New Tank, interested in Cichlids

Hello,
So I traded somethings with a friend (handmade bath products) and got a fish tank from her. I'm interested in having a Cichlid tank, but I've never had any before. The tank is also a tall one. It's 20"wide, 18"deep, 28"tall. I'd like a community tank if possible. Really like the look of GBRS, Bolivian Rams, & Angel fish. But am open to other suggestions also.

Thanks.

 

Ok so If you want a cichlid tank A male bolivian ram will do fine in there with some Shrimp/Snail and maybe some tetras.

 

That is an odd size. Probably a 30 - 40 gallon? With that height, one angel would be a great centerpiece fish. No more than one for that size. It's either or on your choices. An angel can be a big territorial bully to Rams. I have both angels and Rams, but in separate tanks exception being some baby Angels I am holding in a bow front tank with Bolivians while their tank is cycling.
Angels will also eat snails and shrimp so keep that in mind when choosing bottom dwellers and algae eaters.
A few cory cats would be great bottom dwellers, whatever direction you go in.
For algae eaters, I have bristle nose pleco and about to try a school of otos with my new setup of Angels.

So, maybe decide if you want one centerpiece and some bottom dwellers or a variety of small schooling fish for your mid to top level. Rams will hangout at the bottom. That is why MyCoryCats suggested tetras that tend to school at the mid and top levels. There are many great varieties to choose from. You usually want at least 6 since they are schooling fish.

Whichever way you go, research each fish for needs and compatibility and do a fishless cycle when you get the tank set up.
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/ammonia-instructions-for-a-fishless-cycle.19627/

And start thinking about quarantine. Check out the QT forum on this site .

Sorry if this is information you already know, but you did not state if this was your first tank experience so I threw some important information I wish I had when I first started instead of learning by trial and error.

 

This would be my third tank (have a 36 gallon in the living room, a 10 gallon in my son's play room) I always to fish less cycling. I'm leaning more towards the rams, with maybe a gourami for a top dweller.

My husband wants to get discus but I think the tank is to small?

 

Hmm I think maybe One by itself will be ok.But that is with nothing else in the tank

 

I think discus are really supposed to be kept in groups (although I've never kept them myself). Hopefully others will chime in to confirm...

 

I agree with you that it is too small for discus. You and the fish would not be happy with just one. Discus need pristine water conditions and a lot of planning and thought put into the setup.

 

No discus. I'd go with a bolivian ram or another dwarf cichlid like blue rams, or maybe a laetacara dorsigera/curviceps over an angel. While an angel is doable in those dimensions, eventually it's going to get some size on it and 20 inches horizontally may be a bit scrunched for him.

for schoolers I'd consider something like harlequin rasboras or maybe cherry barbs. ember tetras may also be a good thought. For cory's I'd consider something like habrosus or pygmy's.

I'm not sure about adding a gourami in there as well. But you could try. Just be ready to rehome if it's not working out. The height of the tank is nice but it's still a little short.

 

This would be my third tank (have a 36 gallon in the living room, a 10 gallon in my son's play room) I always to fish less cycling.

No need to start a fishless cycle if you already have established tanks. Just run the filter you're planning to put on the new tank in the 36g or add a bag of bio media in the 36g for 2-3 weeks to seed it. Then when you're ready to add fish, just move it over to the new tank for an instant cycle. Just don't add too many fish at once and stock slowly.

 

if I were you I would go with the bolivian rams.. the GBR can be quiet picky when it comes to water quality and being put into a new tank, and the bolivian rams are a tad hardier..
With that being said.. I love my GBR's that I have ( I have 4 3 females 1 male) but my tank was set up and running for 9 months before I got them.

 

Just and update:
Finally got the tank cleaned it out and ready to start adding decor.

 

Now that I see your tank, I would not recommend an angelfish. Plenty of vertical, but not enough horizontal space for a full grown angel.

Have you decided on the fish you want yet? Be sure to post pictures as you get it set up.

 

I wouldn't recommend a Ram in this either...Rams like to explore around the bottom level of the tank and that footprint is just too small. Maybe you should get a Gourami. Gourami visit all areas of the tank. And some small tetras.

 

I wouldn't recommend a Ram in this either...Rams like to explore around the bottom level of the tank and that footprint is just too small. Maybe you should get a Gourami. Gourami visit all areas of the tank. And some small tetras.

The footprint is bigger than it looks in the picture. The original post said 18" x 20". I think that is big enough for a couple Bolivian Rams. I have two in a 12 x 20 bow front 26g

 

 

That is an awesome looking tank! Where did you get the big pieces of drift wood?

 

That is an awesome looking tank! Where did you get the big pieces of drift wood?

Thanks! It's fallen oak from my yard.

 

I have been scared to pick up wood from my property to put in tanks. What did you do to make sure it was safe?

I live in the middle of woods so I probably have a bunch of great pieces just laying around, lol.

 

Well it must be a hard wood. I always use oak. It has to be fallen preferably with no bark on it anymore. If it is dry the better. That way if there is bark you can just scrap it off. I sand it a bit then boil the heck out of it. Maybe around 3-6 hours. Changing the water every 1-2 hours. That's about it. It not water logged but I usually use zip ties and rocks to keep it down. After about 6-12 months it's good to go with out the weights.

 

That is so good to know! I am going wood hunting, lol.

 

Hey so I had sometime tonight an began thinking about what I might want to put in the tank what are your thoughts on this:

3X German blue Rams
8X Bleeding Heart Tetras
3X Dwarf Gouramis
1X bristle nose Plecos

 

Certain Dwarf Gourami's are kinda like beta. Just one male to a tank. Research DGIV disease first and maybe stick with the kind that are not subject to it. Honey gourami's are safe and really pretty. Flame and regular DGs are coming in shipments from Singapore with the disease and it is always fatal.

That is a good number and great tetra.

I would stick with even numbers/pairs on Rams. Have you looked at the electric blue ram? I love the new pair I recently added.

 

Hey so I had sometime tonight an began thinking about what I might want to put in the tank what are your thoughts on this:

3X German blue Rams
8X Bleeding Heart Tetras
3X Dwarf Gouramis
1X bristle nose Plecos

IMO, I think that might be too much for those dimensions. Maybe just one GBR and also go with a smaller tetra like harlequins or ember tetras like tyguy7760 mentioned. And you definitely don't want to do 3 DG's especially if you were thinking all male. I would probably go with honey gouramis as they will stay small. A BN pleco might be too much if you're going to have a dwarf cichlid in there.

 

Yeah I might just get a bristle nose for my other aquarium I really like German blue rams always wanted to get some. This aquarium is driving me crazy. Who made this thing such weird dimensions!?

 

You made it look great though!

 

We'll had to take out the plants I had before, they didn't make it . Went and bought some and planted them just the other day.

So far in the tank I have:
3 molly
8 glow light tetras

I ended up doing some moving around of my fish and got a Bolivian ram in my other (36 gallon) aquarium.

 

We'll had to take out the plants I had before, they didn't make it . Went and bought some and planted them just the other day.

So far in the tank I have:
3 molly
8 glow light tetras

I ended up doing some moving around of my fish and got a Bolivian ram in my other (36 gallon) aquarium.

That's a really great looking tank. You've got a good eye for how to scape it!

 

That's a really great looking tank. You've got a good eye for how to scape it!

Thanks!

 

*update since adding my bronze corydoras to this tank they've gone spawn happy and I have eggs all over the glass. I think they like this tank due to the aquaclear 110 I have on it.

 

Any updates?