60 Gallon Hex Stock

[Alexp08]

Hello, ive recently bought a 60 gallon hex. Ive had it running for about a month. Cycled. 
It currently has 8 Lamprologus Caudopunctatus redfin's. Well they are cave dwellers so they most hide in the caves ive provided and down go above the bottom third of the tank.
My question is, what species can i add that primarily stick to the upper half of the tank?
Thanks

 

[sawickib]

I would get about 4 or more pearl gourmais, I have 4 in my 180 gallon and they don't fight at all that I've seen if anything they are all buddies, and they are beautiful or you can get a pair or two of angelfish, but this would be more complicated as you need to grow about 6 of them up and wait for a pair or you can try and find ones already paired. You could also get a nice school of Congo tetras. Or maybe danios but they may make it hard to feed your shell dwelling cichlids. That's about all I can think of though.
Of course you shouldn't add all of these but you can add a few combos of them.

 

[attibones]

What's your hardness and pH? These are African cichlids you've got, would imply you have both high pH and hard water. If that is the case, then the angels wouldn't work. It's difficult to mix African and American cichlids. The gourami would be a cool addition, though I'm not sure of their water requirements. A hardy schooling species would finish off the tank nicely, I think.

 

[sawickib]

O crap I can't believe I forgot about that sorry attibones are completely right.

 

[Alexp08]

I believe the ph is around 7.2 and the water it not that hard. Im not near my tank atm. But with these cichlids ive read that they can be kept at this lower ph allowing for a community tank Since a hex tank is so high.

 

[noobgamers]

could i recomend danios maybe very hardy shoaling species 7.5 is abou theyre best level i would say maybe 6 to 8 giant danios would look seriously cool

 

[Alexp08]

Sawickid mentioned that the danios would make it hard to feed my shell dwellers. Why is this?

 

[sawickib]

Danios are lightning fast piggy eaters is why I said that, so your sinking food may not make it down until the danios are full.
With a pH of 7.2 pearl gourmais would be nice, or some Congo tetras.

 

[Alexp08]

could i do both pearl gourmais and Congo tetras? and how hardy are congo's?

 

[sawickib]

Should be fine, here's some stuff you should read before hand.
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/phenacogrammus-interruptus/

http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/trichopodus-leerii/
They are sensitive to poor water quality which means you just need to keep up on tank maintenance.

 

[Alexp08]

Awesome, great link. My LFS does not have pearl gourmais but does have dwarf gourmais. Would they work?

 

[sawickib]

Umm it looks like it might work, here do read up on them here, may not be the best addition, have you tried to see if they can order them.
http/www.seriouslyfish.com/species/trichogaster-lalius/

 

[Alexp08]

Well after reading that, they wont work. Any other recommendations?

 

[gh74]

you got any pics of your tanks...i wouldnt have pearl gourami's again mine were very aggressive and killed some of my other fish,then they died the other day in my bigger tank that i moved them into.

 

[sawickib]

you got any pics of your tanks...i wouldnt have pearl gourami's again mine were very aggressive and killed some of my other fish,then they died the other day in my bigger tank that i moved them into.

How big were the tanks? The males can be very aggressive in small environments, especially without ample hiding spaces. With gouramis being top dwelling and his cichlids being bottom dwelling i dont think there will be of much issue. I would try for all females if you can or 1:2 male to female ratio. I have 4 in my 180 gallon and they are very docile and hang out with eachother, granted the tank mates are all bigger than them.