Dwarf Cichlid Community

[Waterbox]

Hi, I recently got a pair of German Rams and I think I have a "thing" for Cichlids now. So I am finally upgrading to a 55 US gallon tank this week and was thinking of making it a Dwarf Cichlid community tank. The only experience I have had with any Cichlid is my two Rams so I dont know much about how territorial they can be, but I would like to know if keeping several species of small Cichlids in a 55 gallon would be plausible. I would like to keep Rams, Cockatoos, Agassizi's, and maybe some Kribensis. So would this be possible, and if so, how many of each species would I be able to keep? I will also be keeping the tank heavily planted and will have plenty of cave structures if that will make a difference.

Thanks dudes.

 

[Mystix212]

2 of eahc will be good.

 

[thegnu]

the dwarf cichlids you mention are south american all bar the kribs, and all bar the kribs do better in soft acidic water. personally i wouldn't keep kribs with your other choice of fish unless your water tests out at alkaline, hard over 7pH then i would keep the kribs and drop the rest

 

[jimw13uk]

I wouldnt recommend keeping a pairt of Kribs with the dwarf cichlids for the reasons already mentioned but also cos if they "hook-up" and breed then you may have some serious aggression problems in the tank.

I would look at Keyholes , Rams , Cockatoos maybe even a Firemouth but I would drop the Kribs for sure.

I've kept all the above together with no problems

 

[Waterbox]

Excellent, that sounds good to me. When I get the fish, what numbers of each for keyholes, rams, cockatoos and all, and should I try and keep a ratio of female to male? Also, since they are south american, I have seen this stuff thats "Black Water" in a bottle or something. Would adding this to my tank help or would driftwood and plants be enough to keep a healthy Ph?

 

[Mystix212]

Just do regular weekly water changes and your pH shouldnt really move at all. If you wanted to lower it use dirftwood. To make it higher, set at the desired pH then add crushed coral. Keeps pH stable for about a year.