Dreaming big for 2026

[Velvetgun]

As I was saying, I really hope that the work on the house will be finished by 2026 and I can afford to buy the largest dream tank (I think around 200-250 liters)
I am studying a lot of cichlids, especially American ones.
The cichlids I am looking for have these characteristics:
- interesting behavior
- very bright colors and beautiful appearance (ok I know it is for a beginner but the eye also wants its part)
- interaction with what happens outside the tank
- possibility of keeping a couple or having other fish together
- obviously dimensions compatible with the liter and length, but not too dwarf (or at least if they are dwarfs they can live with other cichlids)
- not subject to too many health problems and long-lived

I had thought and I am studying several South American cichlids including the classic scalars, but also Geophagus, Heros Severum, Nannocara, Cichlasoma Blue Jack Dempsey, Salvini, but I would like to know more.
What do you think of these cichlids?
I have to rule out Oscar because of his size, while I have reservations about the Flowerhorn and Parrot related to their "construction"

 

[Fishkeeper123]

As I was saying, I really hope that the work on the house will be finished by 2026 and I can afford to buy the largest dream tank (I think around 200-250 liters)
I am studying a lot of cichlids, especially American ones.
The cichlids I am looking for have these characteristics:
- interesting behavior
- very bright colors and beautiful appearance (ok I know it is for a beginner but the eye also wants its part)
- interaction with what happens outside the tank
- possibility of keeping a couple or having other fish together
- obviously dimensions compatible with the liter and length, but not too dwarf (or at least if they are dwarfs they can live with other cichlids)
- not subject to too many health problems and long-lived

I had thought and I am studying several South American cichlids including the classic scalars, but also Geophagus, Heros Severum, Nannocara, Cichlasoma Blue Jack Dempsey, Salvini, but I would like to know more.
What do you think of these cichlids?
I have to rule out Oscar because of his size, while I have reservations about the Flowerhorn and Parrot related to their "construction"

Rule out the electic blue jack Dempsey. They can’t seem to live more than a year or 2 as they have poor health. Salvinis are very aggressive so probably not the best in a medium sized tank if you want tank mates. Geophagus are nice but they get quite big. Look into species as the red head tapajos maybe able to work but it depends on what size tank length you go for, severums can be kept as singles which are better but they get big so maybe not the best option but others can help more as I’ve not kept any other than the electric blue acara which I think is a good option. They are beautiful can be a brilliant centrepiece fish(I have one for now in my 180l tank who’s getting rehomed soon tho). Be aware with the electric blue acara that they are semi aggressive. Don’t pair them with more peaceful dwarf cichlids. Suitable tank mates would be geos and Severums(likely too small for this tank), angels, festivums for cichlids and then larger tetras, Denison barbs, Bristlenose plecos, cories(but not with the geos or Severums I think).For this kind of tank you want the fish to be able to swim 6 times its length and 3 times its width roughly at minimum. Hope this helps. The others can give a better input but I’ll say the more basic knowledge. I’m a big fan of the keyhole cichlid but I’m not sure that it fits the bill of what you want for this tank. Another fish you could consider are firemouths, forgot about them. They are CA so like harder water and if you want something like them then a group can work with other fish, maybe other CA cichlids like convicts but it depends. However I would say SA would be nicer as there are more options. What are your water parameters?(you might have said on another post so sorry if you did). I’m not as strict as others on here on them and whether you have hard or soft water. However it does make a difference.