setting up the tank

[fishiefishie]

I will have a 29g becoming empty soon and I have a strong interest in a few cichlids. I need help deciding what I should stock it with, and am hoping to get some help here.
What I'm interested in:
firemouths
convicts
blue acara
geo family (smaller ones)
severums
oscar

Although I am trying to save up for a 55g, it will be at least a few months before that happens, so I'd like to plan for the 29 and then have a list of what I could add to it once the 55 is going. Also, I don't want to breed any as I have no place to take the babies. I like the look of larger fish with a small group of dithers (thinking rosy barbs or tiger barbs).

Thanks!!

 

[Ruben Tolon]

If you don't want pairs, you might be able to get away with a blue acara and a firemouth in that tank, but there's no guarantees considering the individual personalities and the small space involved.
Neither the severum or oscar would fit in this tank under any circumstances.

 

[fishiefishie]

Oh, yes, I know the oscar would be too large for that tank, but I'm thinking of one for the 55g down the road.
I was thinking I could get a small firemouth, blue acara and either a humphead or egyptian mouthbrooder for now, then when I get the 55g I could add either a severum or oscar and the dither fish and possibly a RTBS or catfish.
So that the final tank would be at least a 55g with 1 firemouth, blue acara, humphead, dither fish and either the severum or oscar.
How do you think that would be? I know oscars can be very messy, so I'm not sure if that would just put it over the top. I do weekly water changes/vacs, but still...
Thanks for the help!

 

[rhardy]

You are right "but still" that is not a very big tank for your planned inhabitants.

 

[fishiefishie]

So what would you do for the 55g?
I could do a firemouth and a blue acara (if they don't have one, would a JD work?) for the 29 (of course I'll move one if they get to fighting too much), then add maybe an oscar or a severum and one other smaller (5-6") cichlid once I get the 55?
I think I'll leave out any dithers, as they'll probably get eaten, or at least nipped to death.
ETA: Thanks!

 

[jpappy789]

for the 55 maybe a pair of convicts?

 

[Rbishop]

29 gal? apistos, shellies, keyholes, rams...

 

[fishiefishie]

Good ideas, rbishop, but I have a shellie tank already, and I've had rams before so I'd like something different. The apistos are a great fish, but around here the cheapest I can get them are about $25 each, and that's juvenile, unsexed and they have to be ordered "whenever the supplier has them," so they are pretty much a no-go. Thanks for the suggestions, though!
I really would like to keep it a south american tank, I think.