Considering a Dwarf Cichlid Tank?

[FallenAngel]

I was thinking of doing a dwarf cichlid aquarium (:
By that i mean a tank with rams, angels, apistos and kribensis.
What other kind of fish should I keep with them?
I will probably keep them in a 100l which will be planted but also have a good hardscape with rocks and driftwood.
This is the kind of stocking list I was thinking:

6ish Rams (Golden, Blue, Butterfly...)
2 Kribensis (Breeding)
4 Angelfish
3 Apistos (Maybe breeding?)
2 Bristlenose Ancistrus (Again, if they want to, Breeding :))
5-10 Corydoras.. Yeah they're not cichlids but an aquarium isn't an aquarium without 'em (:

Any other ideas??

[Kristinann]

100 litres is only 26 US gallons (I'm saying that more for me than for you lol). You will have major major territory problems. I think you could only do:

1 established pair of angels OR
1 established pair of rams OR
1 male and 1-2 female apistos (harem breeders)

Most of those breed in the lower levels, especially apistos, and would not appreciate having other bottom dwellers (plecos or cories) near their fry.

Though the fish themselves do not take up mauch space (except the angels), they need that much space due to aggression and territories, especially if they will be breeding. Honestly, I wouldn't touch this without around 200+ gallons, especially with that many rams.

I have a tank that is 20 US gallons. I'm about to do what I consider to be my max- one male and one female apistogramma cacatuoides, with a few otos and some neon tetras. That's it. Since you have another 6 gallons, you might be able to get away with another female IF it is heavily planted with lots of hiding spots to keep the girls from killing each other.
Even one breeding pair of angels should really have at least 29 US gallons. And while from what I hear a pair of German blue rams can be kept in 20 gallons, it would take at least 55-75 gallons to have more than one pair, since they need the territory space plus buffer space between territories. I don't know as much about kribs.

I say pick one species and do lots more research on that species.

[FallenAngel]

What if the tank were a 200l?
I was planning on moving the fish once they were to pair off.
I will be breeding angels in the future so I was not planning on breeding these ones

[Kristinann]

In 200L (roughly 52 gallons) you could probably up it to 2 pairs of fish, and you would need it to be healily decorated and be cautios.

100L would be decent enough for 1 breeding pair of angels.

[jpappy789]

You could keep one pair in a 100L and maybe 2 in the 200L. I wouldn't do any more than that.

[FallenAngel]

What if they weren't for breeding? And when they're spawning I could move them to a different tank?

[Kristinann]

Well, if they are adult angels and they are a pair, they will breed. If they aren't a pair, they will fight. That is pretty much the same for most species that form pairs.

Basically, either they will breed and you can't do much to stop them, or they will just fight. At least that is my understanding of it.

It really doesn't matter if they are breeding or not, these fish establish territories and so they need the space.

[FallenAngel]

I have 2 kribensis and 2 angels in the same tank, they don't fight, and they aren't pairs?

[Kristinann]

I'm not sure. I've never kept them, just read TONS (setting up an apisto tank, researched most of the dwarfs). I don't recall if kribs pair, but I know angels do. How long have you had them, and how big are they?

[stephcps]

I have 6 2.5-3 inch angels in a 55 with some apistos and cories and 2 pleco and a group of rasbora. They all get along fine...RIGHT NOW. That may continue or it may change it's hard to say. All of the angels have been together since roughly nickel to quarter size. I have had one pair form and they did spawn in that tank. But again, they are still young. I watch them cautioulsy for aggression. I think it depends more on the fish you have, than just a general that can't work. You need at least 10 gallons for each adult angel. The bolivian rams get big. I think personally I would do a few angels (make sure you have a quick back-up plan if aggression becomes an issue) and several german blue rams OR bolivian rams. Some cories...if you do them get at least 6 of the same variety and a couple of bristlenose plecos and I would be done. Just my opinion of course :)

[jpappy789]

Consider that even if they are not spawning at the moment that they still will try to create a loose territory. Angels and kribs occupy more or less different areas of the tank...rams, apistos, and kribs all tend to stick to the bottom. There is not nearly enough space for them to all coexist in the tank sizes you have.

[laurenrocksth]

If you were to do a 200L, I would go with the angels and ONE other type of cichlid. I have a similar stock in my 55g and have yet to see any aggression. The angels hang out in the middle to top of the tank and the rams at the bottom. I think it would be a different story if I had another dwarf pair.

[FallenAngel]

Oh ok then.. I guess I'd just have to stick to the biotope/community type of aquariums.
Thanks for the ideas everyone :D