55 Gallon Tank: Cichlids or Community Tank???

[CoreyCat]

haven a hard time what i should do with my tank.. Cichlids or make it a Community any help

thanks

-Corey

[Shawnie]

what size tank?

[FishJones]

I would do community only because of the 55 gallon tank size, if it was bigger, definitely cichlid.

[Dozey]

I have to agree with FishJones. Cichlids are amazing fish with stunning colours. But in a 55 gallon tank you are going to be limited to just a few cichlids and may take away from your viewing pleasure. A community tank would be far more active and interesting to watch. IMO

[kacie]

Well you could always do dwarf cichlids or shell dwellers or one pair of smaller SA cichlids and have larger dither fish with a couple of BN plecos. That's what I am trying to do with my 55g.

[fishlover78]

you could always get 4-6 dwarf cichlids, then it would be like a community tank and a cichlid tank. would you be satisfied with this? you could also add some cories, ottos, loaches, or pictus cats as bottom dwellers too. -fishlover78

[Angela_96]

A 55g is plenty big for an african mbuna tank as long as it is 4ft long. You can keep 12cichilds in that tank w/ heavy filitration (I use a canister and a HOB filter). Also doing twice a week waterchanges.
Here is a cookie cutter to help you stock your tank: http://www.cichlid-forum.com/article...cutter_55g.php

In my 55g I have a lab breeding group, kenyi breeding group, and a psuedo flavus breeding group.

[GouramiGirl1221]

Or, you could put a couple dwarf cichlids in your community tank. If you check out my aquarium info, I've got a bolivian and a german gold ram in my community tank. They're wonderful...don't bother any of the other fish. I'm not sure what other type of small cichlid you could get away with like this...I've heard some rumors about apistos, but never tried it myself.

[Nick G]

I'd get either some Bolivian Rams or kribensis if you want a community tank and some Cichlids. The Kribs can get a bit territorial if they breed but with a 55gal the other fish will have plenty of space.