Interested In Getting Some Apistogrammas Eventually

[eaglesaquarium]

Here's my situation:

I am cycling a 56 gallon column style tank from Marineland (30" x 18" x 24"). I have a fluorite substrate under portions of the tank, and sand covering the rest. I will be adding some large rocks and slate that I have procured from various sources. I will also be adding a little driftwood, if I can find some nice ones that won't break my budget! The tank will be lightly planted, as I don't have much lighting with this tank. 18W T8 daylight bulb. (Yeah, I know it isn't much light, but it might be enough to keep things alive, although they may not grow much.)


Anyway, as mentioned in my sig, my stocking plan is as follows:

11-15 harlequin rasboras (or possibly the T. espei)
15 dwarf corys (corydoras habrosus)
11-15 of another schooling fish (five banded barbs, black phantom tetras, cherry barbs, bloodfin tetras or similar)

Finally, I wanted to add a few cichlids (peaceful, obviously) as more of a centerpiece eventually.

I love the look of the cockatoo apistogrammas, and I am considering 4 for my tank. I figure, since they are harem breeders, I'd be ok with that if I get 1 male and 3 females.

I am also looking at some Rams. I believe that I was told that my tank isn't long enough for Bolivian Rams, which are hardiest, and that the German Blue, Blue or Yellow Rams may not be suited to my tank either. Is this correct?



My water parameters are as follows:

pH: 7.0
kH: 3 degrees
gH: 5 degrees

I figure the driftwood might end up lowering my pH a bit. That would be good for all the fish I have listed above, but I'm not sure about the apistos.


Any advice on the apistos would be greatly appreciated.

 

[likescichlids]

http/www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazine/dec07/blue-ram-cichlid.htm

http/www.fishlore.com/aquariummagazine/nov07/cockatoo-cichlid.htm

hope it helps

 

[eaglesaquarium]

It certainly adds to my research. A question though about the temps these fish prefer.... I was under the impression that the GBRs preferred a much warmer water than most community fish, but that the apistos were far more appropriate for a community based on temperature preference. Is that incorrect?

What temps are preferred by apistos? And what apistos would be best suited for a temp around say 74F-76F?

 

[likescichlids]

It certainly adds to my research. A question though about the temps these fish prefer.... I was under the impression that the GBRs preferred a much warmer water than most community fish, but that the apistos were far more appropriate for a community based on temperature preference. Is that incorrect?

What temps are preferred by apistos? And what apistos would be best suited for a temp around say 74F-76F?

ram cichlid need pH 5-7 (6.5), dH 0-10 (3), 73-86°F (23-30°C). Apistogramma cacatuoides need pH 6.2-7.7 (6.7), 5-16 dH (10), 75-81°F (24-27°C)

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Thanks...

So, that means that the apistos would work well for me at 74F - 76F?


Am I correct that with my base (30" x 18") that I could have 4 apistos (1m, 3f)?


My water is 7.0 pH out of the tap with 3 kH and 5 gH. (I'm not sure what the dH is for the tank.) Would that be the sum of the two, or the average, or what?


Which is hardier - rams or apistos? Would I be able to have 4 rams or 4 apistos?

 

[likescichlids]

Thanks...

So, that means that the apistos would work well for me at 74F - 76F?


Am I correct that with my base (30" x 18") that I could have 4 apistos (1m, 3f)?


My water is 7.0 pH out of the tap with 3 kH and 5 gH. (I'm not sure what the dH is for the tank.) Would that be the sum of the two, or the average, or what?


Which is hardier - rams or apistos? Would I be able to have 4 rams or 4 apistos?

ram are not easy to keep they need soft water..

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Thanks...

So, that means that the apistos would work well for me at 74F - 76F?


Am I correct that with my base (30" x 18") that I could have 4 apistos (1m, 3f)?


My water is 7.0 pH out of the tap with 3 kH and 5 gH. (I'm not sure what the dH is for the tank.) Would that be the sum of the two, or the average, or what?


Which is hardier - rams or apistos? Would I be able to have 4 rams or 4 apistos?

ram are not easy to keep they need soft water..

I believe that's what I have... kH: 3 drops, gH: 5 drops...


So, apistos are more hardy? Is there a specific kind that is more hardy than another?

 

[likescichlids]

Thanks...

So, that means that the apistos would work well for me at 74F - 76F?


Am I correct that with my base (30" x 18") that I could have 4 apistos (1m, 3f)?


My water is 7.0 pH out of the tap with 3 kH and 5 gH. (I'm not sure what the dH is for the tank.) Would that be the sum of the two, or the average, or what?


Which is hardier - rams or apistos? Would I be able to have 4 rams or 4 apistos?

ram are not easy to keep they need soft water..

I believe that's what I have... kH: 3 drops, gH: 5 drops...


So, apistos are more hardy? Is there a specific kind that is more hardy than another?

bolivian ram cichlid are better then blue ram's... if u want to breed them.. then go with bolivian ram cichlid...

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I don't want to breed, I just want them to live happily and not die (or kill others in my community).

 

[likescichlids]

I don't want to breed, I just want them to live happily and not die (or kill others in my community).

ok then I would doa blue ram

 

[kizno1]

I would pick Apisto over rams every time but thets just personal prefernce. Bolivian ram would work perfectly but Blue/Electric blue/Gold rams prefer a higher temp which i doubt the croys will like. There are loads of other types of Apisto other than Cockatoos/Cacatuoides i personally would go for Apistogramma hongsloi or Apistogramma viejita or my favorite Apistogramma agassizii, 4 should do perfectly in your tank aslong as it is 1 male and 3 females if your waters soft and there well fed and water quilitys goot theres a good chance of the breeding aswell. Have you though of any other types of dwrf cichlids, maybe Laetacara curviceps or Dicrossus filamentosus.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

To be honest, my knowledge of cichlids is EXTREMELY limited. I want a peaceful community, but with a nice splash of the unexpected (to my experience, cichlids are very different). Cichlids are just so awesome looking, I'd like to have a few in my tank, if possible.

 

[kizno1]

To be honest, my knowledge of cichlids is EXTREMELY limited. I want a peaceful community, but with a nice splash of the unexpected (to my experience, cichlids are very different). Cichlids are just so awesome looking, I'd like to have a few in my tank, if possible.

Sounds good, theres only one problem with cichlids, there addictive once you get one you just want more and bigger ones.A 55G is a good size to start with and gives you quite a few options but because of the Corys i would stick to dwarfs so Rams, Apistos, Dwarf acara and you might get away with Keyhole cichlids.
Just something to think about if you started again from scratch a 55G is a good size for some medium cichlids like Firemouths, Blue acara, Angelfish (your tanks a great size for angels because of the depth) and a load more but the other fish would have to be big enough ad fast enough not to be seen as food
I would go for something like
1 Angelfish
4 Apisto
8 Lemon tetra
1 Clown plec or Whiptail
8 Corys (one of the bigger types would be best)

 

[eaglesaquarium]

That's a nice list, and it is something that I will consider in the future. For my first tank, I'm thinking about something a bit more in my comfort zone to start, and then after this has all gone through its cycle (when the fish meet their natural life expectancy, I will have to restock it with something. It might make sense to change over then. (In the meantime I'll have about 7 years or so to hone my fishkeeping skills.)

Then again, its possible I will like my current plan so much, I just stick with that style tank...


So, if I am looking at cichlids for my current stocking plan, I could go with just about any apisto species in a 1m, 3f ratio, is that correct?

 

[kizno1]

So, if I am looking at cichlids for my current stocking plan, I could go with just about any apisto species in a 1m, 3f ratio, is that correct?

Yeah, i cant think of any that wouldnt work in the tank and the ratio is perfect for them, just make sure you have a few caves as the females will want atleast a cave each.