Changing 55 Gal From Community To Semi-aggressive Tank

I have a 55 gal tank that we were using as a community tank, but are thinking of turning it into a semi-aggressive tank instead. We had some male endlers and female guppies, but I'm almost positive the bumblebee cichlid we purchased a few months ago ate them. I was told the bumblebee would be fine with our current stock, but clearly that was/is not the case. It seems fine during the day and I have not noticed much aggression, but in the morning fish are missing. I'm not sure if I'm not feeding her/hI'm enough or if the aggression only comes out at night. I usually only feed the fish every 3 days, but I'm wondering if Cichlid's should be fed every day?

We have a 20gal high we can put the bumblebee in, but I'm thinking it might be better to switch the 55 to a semi-aggressive tank instead. Current stock includes 7 cherry barbs, (most are too big to be eaten), 2 female red wags (1 is an older fry), 1 bumblebee cichlid, 1 RTS. Is this tank able to be semi-aggressive? I know my cherry barbs are pretty mellow as far as barbs go, but they can and will take care of themselves (3 of them are over 5yrs old and are quite large for cherry's).

The tank is medium planted with live and fake plants and I plan to continually add more plants. I'm looking to make it heavily planted whether it's a community or semi-aggressive tank. My main concern in switching over are my cherry's. I do not want to lose my school, and I was actually thinking about upping them. I likely won't be able to do that now with how small they start out at the store. Will cherry barbs be safe in a semi-aggressive tank?

 

For Cichlids they should be in a species only tank because they are aggressive against different fish and sometimes their own but they can handle themselves.It I were you I’d turn the 55 into a cichlid tank that 20 high isn’t good for it they get up to 8 inches with good care they need at least a 75 gallon

 

Thanks. I was thinking that would be the case...The lady at the store said it would be okay in a 20 gallon alone, but I thought he looked too big now to be in there (let alone if he grows more) and I've only had it a few months. Not sure how big it currently is, but it looks fairly large. At least to me he does.

The rts definitely will not fit in the 20 gallon, and if I remember right the cherry's are too active for a 20 long so a 20 high would definitely not be enough for them. We don't really have the space to get anything larger either. I'm thinking it might be easier to rehome the one cichlid, rather than rehome all the others. Petsmart will not take it, but maybe I can find someone local who will....Wish I would have done more research on Cichlid's.

 

Thanks. I was thinking that would be the case...The lady at the store said it would be okay in a 20 gallon alone, but I thought he looked too big now to be in there (let alone if he grows more) and I've only had it a few months. Not sure how big it currently is, but it looks fairly large. At least to me he does.

The rts definitely will not fit in the 20 gallon, and if I remember right the cherry's are too active for a 20 long so a 20 high would definitely not be enough for them. We don't really have the space to get anything larger either. I'm thinking it might be easier to rehome the one cichlid, rather than rehome all the others. Petsmart will not take it, but maybe I can find someone local who will....Wish I would have done more research on Cichlid's.

Yea finding the guy a new home would be easier and plus they love to eat plants so those live plants wouldn’t last long with him lol

 

Yea finding the guy a new home would be easier and plus they love to eat plants so those live plants wouldn’t last long with him lol

Yes I have noticed, my poor plants. There are a few he stays away from (at least for now), but my others are starting to look quite pathetic.