30 gal JD

[anthoeny]

What do you think of this setup?

30 gal:
1 Jack Dempsey
Lots Rocks + driftwood
Dark gravel (bean-sized)
Aquaclear 300
150w heater

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I think it will become to small once the JD grows to an adult.

Ok for growout.

 

[anthoeny]

In that case, is there any other (single) large cichlid I could keep in that setup that could be kept as an adult? (pH / params shall be ~neutral)

 

[anthoeny]

Here is the setup then I am leaning towards:
30-35 gal
1 Gold Severum
Another med-large-ish fish addition maybe?
2 Spotted Raphael Cats
Emperor Power Filter
Sand substrate
Lots of driftwood with attached java fern and anub. nana, plus rocks
Floating hornwort
DIY CO2


Along with my stocking question, sound good?

 

[blueturq]

not a severum, they get around 8 inches.

IMO for cichlids and smaller tanks, don't bother with Central American cichlids or South american(unless they are dwarf cichlids or keyhole cichlids)

You could get some african cichlids(smaller ones), there are some nice looking ones too! you could get some Yellow Labidochromis, they are cool looking. I wouldn't go with the bigger ones(Venustus, Electric Blue, Afra, etc. etc.)

Now if you were to go with smaller(dwarf) south american cichlids then you have good options aswell, and they upside is these guys don't rearrange the tank you have some options, you could get Kribs, Apistos(lots of varities), Rams, Keyhole Cichlids, Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlids, i'm sure their are others.......... I wouldn't reccomend putting them all together, i'm just saying what I think are small enough for a 30 gal

 

[anthoeny]

Blueturq, are you sure you would consider a tank in the 30-35 gal range "small" ?

Of course I respect your opinion, but most sources I have checked with on the internet describing the Severum, suggest it for a 30 gal ....
?

 

[anthoeny]

This may be pushing my monetary limit , but what if I could get into the 50-55 gal range, what combos of large CA/SA cichlids could I keep then?

 

[anthoeny]

I think I'm gonna try to model this tank like this one
http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquainfo/tank360tripod05.jpg


I really like Jack Dempseys, Uaru, and Severums....in the style of the aquarium on that link, what combos of each of those could I keep in a 50-55 gal? (I do not wish to breed either fish)

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I would consider 30gal small in terms of cichlids.

50gals+ is big IMO.

For a 55gal? Well you could do about 1 Severum and 1 JD and thats it. Or 1 Uaru and 1 Severum.

If you want a 30gal look into aspistos, great color and personality. I also love the idea of Severums. You could get a pair of Severums in a 55gal and maybe some dwarf plecos.

This in a 30gal - 1 Gold Severum
Another med-large-ish fish addition maybe?
2 Spotted Raphael Cats is a no.

Bigger is better when it comes to cichlids.

 

[anthoeny]

Thanks, C-Man.
I'm gonna go with a severum I think, but can't decide between a JD or an Uaru.

....

Oh the decisions!
Which do you suggest I choose?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I personally would get a Uaru because they are harder to find and a lot more peacful. But there isn't a whole lot of info out on them.

 

[blueturq]

it's ok C-man i can help out with Uaru info..... well basically the water params for these guys are very much like Discus, they like soft water, and a ph of 6.5 should do them good, they will thrive in peat filtered water which softens the water

55 gallon is an OK size, for cichlids.

An idea would be 1 Uaru and 1 Severum, the reason I don't say JD is becuase it could very well kill the Severum or Uaru. Or in a 55 gal you could also go with the idea i gave you earlier about African Cichlids or South American Dwarf Cichlids

I made a mistake earlier though..... Kribs are from Africa oh well they are dwarf cichlids though

 

[anthoeny]

What do you guys think of 1 Black Belt Cichlid Cichlasoma maculicauda, in a 55 gal?