Stocking Suggestions Please

[CherryNova]

Hi all. We are upgrading to a 300L (4ft) tank. We have the remnant of various old tanks living in there at the moment, 6 corys and 2 bristlenose plecs (there is also a very elderly female betta in there that I suspect is not long for this world and 1 lonely harlequin who snuck in a bag by accident!). I would like to add some bright, colourful fish for the mid water and would really appreciate some suggestions! Having never kept cichlids before I'm trying to do my research before jumping in.

For reference we live in a very soft water area. The tank will have live plants and an external filter. Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[Crossfire]

Hi all. We are upgrading to a 300L (4ft) tank. We have the remnant of various old tanks living in there at the moment, 6 corys and 2 bristlenose plecs (there is also a very elderly female betta in there that I suspect is not long for this world and 1 lonely harlequin who snuck in a bag by accident!). I would like to add some bright, colourful fish for the mid water and would really appreciate some suggestions! Having never kept cichlids before I'm trying to do my research before jumping in.

For reference we live in a very soft water area. The tank will have live plants and an external filter. Any advice is much appreciated.

There's a lot you can do here. Since you have cories and the bristlenose and want cichlids, I suggest an Amazon biotope

Do you know what species of cory?

Anyway, If its a community tank of cichlids, I say

15x Cories
2x Bristlenose
20x Cardinal Tetras
18x Red Blue Columbian Tetras
4x Dwarf Cichlids (1 male, 3 females) Any Apisto would work
Maybe a pair of angelfish would work too

Or just straight up cichlids I'd say

15x Cories
2x Bristlenose
4x Convict cichlids
or
2x Green Terrors
or
1-2x Jack Dempsey
Or maybe some Angelfish

 

[crazyforcordoras]

I wouldnt put jacks or green terrors in with cories. Not in a 4 foot either. Angels would work, so would apistos.

I would do this

3 Brazilian Geophagus
12 cories
2 bristlenosed
20 Lemon tetras
12 Black Phantom tetras

Oh yah, convicts are very aggressive and will breed nonstop. In the prosess, they will mutilate you other fish.

 

[CherryNova]

Thanks for the ideas! We have 3 albino and 3 Julii corys. I'm starting to think that some Apistos and a shoal of some kind of tetra may be the way forward. I'm not convinced the tank is big enough for a really big fish and I'm not hugely keen on Angels.

 

[thereverendturtle]

If you want a bigger cichlid, that would go well with your stock, Geophagus red head tapjios would be a good choice. Or Gymnogeophagus balzanni would work as well.

 

[CherryNova]

If you want a bigger cichlid, that would go well with your stock, Geophagus red head tapjios would be a good choice. Or Gymnogeophagus balzanni would work as well.

Just read up on Gymnogeophagus balzanni, is it true they require a cooling off period (18 degrees)? If so, wouldn't that effect the other fish in the tank? If not they look fab and would definitely be a winner for me!