Lot's of questions here. I'd appreciate any advice/suggestions you can give!
Here's what I have:
100g, heavily planted w/ rooted plants & some stems, 1 8" GT, 3 3" Green Severums, 1 6" pleco, 1 5" clown loach. They all happily coexist with each other, and don't bother the plants.
Here's what I want:
Less plants, maybe a couple of swords & some val, and one more fish I can grow out to become a big fish (about 10-12", no 2' monsters). I want to convert my tank to more of a cichlid tank with less plants...but I want a couple just for deco (the swords are large mother plants & well established). I don't really want to spend the time with the plants anymore, since I have other planted tanks. I just want less maintenance (simple water changes are no problem). I want to focus more on the fish, basically, I want to raise some awesome fish!
About the fish:
I want one more big cichlid, something I haven't kept before. My GT's pretty mild mannered, although he didn't like a jag I had and beat the crap out of him (he survived); this was suprising since he's peacefully coexisted with firemouths, convicts, JD's, and a few other cichlids. I was thinking about a midas, red devil, or maybe another jag (I like jags), but no super common fish like JD's or oscars. What I don't want is a super mean fish, or a major digger, but I know that's a tall request when dealing with cichlids. I could put up a divider, but I'd rather not if at all possible. What do you suggest fish-wise?
Now I know this is cramping the tank. I can get rid of the pleco. Do you suggest I keep the severums for dithers for now or should they go? Eventually, they will go anyway when they get too large, or when the other cichlid gets too large. The clown stays.
Filtration:
Currently, I'm using an Eheim 2028, an AC 500, and a Hagen 802 powerhead w/ qf attachment. Will this be adequate or should I get another filter? Cannister or HOB? I'll be doing large water changes at least once per week, more when time permits.
So what do you think?
Here's what I have:
100g, heavily planted w/ rooted plants & some stems, 1 8" GT, 3 3" Green Severums, 1 6" pleco, 1 5" clown loach. They all happily coexist with each other, and don't bother the plants.
Here's what I want:
Less plants, maybe a couple of swords & some val, and one more fish I can grow out to become a big fish (about 10-12", no 2' monsters). I want to convert my tank to more of a cichlid tank with less plants...but I want a couple just for deco (the swords are large mother plants & well established). I don't really want to spend the time with the plants anymore, since I have other planted tanks. I just want less maintenance (simple water changes are no problem). I want to focus more on the fish, basically, I want to raise some awesome fish!
About the fish:
I want one more big cichlid, something I haven't kept before. My GT's pretty mild mannered, although he didn't like a jag I had and beat the crap out of him (he survived); this was suprising since he's peacefully coexisted with firemouths, convicts, JD's, and a few other cichlids. I was thinking about a midas, red devil, or maybe another jag (I like jags), but no super common fish like JD's or oscars. What I don't want is a super mean fish, or a major digger, but I know that's a tall request when dealing with cichlids. I could put up a divider, but I'd rather not if at all possible. What do you suggest fish-wise?
Now I know this is cramping the tank. I can get rid of the pleco. Do you suggest I keep the severums for dithers for now or should they go? Eventually, they will go anyway when they get too large, or when the other cichlid gets too large. The clown stays.
Filtration:
Currently, I'm using an Eheim 2028, an AC 500, and a Hagen 802 powerhead w/ qf attachment. Will this be adequate or should I get another filter? Cannister or HOB? I'll be doing large water changes at least once per week, more when time permits.
So what do you think?
