225 gallon CA cichlid fantasy tank

[lordroad]

There's a 225 or 220 gallon at Pet Supermarket (petco and petsmart franchise) for about 1400, including the stand, hood, and light fixture. Sometimes I just go to the store to look at it and fantasize. It's certainly big enough for my dream sting ray tank, but a lot of the vertical space would be wasted on a ray. It would be much better suited for central american cichlids.

I've never kept these guys, so I don't quite know what would work, but here's an idea...

1 oscar
1 green terror
1 jack dempsey
1 texas cichlid
6 firemouth cichlids
1 cool looking pleco

I'd use two or three Rena XP3s and a couple big aquaclears. I hate plumbing and would not want to mess with a wet-dry filter... also the kit isn't marine ready so it's not predrilled.

I'd use one of those amazing prefabricated central american biotope backdrops, and for substrate I guess I'd use gravel.

I have a tendency to overstock and like to get the most bang for my buck, so I'd probably add more fish. So, CA cichlid owners or past owners... how would YOU set up a 225 gallon central american cichlid tank?

 

[bigredspecial]

Personally, I'd want to try discus and lots of rams.

 

[Orion]

I wouldn't.

I would do a Rift Lake setup with nothing but multies! lmao

Really if all you want is a single species of each then you will be able to get away with a lot more diversity in terms of the cichlids than say if you wanted pairs of some. Me, I would go for the 'super preditors' like the Jag's, dovii and such. Either than or a bunch of different dwarves, and a few medium sized cichlids like the severums or GT's. Not all CA I know, but it's what I would do.

Don't forget the Red Tail Catfish!

What's the specs on the tank BTW?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

That'd be good Lord, though i'd contest 14 frontosas to be better. Or some of the bigger Malawi Haps.

If i had to go SA/CA with it i have a few options...

Option 1:
- 10-15 Wild Discus (Greens, Blues, or Heckles....one or the other, no mix)
- 50 Cardinal Tetras
- 10 (?) Cory cats (Species, not sure)

Option 2:
- 20 Altum Angels
- 2(Maybe more?) pairs of Dwarf Cichlids (Apistogramma panduro, Apistogramma inka, Apistogramma elizabethae, or Apistogramma nijsseni)

Option 3:
- #?? Geophagus (Either Geophagus altifrons or Geophagus tapajos)

Option 4:
- # (??) Crenicichla Xingu
** Or any of the Crenicichla species**

With all wild fish of course. Planted tank too. Of course on some of the options i could add more, just not sure what.

 

[lordroad]

Man, I forget the exact specs, but it's definitely 2 feet wide, if not wider, and I think six or seven feet long. Pretty tall too. Next time I'm at the store I'll write em down. It's a VERY nice tank.

Would a Midas cichlid fit on my list, or would it tear everyone else apart? I could put him in last and let everyone else grow up...

I'd like to stick just with CAs, though severums sounds really cool.

 

[wayne]

If all Ca why the oscar and green terror? You could keep a bunch of the smaller fish, but a single pair of managuense would be good

 

[PuNanny]

I would make that tank a kick asss reef

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Cha CHING$

 

[PuNanny]

Bing Bing reef

 

[Orion]

ugh, would seem like such a waste.