Stocking Advice Please

[Dazzler666]

Hello. Ive got a 5ft 420 litre (i think!!) tank, currently running two Fluval 304 filters. My PH is constantly 7.2 and all ammonia & nitrite is 0. Ive currently got 12 tiger barbs, 20 harlequin rasboras, 9 lemon tetras, 5 beacon tetras, a pair of kribs and 6 BNP's.
I really want to add some colour/s & there is some scope to move the smaller fish out if needed.
Is it possible to add 4-6 Bolivian Rams, possibly one blue acara as a centre piece fish (would add last when all others in & settled) and maybe a schoal of rainbow fish?
Was thinking cardinal tetras but im gathering from what i read that the Acara when grown may find them as a tasty scooby snack!!
Any advice much appreciated.
Cheers

 

[DanTheFishMan11]

add a group of german bolivians (4 or 6 try get 4 female 2 male or 1 male 3 female)

 

[hensonc4098]

The acara could well even snack on your other tetras too and will just become a bit of a pain. You can try adding it when it is very small and hope that it grows up not being snackish on the others, but you may well have to move most of the smaller fish out. That's fine if you want to make a more aggressive type tank, you could keep the barbs, plecs and possibly the harlequins depending how bad the acara gets. What kind of rainbow fish were you thinking?
It'd be an "either-or" with the rams and the acara though. There will be enough space for a group of bolivians there along with your kribs, but think the acara could well bully them out if you tried both.

 

[Dazzler666]

Thanks for the advice!! . Tho quick questions ....
Dan. What are German Bolivians? Ive never heard if them!! Do you mean German Blue Rams? If so from my reading my PH is too high as believe they prefer water with a slightly acidic PH (6.0-6.5).
Also, im not bothered about them breeding hence, would it still be wise to have a hareem (which may be easier said than done as im aware they are hard to sex when young!!) or just get all same sex?
Hensonc, i considered the Acara as read they were the more peaceful of the genre' opposed to JD's, green terrors, etc . Initially really wanted an EBJD but read they were very aggressive hence considered the blue acara.
Any ideas of any larger colourful single centrepiece fish for my tank?
Regards to the rainbows, was thinking of either banded or blue rainbows. Im aware their max temp range is the lower end for the rams but my tank runs at 28 and all others seem perfectly fine.
I have scope to move the smaller fish if required though and probably would if got rainbiws & rams.
Really appreciate the advice as cichlids are a totally new venture & like most of us fish keepers, just want a happy peaceful tank!!! Though appreciate, easier said than done!!
Thanks again .

 

[crazyforcordoras]

I wuld reccomend bolivians. Not GBRs. Your right about the ph, but they also need higher temps. If you are in the uk, it would be 28C. In the US, it would be 82F

 

[hensonc4098]

It's hit and miss to be honest. We had a blue acara that was really quiet for years and then one day decided to eat anything it fit in its mouth. Some people say they've kept theirs for years with no problems and others say that they were really aggressive. It's just your luck. But if you have somewhere else to put the smaller tetra types then no reason not to get an acara. As long as there's nothing small enough to fit in its mouth or competing territory wise, it should stay pretty peaceful.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

If you want any more cichlids in that tank, I suggest only getting African. Why? Because at least the Kribs and the other cichlid pair/hareem/singleton will at least use the same body language to communicate their intentions.

 

[Dazzler666]

Great advice, much appreciated.
So, its better to have African cichlids (obviously moving the smaller tetras & rasboras out!!) though after having a quick search it seems there are rather a lot including malawi, peacocks, etc with varying requirements depending which lake they are from!! .
Dont suppose anyone can suggest any which can live happily in my PH of 7.2?! Even just to give me a starting point!!!
Again, much appreciate the advice!!

 

[hensonc4098]

Most, apart from the malawis, should be fine in that.

 

[Dazzler666]

From doing a bit of reading, am thinking of sticking with bolivian rams (which i believe are South American cichlids). Regards these, is it better to have pairs or harerms? Just ive read they are not hareem breeders but been told to have a hareem?!
Also still swaying to a blue Acara assuming that they will work together?!
Again, top advice & greatly appreciated!!

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Regarding African cichlids to go with Kribensis, I'm referring to other species from West Africa, not the Rift Valley lakes, things like...

Anomalochromis thomasi
Nanochromis transvestitus
Nanochromis parilius
Nanochromis nudiceps