Cichlids In A 55

[TMF89]

Alright guys long story short is I have a 55 gallon I'd like to set up as a cichlid tank. I've been told that for multiple small groups and with a group or two of non-cichlids, South American are better than Africans? I'm up for suggestions for whatever though. This is an except from another forum where i posted this question, it outlines my stocking plan as of now. Thoughts?

I'm not deadset on having Rams, but for some reason a group of angels just turns me off. So maybe a group or two of Apistoses, one group of Rams, a single Angel (again for some reason a GROUP of Angels turns me off, but one single specimen is really attractive to me, lol), and one or two groups of non-cichlid schooling fish? Except for the schooling fishes, when I say groups I mean 3 or 5, preferably 3, again for some reason I just don't like the idea of large groups of cichlids.

 

[jacko32]

all depends on the water chemistry really whats your pH and kH ?

 

[hamfist]

Alright guys long story short is I have a 55 gallon I'd like to set up as a cichlid tank. I've been told that for multiple small groups and with a group or two of non-cichlids, South American are better than Africans? I'm up for suggestions for whatever though. This is an except from another forum where i posted this question, it outlines my stocking plan as of now. Thoughts?

I'm not deadset on having Rams, but for some reason a group of angels just turns me off. So maybe a group or two of Apistoses, one group of Rams, a single Angel (again for some reason a GROUP of Angels turns me off, but one single specimen is really attractive to me, lol), and one or two groups of non-cichlid schooling fish? Except for the schooling fishes, when I say groups I mean 3 or 5, preferably 3, again for some reason I just don't like the idea of large groups of cichlids.

I'd go for a pair of rams and pairs of Apistos.
Single Angels work quite well in community situations.

Sounds pretty do-able to me.

 

[ChilliPepper]

You could have:

2 x Bolivian Rams
3 x Apistos (1m, 2f)
1 x Angel
6 x schooling fish; maybe Bleeding Hearts or Colombian Tetras
6 x Corydoras or Kuhli loaches

That would be a nice active tank

 

[jacko32]

all really nice fish but all soft water fish aswell all great for a pH below 7.5

 

[Flagtail]

Festiums would look cool!

 

[TMF89]

So you guys think only one group of apistos? I was hoping for more than one. Other than that I like the set up.

 

[Flagtail]

So you guys think only one group of apistos? I was hoping for more than one. Other than that I like the set up.

You can probably have more than 1 group, but don't take my word for it I not quite sure.