54 Gallon Options

[Slough Shark]

I am wondering what I can keep in 54 gallon as far as central/south american cichlids go. I am hoping for something on the larger side (maybe green terror?), but if not I'll get a pair of JDs. So what is the largest SA/CA cichlid I can keep in a 54 gallon tank alone?

FYI, I wont even be getting the tank probably until like 6 months from now, so I have lots of time to plan!

Help would be appreciated Cichlid Gurus!

Taylor

[Parachromis1]

IMO i'd go with a midas or jag.

badas tempers and they fill up a tank very nice.

[Slough Shark]

Wouldn't a Jag get too big for a 3' tank though?

That's the right temperament I want though, lots of personality and aggression :thumbs:

With one of these big aggressive fish, what am I looking at for filtration? Canister filter? Or can i get away with an AC 70 or two (lol or would 2 AC 70's cost about as much as a canister?)?

Thanks for the help,

Taylor

[RD.]

54 gallon, as in 36x18x20?

[Slough Shark]

You bet.

[JORG]

Wouldn't a Jag get too big for a 3' tank though?

That's the right temperament I want though, lots of personality and aggression :thumbs:

With one of these big aggressive fish, what am I looking at for filtration? Canister filter? Or can i get away with an AC 70 or two (lol or would 2 AC 70's cost about as much as a canister?)?

Thanks for the help,

Taylor

You would probably be better of with a AC 110 and lots of water changes if you plan on keeping a bruiser

[RD.]

If you plan on keeping the fish mentioned above long term, I personally wouldn't go with anything smaller than a 75 gallon.

Just MHO

[Parachromis1]

ohh. i thought it was a 4ft tank.

id go with a fluval fx5 or a couple of aquaclears with plenty of water changes.

Quinn

[Slough Shark]

Ok, so I know what to do with filtration. I am confused? Will an Parachromis genus fit (besides Dovii obviously) or should I get something else? Any others that have good personality? What about texas/pearlscale cichlids?

Also is gravel or sand better as a substrate?

Thanks for the help guys, I really appreciate it,

Taylor

[Parachromis1]

sand is awesome.

looks good and is pretty easy to clean IMO.

most parachromis need a 75 gallon when fully grown.

if you can find one, go with a motaguense. one of my favorites.

carpintes are pretty sweet especially if you can get the escondido version.

Quinn

[Qattarra]

I'm of the opinion that at full grown these previous fish are too big for a 54.

Green terror would be more appropriate in size, but not as feisty.

C. (Herichthys) carpintis (1 pair max) http://www.aquamojo.com/carpinte.html

Archocentrus centrarchus (2 pair) http://www.aquamojo.com/archocentrus/centrarchus.html

It may be better to stick to 6-8 inchers so you can give them plenty of environment, hiding spots etc. Anytime you are going with big personalities you need the extra room.

Edited January 20, 2008 by Qattarra

[Nandopsis]

I'm of the opinion that at full grown these previous fish are too big for a 54.

Green terror would be more appropriate in size, but not as feisty.

C. (Herichthys) carpintis (1 pair max) http://www.aquamojo.com/carpinte.html

Archocentrus centrarchus (2 pair) http://www.aquamojo.com/archocentrus/centrarchus.html

It may be better to stick to 6-8 inchers so you can give them plenty of environment, hiding spots etc. Anytime you are going with big personalities you need the extra room.

I agree.

That tank is too small to have any of the more aggresive/personality.

A foot print of atleast 48"x18" would be a *min* for a smaller variety of guapote or similar fish.

[Parachromis1]

still not a bad grow up tank for a parachromis.

Quinn

[Slough Shark]

Ok, so is this about right?

Central American Cichlid Tank (50 Gal):

Stocking (Choose One):

2 Green Terrors (Pair)

2 Carpintis/Pearlscale (Pair)

2 Salvini (Pair)

2 Jack Dempsey (Pair)

1 Red Terror

Are any of these not possible in that size tank? What would you put in a tank this size?

Substrate will be sand, plants are impossible right?

This is sounding pretty good guys, I've been wanting to own a big CA cichlid for a long time now!

Taylor

[Albertan]

First off I wouldn't go FX5 on that tank...too much water movement even with plenty of hiding spaces. IMO, an XP3 and an AC70 would be the ticket. I am running a Fluval 404 and two AC 50s on my 58 with great success. As for the fish, JDs are a nice fish that I believe will work in a 55. The fish I would be looking at though is a grammodes or salvini. Grammodes are very cool fish that look like mini dovii with red spots. They are a challenge to raise as they seem prone to bloat. But they top out at about a foot and are notoriously slow growers so you might have the opportunity to get an even larger tank before the fish reaches full size.