally fit, but because of their size I'd worry about them snacking on the neons too (sev, blue acara, salvini etc).

Maybe some of the smaller cichlids...keyhole, rainbow, German or Bolivian rams, checkerboard, apistos, L. dorsigera or curviceps. Festivum is you can find them locally.



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