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  L# 45/55g Cichlid tank
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Subscribe45/55g Cichlid tank
lysaer
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Hobbyist
Posts: 117
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Registered: 07-Apr-2007
male usa
There's a possibility of a new tank in my near future, either a 45g or a 55g (and if karma treats me well, both!), and I'm thinking of going with a cichlid tank.

I've never had cichlids before, so I know NOTHING about them except that I know I don't really like the more common varieties they sell at Petsmart and Petco and the like.

I do kinda like some of the rams, and the more colorful apistos, and the thomasi. But I DO want ones that are peaceful, and are going to get along with each other.

And hopefully, maybe some community fish that will fit in with them. This tank will be planted from the start, high light (2+wpg) and CO2 injected, so we're looking at a minimum of a 2 month planning time before I even begin to get fish in the tank. Plus, I haven't got the tank(s) yet.

If I do end up with both tanks, one of them is going to be an angelfish tank with a shoal of black lace and a shoal of double black, so that's already decided. But that tank will very most likely be several months off. Colorful cichlids first!

Listen! Do you smell that?
Post InfoPosted 21-Apr-2007 02:07Profile PM Edit Report 
desiredusername
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Registered: 26-Sep-2006
male australia
In a 55, you could keep 2-3 pairs of rams, along with a school or two of tetras and some bottom feeders.
It would look awesome with 1 large [20-30] school of tetras and a large group of cories
Post InfoPosted 21-Apr-2007 02:32Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
DeletedPosted 21-Apr-2007 02:35
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$ilver dollar
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Fingerling
Posts: 23
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Registered: 18-Apr-2007
male usa
the rams are the more peaceful ones. african cichlids are nice to have but man are they fistey. they will own your tank

"The Earth is God's Fish Tank"
Post InfoPosted 23-Apr-2007 07:30Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Theresa_M
 
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female usa us-maryland
Either type of rams, keyholes, rainbows, or angels.

I'd do a large group of schoolers as well, either rummynoses or harlequins.

Either cories or loaches for the bottom, plus a BN.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean
Post InfoPosted 23-Apr-2007 13:07Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
JYJason
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male usa
Check into the electric blue jack dempsey. These are a cross breed between two cichlids and are a beautiful blue color. There personality is as great as a dempsey, but the aggressiveness common to this species is missing. I housed my blues with angels and small leaf fish and he did fine.
Post InfoPosted 23-Apr-2007 17:19Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
waldena
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male uk
I'm not the most knowledgable when it comes to Cichlids, but I think some general rules are:

You shouldn't mix Cichlids from different areas, so keep South American, Tanganyikan or Malawian - not a mix.

I believe that they are all territorial - even the more 'peaceful' ones, such as Apisto's. Make sure you do your research once you've decided on what you want, to see how many you can fit in your tank. You will then need to provide enough caves etc. so that they can each have their own territory.

From what you've posted, it sounds like you should stick with SA cichlids - I believe that African Cichlids will decimate any plants that you have (I think I've heard that anyway).
Post InfoPosted 23-Apr-2007 20:18Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
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