Top/Middle Swimmers for my 55 Gallon

[i_am_511]

I want to go buy something that will stay at the top or middle of my tank. I know i can get the African Butterfly Fish and i might end getting one possible but they arent gonna be doing alot of moving around so im looking for something that can be in with cichlids also. My Filters are Rena Xp2 and AC 50. With alot of rocks and wood for hiding and a few plants for right now.

These are the fish in the tank. They are all 1.5 inches or less. I plan to add some more fish in here sometime soon.

3 Rainbow Cichlids

2 Buffalo Heads

1 Double Fin Orange Cockatoo Cichlid

1 Firemouth

So what can i add that will take up some top space?

[i_am_511]

Wow nothing..lol

[BiGBlak]

Wow nothing..lol
lol i feel you i hate it when such simple questions get past by for a day or so on other forums ( lexus owners club ) for my car lol.
But i would say go with the African butterfly if it can go well with your tank not too sure but im the type to experiment but dont put him in anytime soon since they will eat anything that can fit in there mouth( from what i read all over about these fish because i want one too). but for the middle since you say you got a lot of rock work are your rocks stacked ? if so they should occupy the middle of your tank since there will be shelter up there. But im a beginner to cichlids/ this hobby so i wouldnt take my word all the way. Someone will reply with alot more experience im just trying to help by having someone prove me wrong so you can get some kind of answer.

[Lady Hobbs]

You're going to have problems if you start mixing up a bunch of different types of cichlids in that tank.

[i_am_511]

So the cichlids i have in there now arent good or something? I chose mostly mild mannered cichlids firemouths are the fish ive heard that are hit or miss fish. But the Buffalo heads and Cockatoo Apisto and Rainbows arent very mean at all unless they are guarding babies/breeding. Plus its plenty of hiding spots in there. I know from reading and being on here i was told to try and keep the pairs down thats why i only plan to have the rainbow and buffalo heads as the one cichlid with more then one in there.

[thatcichlidguy]

The big issue is that these fish will need territories, a 55 doesn't offer much floorspace(footprint) for all four species in one tank. While these fish are generally pretty mellow they will squabble over the available real estate. Optimally you'd probably only want to do two species in a 55 .

One other thing I reference in a responce to one of your previous posts was a general lack of compatability in the water requirements. Your looking to stock west african, south american , and central american cichlid in one tank. While not impossible, these fish come from different areas with very different types of water. The cockatoo/apistogramma likes very soft acidic water and temps in the mid to upper 80s, the buffalo heads neutral PH, lower temp and like a lot of current, and the CAs harder more alkaline water with temps in the mid to upper 70s. Cichlids are pretty adaptable, but when you mix and match species you really want to try and keep the water requirements pretty close to a happy medium for all.

Temperment issues can be a problem here too. Firemouth are kinda hard to predict. Some are docile others are maniacs . I raised and bred them for many years and they are great fish but not really one to mix with more mellow species. Rainbows are a cool little mellow CA but like FMs they can be variable in temperment . Fortunately most of their aggression is conspecific. With the CAs you'll want to watch for the FM and one of the Rainbows pairing, since most CA cichlids readily interbreed.

55s are great little tanks. They do seem big on the outset but once you start stocking them (particularly with cichlids and other territorial fish) you can quickly find out that they still are pretty limited . Even more to the point is just how quickly the tank gets small once a pair takes over half the tank when guarding fry.

[i_am_511]

I guess there goes my G/Fs chance of adding that Pink Convict that she wants to get..... I would have to check my PM box but before i even had this tank i looked at the cichlids at the LFS around here and founded what i liked and thru out this and that.....And i came up with those guys and i was told it could be done if provided enough hiding places...Ill search my INbox later on.

As far as water also i was just told to get whatever matched my tap as best as possible....that way i didnt have to play with the PH plus if my LFS used tap water the fish are used to my tap anyways. Reading about the Buffalo heads it says they are a good fish to go with americans cichlids since they are more mellow then the normal "africans".

I hope everything will be cool i do have another tank the bad boy can move into. And they better behave if they got over into that tank. I have some nice size angels that dont mind a good fight..lol


All my fish hang at the bottom but do swim up top and all around but its really open up top cuz i dont have tall plants and its just naked up there.. Its funny how the fish hang together the buffalos are fish that stay low to the tank but they will try to school with the rainbows and follow them like tag alongs....



So what would be good at the top of this tank?