smmetz
Fishaholic
I have a 55 gallon community tank. I am planning on re-arranging things so that I only have my pleco and 3 spotted raphael catfish in the 55 tank, then I would like to add cichlids. I plan on getting a 6 foot tank, however, I don't want any fish that can't live as adults in a 55. (so they will have plenty of room in a future 6 foot tank I hope to get someday, but still able to be re-homed in a 55 if needed)
Without any cichlids, the tank will be half stocked. My common pleco is 9 inches and growing, and the raphaels are about 5 inches, fully grown. (before I get flamed, I got the pleco when I started and didnt know any better, I realize he is already borderline too big for a 55, and will grow well over a foot long)
Anyway, I was thinking maybe a pair of severums or perhaps a firemouth? Then I went to the best lfs I know of in my area. They have a nice selection of marine stuff and cichlids. They guy was talking me into african. His points were:
- Africans are generally more colorful
- add crushed coral, and water is very easy to maintain for africans
- my pleco and raphael can adjust to the high ph, if done over a week or two. (I have concerns about this claim though, sites I read say raphaels like 6-7.5, and common pleco dont like higher than 8? Would this stress out my fish?)
- most africans are smaller, and more easily homed in a 55 tank
- africans don't fight as much, they chase eachother for a couple seconds and stop, while most south americans, when they disagree, pick on eachother constantly until someone gets hurt or dies. (could this be because africans are usually smaller, so they could more easily hide and have seperate territories in a typical home aquarium?)
So anyway, any advice? (especially on the bold points?)
Without any cichlids, the tank will be half stocked. My common pleco is 9 inches and growing, and the raphaels are about 5 inches, fully grown. (before I get flamed, I got the pleco when I started and didnt know any better, I realize he is already borderline too big for a 55, and will grow well over a foot long)
Anyway, I was thinking maybe a pair of severums or perhaps a firemouth? Then I went to the best lfs I know of in my area. They have a nice selection of marine stuff and cichlids. They guy was talking me into african. His points were:
- Africans are generally more colorful
- add crushed coral, and water is very easy to maintain for africans
- my pleco and raphael can adjust to the high ph, if done over a week or two. (I have concerns about this claim though, sites I read say raphaels like 6-7.5, and common pleco dont like higher than 8? Would this stress out my fish?)
- most africans are smaller, and more easily homed in a 55 tank
- africans don't fight as much, they chase eachother for a couple seconds and stop, while most south americans, when they disagree, pick on eachother constantly until someone gets hurt or dies. (could this be because africans are usually smaller, so they could more easily hide and have seperate territories in a typical home aquarium?)
So anyway, any advice? (especially on the bold points?)
