Joined
·
41 Posts
Sorry in advance for the longish post, but aquariums are complicated!
After 10 years of having small (2.5 and 7 gal) desk-top tanks, I'm finally setting up a 36 gal. bowfront at home. Since my tanks have previously been small, I've stuck with very peaceful tetras, guppies and cory cats for them. For the new 36, my husband really wants an angelfish, and in researching them I ran across dwarf cichlids. They're beautiful and I'd love to get a few, but I want to make absolutely sure they'll fit with what I'm trying to achieve.
1. I want the aquarium to be relaxing: I don't mind the aggression that goes along with sorting of territory, but I don't want "bully" fish that keep some inhabitants cowering in the corner. And I don't have room to set up separate spawning and/or fry tanks.
2. I don't want to spend all my spare time doing water changes for "delicate" fish.
My current (albeit small) tanks have been very stable over the years, with
pH around 6.4 to 6.6
kH 90-100 (dH ~5.5-6) = moderately hard
GH 100-120 = moderately hard
temp very stable at 81 degrees (but both these tanks get sun for 6-8 hours a day. The new 36 gallon will not get any direct sunlight and will have 2.66 w/gallon).
I'm willing to go with some RO if necessary to soften the water, but am more concerned about the aggression. I'm hoping to keep the peace by getting a single angelfish (Pteropyllum scalare) and sticking to only female cichlids to avoid spawning aggression. Since Pelvicachromis females are more brightly colored than the males I'm thinking of 2 or 3 P pulcher or P taeniatus. I'd then round out the tank with a few smaller "schoolies" of some sort.
Does anybody have female-only Pelvicachromis tanks? I plan on having plenty of rocks for hiding spots and plants for cover which I hope will eliminate most of the bickering. Any ideas of how they would treat the angel?
If you think this combo will work, any ideas on smaller fish that'll be able to hold their own?
Sorry again for the long-ish post, but I don't want fish that are unhappy because I didn't do my homework.
After 10 years of having small (2.5 and 7 gal) desk-top tanks, I'm finally setting up a 36 gal. bowfront at home. Since my tanks have previously been small, I've stuck with very peaceful tetras, guppies and cory cats for them. For the new 36, my husband really wants an angelfish, and in researching them I ran across dwarf cichlids. They're beautiful and I'd love to get a few, but I want to make absolutely sure they'll fit with what I'm trying to achieve.
1. I want the aquarium to be relaxing: I don't mind the aggression that goes along with sorting of territory, but I don't want "bully" fish that keep some inhabitants cowering in the corner. And I don't have room to set up separate spawning and/or fry tanks.
2. I don't want to spend all my spare time doing water changes for "delicate" fish.
My current (albeit small) tanks have been very stable over the years, with
pH around 6.4 to 6.6
kH 90-100 (dH ~5.5-6) = moderately hard
GH 100-120 = moderately hard
temp very stable at 81 degrees (but both these tanks get sun for 6-8 hours a day. The new 36 gallon will not get any direct sunlight and will have 2.66 w/gallon).
I'm willing to go with some RO if necessary to soften the water, but am more concerned about the aggression. I'm hoping to keep the peace by getting a single angelfish (Pteropyllum scalare) and sticking to only female cichlids to avoid spawning aggression. Since Pelvicachromis females are more brightly colored than the males I'm thinking of 2 or 3 P pulcher or P taeniatus. I'd then round out the tank with a few smaller "schoolies" of some sort.
Does anybody have female-only Pelvicachromis tanks? I plan on having plenty of rocks for hiding spots and plants for cover which I hope will eliminate most of the bickering. Any ideas of how they would treat the angel?
If you think this combo will work, any ideas on smaller fish that'll be able to hold their own?
Sorry again for the long-ish post, but I don't want fish that are unhappy because I didn't do my homework.