Questions/Recommendations for a new setup

[plainzwalker]

I am thinking of setting up my 29gal tank soon since I still haven't unpacked it from the move and after a recent visit to a fish store I decided to do a dwarf cichlid setup. Something with a fine (probably dark) substrate and mostly rocks and a couple of silk plants.

After doing some research on different types of cichlids I can up with a list of 7 that I am interested in, my questions are how many of which will go good together?

Ram (or Bolivian Rams, but haven't looked into those yet)
Keyhole
African Butterfly
Panda Dwarf
Macmasters
Cuckatoo/Crested Dwarf
Agassiz's dwarf

I wanted to try a keep a African setup going (however I and still doing research on the origins of all these species) but I am at a loss as to what I should use as a "cleaner" fish. I was thinking of a cory since I've had them, but most of the ones (prolly all) come from S. America. Any suggestions?

I was also thinking of possibly a couple other fish, but I'm still doing my research. I'm trying to stick to smaller more colorfull cichlids.

Thank You in advance,
Jeff

[plainzwalker]

K.. since no-one really had any answers/suggestions, I decided to do a little more research. I want to setup the tank for either a Ram pair (or two if possible) or have the tank focused around a family of Agassiz's dwarf cichlid. If I were to go with the Agassiz's then I would get 1 male and 3-4 females, since that was the suggested ratio from what I've read. However, for other tank mates I was think of these possibilities:

Blue tetra (small school about 6-8)
Blue Emperor Tetra (6-8)
Salt & Pepper Catfish (4-6)
Skunk cory (4-6)
Panda Cory (4-6)
Pygmy Cory (6-8)
Reticulated Catfish (6-8)


Which one of thse would go best with rams or adassiz cichlids? It will be a planted tank with caves/wood as appropriate for the main fish as well as the other fish in the tank.

Thank you

[denali1234]

Bolivian Rams are fun to watch and very hardy. They are also great community fish, but do not tolerate many other bottom dwellers, since they "own" that piece of real estate. I do have mine with kuhli loaches, but they did harass my albino cories, so I removed them. You could put two pair in there. I would put 2 females and 1 male and let them pair off. I would take back the female that di not pair. One pair might better for the amount of fish you want to add. Even if you get two maoles, they are fun to watch. They will divide the tank and do battle, but never hurt each other. Great fish! They get way more colorful they longer you keep them.