55gal SA tank

**wolfheart2112** · 02-21-2013, 06:24 PM

I'm currently in the process of turning my african tank into a south american tank. Once all are sold, I'll have two 10gal, one 20gal and one 55 gal tanks to play around with. I do have 5 german rams, once a pair forms, they'll move to the 20gal. Another side pair plus the 1 other ram would go in the 55gal. What fish could I put (beside angels since i have a pH that is slightly harder than what they like.) Any ideas will be appreciated :D Fish ideas for any of the tanks.

**fishmommie** · 02-21-2013, 09:26 PM

You have a lot of options so it just depends on what you prefer.
I have a GBR with colombian tetras and serpaes and corys and they get on fine.
I have another GBR with severums, congos, and blood parrots. Again, they are fine together.
Why don't you put together a stocking 'wish' list and post it. i'm sure folks here will chime in if they see issues.
Have fun!

**Sandz** · 02-22-2013, 01:28 PM

One of the most common overlooked S/A stocking fish are the swordtails. I love the look of the red swords like these.GBR are nice and I have owned and bred them almost all of my fish keeping life, but lately I have noticed they are becoming more and more aggresive over time. Something that might be nice in the cichlid world would be appistogramma like the Agassizi. They are really peaceful and well tempered to a planted tank. Also with the different angels lately, I have become attached to the looks of the Smokey Pinoy Angel. They are all great fish and there are a lot of options. You could even go into the semiaggressive world and have Sevrums, Blood Parrots, Jack Dempsey's, if you had a 75gal I would say even Geophagus would be in the ball park.

**wolfheart2112** · 02-25-2013, 11:31 AM

Keeping : German Rams
Want: Appistogramma (must be peaceful and pretty haha)
Maybe: Kribensis (not sure how good they are in a group)

Maybe just shoot some names and I'll look them up on google :p I know someone has some appistogramma baeschi and some borelli opals
with some pencil fosh. Let me know if those are ok :)

**ScottishFish** · 02-25-2013, 11:41 AM

Kribs are from africa you know that yeah?

However they can be housed will your GBR's though. Also what is you pH all apistogramma species are very sensitive to pH and pretty much need a pH of less than 7, even better is 6.5 or less.

**wolfheart2112** · 02-25-2013, 11:46 AM

Someone told me they keep kribs with their gbr's and blood parrot o.O
My pH currently is sitting at 6.8, with the other parameters normal. I do have a crushed coral substrate in the 55, but thought of switching it for sand or just gravel.

**ScottishFish** · 02-25-2013, 11:52 AM

I agree kribs can be kept with them, however i was just letting you know that they would mean your tank isnt a SA biotipe.

For apistos i would say a nice dark gravel, they dont like light substrates. Also it makes their colours pop more.

Out of interest what is your water change schedule and your filtration setup? Appistos and GBR's are demanding of pristene water parameters.

**talldutchie** · 02-25-2013, 12:07 PM

Originally Posted by wolfheart2112

Keeping : German Rams
Want: Appistogramma (must be peaceful and pretty haha)
Maybe: Kribensis (not sure how good they are in a group)

Maybe just shoot some names and I'll look them up on google :p I know someone has some appistogramma baeschi and some borelli opals
with some pencil fosh. Let me know if those are ok :)

Rams, appistos and kribs all breed relatively easy. All will set up a territory to do so. I can't envision a 55g build that would offer all three the room to do so.