What Can I Add To My Tank ( Cichlid Wise)

[ash90]

Hi guy changed my mine on goin to the salty side and just wondered what can go in my tank in the line of cichlids its a 27gallon(UK)
tank size is L80 X W35 X H45 CM.
All i have in it atm is lots of plants and the following fish

[size="4"]FISH[/size]

8X CARDINALS
3X FEMALE BETTA
1X BRISTLENOSE PLECO
2X RAMS(G.B.R)

Any decent ideas will be fantasic

 

[kizno1]

Hmm im not sure there is much else you could add. What temp is the tank. GBR need 28-32C which the Bettas a Cardinals will do perfect in and i think the BN will come with that. I would be tempted just to up the numbers to
10 Cardinal tetra
5 Female bettas
2 BN
2 GBR

 

[ash90]

water temp is 29C andph is 7.0

 

[kizno1]

Yeah like i said i would just up the numbers of the other fish Because any other bottom dwelling cichlids and i think there will be fights between them and the rams and midwater dwelling cichlids like Angel fish or festivums wont like the high temps rams need

 

[ash90]

i have had both of my tanks set at 29c since they were set up and was advised by the spcialist aquatic store too always set the heaters at the higher end and i have had no trouble except for them breeding ever 2 secs

 

[BethK]

if you can keep the temp down to 27c, you can get a pair of apistogramma cacatuoides. Not sure why you're at 29c, that's pretty high, you could take it down a couple of degrees, think the fish will appreciate that a little more. Your bettas will be much happier at 27c too

So you could have;

2 x apistos
2 x GBRs
3 x bettas
8 x cardinals

BUT you must ensure there are plenty of hiding places, caves, coconut huts, slate caves etc

 

[AstonN24vantage]

maybe an elect yellow or socolofi and if its tall maybe an angel if your not keeping bettas as well.

 

[kizno1]

if you can keep the temp down to 27c, you can get a pair of apistogramma cacatuoides. Not sure why you're at 29c, that's pretty high, you could take it down a couple of degrees, think the fish will appreciate that a little more. Your bettas will be much happier at 27c too

So you could have;

2 x apistos
2 x GBRs
3 x bettas
8 x cardinals

BUT you must ensure there are plenty of hiding places, caves, coconut huts, slate caves etc

GBR really do need higher temps 28C+ otherwise they seem to die alot younger than they should.

In a 20G i think 2 GBR and 2 Apisto would be to much. I would go for either 3 Apisto (1m 2f) or 2 Rams and leave them as centre pieces and build the stocking around them.

 

[kaivalagi]

I agree, adding a second pair of cichlids would be too much for the tank and if the GBR are breeding then more cichlids would be bad in a slightly bigger tank too really and 29C is obviously good for them if they're at it!

I would leave the tank as is to be honest or maybe add just a few more cardinals, and if you're wanting to do something still then spend more time on planting etc to beautify what is there...

 

[Carlovel1]

What abut a pair of Dwarf Flag Acara

 

[ash90]

i just want to add few more as its starting to look realy empty for some reason want i just want something realy bright and in your face as every thing seems realy dull and female gbr has turned black for sum unknown reason any ideas what could have coursed it and any ideas of some thing realy bright coloured

 

[kaivalagi]

I guess you could add a second shoal of bright tetra/barbs etc...pentazona barbs can handle 29C and look nice and colourful...

You need a bigger tank for more colourful and generally bigger cichlids...you have GBR in there which are one of the most colourful though

 

[ash90]

my rams are rather dull for sum reason over the past few weeks the little female has gone totaly black like she is stressed and male has just realy dull colour conpaired to when i got then and now have a problem with ma pleco has a taste for cardinals so may have to re-think the tank all togeather