Cichlid 55 Tank?

[zachmorrow]

What would be good fish combos for a 55 gal cichlid tank, I already have a convict, and 2 acie. I'm also considering a mid level schooling fish, possibly tiger barbs or clown loaches

[Lupin]

Your cons will give the clowns problems. Clowns are bottom dwellers and should not be housed in a tank less than a hundred gallons. Despite being slow growers, they can reach a potential size of 12 inches or more therefore deemed unfit for a 55 gallons tank unless you plan to upgrade in a few years.

[mee-mee]

Convict cichlids are from Central America and the Aceis are from Africa...totally different water parameters...sorry mate...it is highly recommended not to mix New World (S.A. and C.A.) with any kind of African cichlid at all....so you should go with one or the other cichlid and go from there.....and what kind of convict do you have? Convicts are beautiful cichlids and you can go with a couple of convicts in your 55...and the only fish quite capable of surviving in a 55 would be any kind of Syno. catfish or algae eater...Bristlenose for example...But IMHO...I would choose one or the other..but not both...

http://www.saijoto.dk/english/Cichlider_English/Pseudo/Acei_English.htm

and info on convict cichlids
http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile58.html

Blue Aceis are Mbuna and should only be kept with Mbunas...so any kind of Lake Malawian Mbuna would be perfect for your Aceis....

[Coler]

Whilst you'll hear of people who have mixed SA Cichids with rift lake it's not a good idea...you might good lucky...most likely you'll end up with poorly fish, due to water requirements, or problems arising from the fact that fish from disparate biotopes don't 'know' how to react to each other.

Pick one and focus on that. A 55 is a good size tank and would look great as either e.g. a South American tank, or e.g. a Malawi or Tanaganyikan tank.

General advice on convicts would seem to be that a species tank of them and perhaps some catfish who can handle the aggression is better...not really regarded as community fish.

[African Dick]

I have personal experience with the fish you are speaking of and believe they would do ok as long as you took care of their dietary and shelter needs. I don't really see a huge problem. It is not a optimal situation but one that you can make work. I see people on this sight and others freak out about mixing different types of fish. IMO if it works...it works. You just have to try it out and see. Look at my 55 gallon tank. It has a PH of 8.4 or so and the serpae's have adjusted and are fine as well as the spotted.

[newsom00]

does your convict mix well with acies

[zachmorrow]

The convict and the acies do mix great. They don't chase eachother around or anything. They just seem to tolerate eachother. I have just added a kenyi and yellow lap to the mix yesterday, I will mainly get only africans from here on out though.

[Importskyline22]

The convict and the acies do mix great. They don't chase eachother around or anything. They just seem to tolerate eachother. I have just added a kenyi and yellow lap to the mix yesterday, I will mainly get only africans from here on out though.

THe main reason is not about them mixing or not. Its because they need differnt water parameters.

And the more africans you get, they are just going to kill the rest of your fish. So...suit yourself :)

[syddakyd]

cons are very hardy. the problem is they need protein and the africans need plant based food

[jm1212]

cons are some of the toughest "new world" cichlids, but with a troop of african cichlids building up in the tank, they wont be able to stand up. your best bet is to go with either african cichlids or CA/SA cichlids.

[Jayhawk]

Cons are found in Lake Nicaragua, and I'm pretty sure the water parameters aren't all that different from Lake Malawi (I googled Lake N's water properties but couldn't find hard numbers anywhere - would love a link if someone finds one).

That said, the food difference, different breeding strategies and territorial requirements could all lead to problems.

Eric

[mudskippers]

I say.... it depends on how big and how long your con.s have been astablished in the tank, beacuse sooner or later, they wont "allow" you to add any other fish.... if you know what i mean....

I suggest to anyone starting a cichlid tank.... get all your fish at once, the rest is food!!! :)

[MbunaFishKeeper]

i would say to decide which type of cichlid u want (S.A) or (C.A) then get the right set up (lots of rocks and caves for africans). (some drift wood and plants maybe a few cave for americans) then maybe post again if you decide which type you want and ask what fish.

[dent20]

I know you're not supposed to mix African and American, but it can be done. I have a friend with a tank just over 100 gallons and he's successfully mixed several fully grown species from both continents for over two years now. He has a green terror, polleni, blue ahli, red terror, a Livingstone's Cichlid (which I think is African) and a few more I can't remember the names of. Every time I go over there I'm amazed by the balance of power. The fish are by no means pals, but they keep their space and so far the only negative is that his polleni has put a few nicks on the green terror, that's not bad at all considering he's doing the one thing everyone insists you can not do. I personally have mixed several, young new world cichlids and a polleni and so far, so good. Eventually, I plan to move the polleni to another tank.