Community dwarf tank?

[milkingmomma]

So I'm leaning towards a planted community tank and considering a dwarf community set up. Which species can live together peacefully and how many can go in a 125 gallon? Will I be locked into strictly dwarf cichilds or can we also add other livestock(corys, plecos, upside down catfish etc)?

[AmazonJoe]

Depends on which dwarf cichlid your talking about there are literally hundreds of different species. If I may I recommend going with Bolivian Rams very easy fish to keep and does well with others.

[milkingmomma]

Depends on which dwarf cichlid your talking about there are literally hundreds of different species. If I may I recommend going with Bolivian Rams very easy fish to keep and does well with others.

That's what I'm trying to figure out. I would like to have many different species in the tank.

Do they all get along well with each other as long as they have their own territory to claim?
Any certain ones to avoid?

I do like the rams but looking to add others too.

I would really like to start with some other common fish that I can buy local then add the dwarfs once the tank has aged a bit. Other than rams I will likely have to order any others.

[Slaphppy7]

You've got a ton of stocking options with a tank that size.

What are the params (ph, gh, kh) of your source water?...you guys have a well, correct?

[AmazonJoe]

Stick with one species of cichlid I wouldn't try to mix.

And yes how many cichlids depends on territory space in a 125g you can have around 6-8 rams plus have plenty of choices for other fish such as Cory or Tetras

Matt is right on water parameters this will also dictate which dwarf species is an option for you.

[milkingmomma]

You've got a ton of stocking options with a tank that size.

What are the params (ph, gh, kh) of your source water?...you guys have a well, correct?

PH is 7.5.
Waiting for my GH and kh test to arrive. Should be here today or tomorrow.

[milkingmomma]

PH is 7.5.
Waiting for my GH and kh test to arrive. Should be here today or tomorrow.

Don't know how to edit on my phone but I "think" adding wood will lower the pH a bit.

[Taurus]

That depends on the kH of your water.

[Slaphppy7]

Was I right about it being well water?...if so, a TDS meter would be handy, as well

You guys are on a farm, correct?...do any fertilizers or chemicals end up in the runoff water?

[angelcraze2]

Unless you venture away from rams, as far as I know, the only other readily avail. dwarf cichlid are ones from other continents, (I would not keep rams with appistograma due to aggression) and then it gets difficult to keep them in their proper water parameters. You could go with kribensis and butterfly cichlids, (both dwarf from West Africa) or rams and angelfish/discus (although the latter two aren't dwarf species). Finding out your water params as Slaphppy7 suggested is where I'd start, to make it easier on you, because there are also dwarfs from LakeTanganyika in east Africa that prefer a higher pH value for instance.

Edit: I just saw that you were leaning toward a planted community. You'd have to stick with the more soft water dwarf species like rams, or kribensis and butterfly. They all will be ok with other community fish in a tank that size with sufficient territory options.