Argh I can't decide... please help. :(

[jessicar613]

Please bear with me. My indecisiveness is getting the better of me. :( I was all ready to go get the rocks for my Tanganyikan 55 I've been planning when I went to the fish store and started looking at the Central Americans they had in stock. They had some Texans and some Dempseys and a black con that I really liked. I know the Africans are more exotic but I hear so much about the Central American personalities. I really am having a terrible time deciding. Now I know the Texan wouldn't fit in my tank but maybe a single con, a pair of firemouths and maybe a female Dempsey? And a bristlenose? I saw this as a possible setup on another forum and have been tossing it around in my mind for a while until I thought I had settled on the Tangs. I also just added some driftwood to one of my 20's and I love the tinted water, which would be a no go for the Africans. The African setup I had planned was a pair of Alt comps, a pair of julis and some cyprichromis. Of course those fish would end up being a lot pricier than the CAs.

I'm so torn. :confused: If you think I'm being a pest, please just pass this post on by. I need to choose so I can move on, anyone with an obsessive personality can relate I'm sure. Not like there are any obsessive types on this board. lol

[PPOHolbrook]

I am a newbie and am presently cycling a 75 galon tank. As I was doing my initial research African Cichlids seemd to be all the craze. As i continued though the New Worlds caught my eye. Now I could care less about Africans and amd setting up a South American tank. I am going with Red SHoulder Sev, and maybe a pair- or might be addig a blue Acara to the mix. I have decisions to make also. In the future I already want to get a 90-150 gallon tank to house Eartheaters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go with what you like a new World tank would be COOL!!!!!!!!! Keep us posted and send pics when ready.

Brian

[kooter]

I think we all go through this to a certain degree. Unfortunately, it really is YOUR decision. Way the pros and cons of each setup and look at maintenance requirements, water conditions, decorations, etc. Cost is also an important factor. Just cruise some more sites and research. One thing that helped me in deciding was how big the fish get and what tank mates are compatible.
Your tap water conditions might suite a different set up also?!
Anyways, hope I helped and didn't confuse you even more.

Good luck!:)

[jessicar613]

No you didn't confuse me further, I appreciate the input - my tapwater is pretty flexible, I have hard water with a ph in the 7.8 range. I think it would work for Africans, but with some driftwood and some good old tank raised mass produced CA's I think it would be fine. I should have mentioned that in my post.

PPO, I love the Eartheaters!! I saw a great one at the fish store a few months ago. I wanted it. They also had some baby sevs that were very cute. Mean little things though! lol Well, curious in a mean way. There was a pictus cat in there that was being tormented to no end. You have a little more room to work with than I do! My concern is that the Dempsey would grow too large for my setup. And I can't plan on getting a larger tank in the future, I just don't have anywhere to put it. If I could guarantee a female maybe I'd be ok w/ that stocking plan?

Make sure and post pictures of your setup. I tried to get a decent pic of my 20 with the tinted water and it just didn't photograph well. lol But I love the amber, murkiness of it.

[Kyohti]

*chuckles* Glad to know I'm not ALONE!!!

I've been doing the whole cichlid dilemma myself but for me it's been in reverse! I was wanting to set up a New World cichlid tank, but found some of the African varities so colorful and intense that I couldn't ignore them!

They may be more expensive, but I think once I have my tanks set up, the dramatic display of electric yellow and dazzling blue (still picking out the right 'blue') in my kitchen will be more than worth it!

Really, you just have to go with your gut and what feels right. I was trying hard to like the SAs with their smaller size and more compatible perimeters and temperaments... but the other won me over. I've had docile fish for a looooong time. I am ready to spice things up with more predatorial, competitive species!!

[kooter]

Make sure and post pictures of your setup. I tried to get a decent pic of my 20 with the tinted water and it just didn't photograph well. lol But I love the amber, murkiness of it.[/QUOTE]

Here is a link to some of my earlier photos, I am currently updating with some new pics. Enjoy!
http://www3.telus.net/public/mweston/photo.htm

[jessicar613]

Kooter (I'm sorry, your username cracks me up lol), your fish and what I can see of your tank looks terrific. I have keyholes too, and I love them. I got my two as juveniles. I've really enjoyed watching them grow up, and pair, court, and spawn together. In fact those keyholes are the fish that got me interested in fish in the first place.

Kyohti, are you keeping Malawis? That's funny because even though I see them in other people's tanks and they look beautiful, I'm not feeling drawn in that direction. Probably a good thing, because I'm confused enough as it is. lol I don't have a lot of lfs that stock those fish; one of the better lfs in my area focuses on Tangs, and the other CA's. So I haven't seen many Malawi's "in action".

Once I get the rock in my tank, well, and the water, I should be able to start my cycling. I have a bag of gravel in one of my 20's seeding, and plenty of filter sludge in my other tanks to introduce. So I should have fish in my tanks within the week, and hopefully, some pics.

[Star_Rider]

I went with new world.. heavy on angels,rams,keyholes.

then I saw a local breeder and picked up 4 2"-2.5" discus for $50

I had wanted to try them so took the plunge.


they are my favorites ...very colorful and have a ton of character.

I do like my angels and others too..they all have different characteristics.

the discus are pretty aggressive.
I also have wild angels..also very different. these are not as ;friendly ' as the domestics..but they are interesting to watch.

I am thinking of hatching out some brine shrimp and growing them out a bit..then dump them in to watch the wilds feed.

[jessicar613]

Well, I decided to go with the New Worlds. Thanks everyone! I went out of town for the weekend. Maybe I just needed some distance to think about it for a while.

I went and got 150 lbs of rocks today, and they are ph neutral, and will be placed with driftwood so there's no turning back. Hopefully with the help of some gravel and filter media from my other tanks, I'll have fish in there by the end of the week.

Thanks again; I like hearing about how you all chose your fish.

[kooter]

no problem...........good luck and make sure you post pics of your setup!

[Jason_S]

glad to hear you chose new worlds...you won't be disappointed. :D

as for what you want to stock with...imo a convict, female dempsey and a pair (I assume you mean breeding pair) of firemouths is a bit much for a 55. the convict and dempsey will each need their own territory and the firemouth pair will also need a territory and a much larger one since they will be breeding.

if you like firemouths then how about a setup like this...6-8 firemouths, 10-12 platys and a bristlenose pleco. the number of firemouths may have to be reduced as they grow larger and pair up but firemouths have been known to do well in colonies so you should be able to keep at least 2 pairs, possibly 3 in your 55. the platys are a natural "tankmate" for firemouths and other central americans and the fry they produce will make for a nice treat for the firemouths. you could probably also do a small to medium sized catfish in your setup if you want something to pick up uneaten food, though the firemouths should do a good job because they sift through the gravel possibly moreso than most other central americans. if you go with a catfish I'd say a striped or spotted raphael may be best suited to put up with aggression from the breeding firemouths.

if you don't want an all firemouth tank, then how about a pair of firemouths and a pair of smaller Cryptoheros. I wouldn't go with convicts because they become very territorial when they get larger and are breeding and may want the majority of a 55 as their territory which won't leave much room for the breeding firemouths. also, convicts have several smaller, more colorful and less aggressive cousin species. examples include C. spilurum (the blue/jade eyed cichlid), C. sajica (T-bar cichlid), C. nanoluteus (sometimes called a "yellow convict"), C. myrnae (topaz cichlid I believe) and C. septemfasciatus (don't think I've ever heard a common name for this species). Honduran red points are another gorgeous Cryptoheros species that are comparable to the ones I've listed. You could go with a pair of any of these Cryptoheros, a pair of firemouths and still do the platys (or mollies or swordtails...platys are my fav. of the 3) as dithers and the bristlenose for algae cleanup. :)

[jessicar613]

Jason, thanks! That's a lot of info. :) Actually my favorites were the Dempsey and the con. I thought it would be nice though to have a pair of something, just because I enjoy the breeding behavior, knew the tank was way too small for a pair of Dempseys and or a breeding pair of cons. I had hoped to find a female Dempsey to keep the size to a minimum. So you think that would be too much? :( I found that combo over at cichlid-forum in the archives, where it "passed".

I do think the Honduran Red points are great looking fish and not too difficult to find in my area. In that case I'd probably go with the HRPs, firemouths, and a catfish. I also like the T-Bar a lot, but haven't seen them locally and don't know much about them.

Looks like more research is in order. :) I'm thinking I'll start with a group of firemouths, so they can pair up. Or maybe even start with a catfish and then add the firemouths. That will give me some time to think (and read).

[rosita]

I couldn't ever make up my mind, so I went with both!!! No problem keeping up differences, I figure I've got the best of both worlds. Now to get the
150g for the CA's!!!!!:dive:

[Jason_S]

Jason, thanks! That's a lot of info. :) Actually my favorites were the Dempsey and the con. I thought it would be nice though to have a pair of something, just because I enjoy the breeding behavior, knew the tank was way too small for a pair of Dempseys and or a breeding pair of cons. I had hoped to find a female Dempsey to keep the size to a minimum. So you think that would be too much? :( I found that combo over at cichlid-forum in the archives, where it "passed".

I do think the Honduran Red points are great looking fish and not too difficult to find in my area. In that case I'd probably go with the HRPs, firemouths, and a catfish. I also like the T-Bar a lot, but haven't seen them locally and don't know much about them.

Looks like more research is in order. :) I'm thinking I'll start with a group of firemouths, so they can pair up. Or maybe even start with a catfish and then add the firemouths. That will give me some time to think (and read).

I would add the firemouths and HRP's at the same time, that way one group/pair won't establish a territory before the others are introduced. getting them at the same time will force them to get used to each other from the start. I would do the tank with quite a few plants, some driftwood, and several caves (one on each end of the tank and one or two in the middle of the tank).

will you be adding any dithers to the mix? the cichlids you're choosing will do better, imo, as juveniles if you do have some type of dithers in there with them. some type of top-dwelling, schooling species. :)

[jessicar613]

I have a ton of rocks and driftwood, and some starter plants from my other tanks, so they will have plenty of places to stake out. I'd like some dithers but I'm not crazy about the livebearers. Maybe a tetra of some kind?