Setting up a South American cichlid tank.

[chris001]

Although I am not new to keeping fish, I have just set up a new 260litre south American cichlid tank. I have never kept cichlids before and have been thrown lots of conflicting information about them.

My aim: my aim is to keep the following:

2 x Red Terror, Festa’s Cichlids.
4 x Silver Dollars.
2 x Silver (ballan)shark.
4 x other cichlids. Im thinking similar convicts (Please advise on a colourful alternative)
4 x clown loaches.
1 x plecos

I know this is a lot but if it gets crowded ill re home.
Also my PH is between 6.5 and 7.0 and I have a few bits of tree roots in at the mo but will add rock and plastic plant shortly. It is sand bottom and have two external filters. (One is new so will take a while to become effective)

Any advice. Please help :)

[ElizabethJKR]

Why not just buy half the fish instead of buying fish and then stressing them out when you need to re-home them?

[chris001]

Ok so you maybe right about reducing the amount of fish. However do you think these species could live harmoniously together?

[ElizabethJKR]

I don't think they could. I mean, I'm still a beginner fish owner, but I think most sites say don't mix those fish because they get super aggressive and they get big. I know they say a pleco needs minimum 55 gallon tank, but with those fish, I don't even think 55 gallon would be enough.

[MCHRKiller]

Your tank is not large enough for all those fish, especially the Festae and the Bala sharks. Balas require at the bare minimum a 120gallon 6ft tank...they are an active species which grows upwards of a ft in length. Festae males easily hit 16"...females are smaller but these fish are aggressive and also require a much larger home than your tank provides. Clown loaches will eventually outgrow your tank as well. Also for this to be a SA tank, the fish themselves for the most part are not SA in origin.

I would reconsider your stock options, there are many species of pleco out there and lots which are suitable for your tank. Do choose a species that grows to around 6" tops. The silver dollars are a fine choice and you can def. keep cichlids in the tank with them. Just not the cichlids mentioned for a long term successful system. Some good species to consider are: Gymnogeophagus, Acara, Festivum, Keyholes, Checkerboards, Angelfish, Severums, etc...most of these fish are compatible with each other as well. Just do research and find species you are interested in and stock responsibly.

[skullduggery1]

I agree on a different choice for a cichlid as red terrors will kill any and all fish in that sized tank.The fore meention species are good choices,but if you want some color that pops like a breeding colored terror,then try thorichthys ellioti or aureum.

[MCHRKiller]

Many of the Gymnogeophagus are extremely colorful fish, sadly they are sometimes overlooked and are not very common in alot of LFS. Discus are also an option for vibrant colored fish..however they need a dedicated species tank to really thrive.

[ElizabethJKR]

I used this page to figure out what fish to use in my tank. It seems pretty reliable.

http://www.fishlore.com/

[ElizabethJKR]

I also suggest using this site as a way to figure out if your tank is going to be overstocked. It's not perfect, but it's pretty helpful and will say if some fish need to be in larger schools or won't get along with other fish.

http://aqadvisor.com/AqAdvisor.php

[Cermet]

Your tank is a bit too small for discus since you need at least six to have a good school that will not kill the smallest member and full sized adults will really be pressed in under 70 gallons - also, your pH while ok for tank breed, is too basic for wilds and your water needs to be soft (of course, it might be.)

Angels (a nice pair) look to be a good bet for that size tank and they have some very great looking ones available - and you could add some other fish/schools of smaller fish from SA to create a good bio-type.

Or just get a single or pair of Africian cichlids that look good and can fit that size tank.