Another Stocking List , Sorry

[SouthernRebel]

Hi I want opinions on my stocking list. It is for a 55 gal. With a Aquatech powerfilter for 30-60 gal and a eheim pro 2 2026 for up to 92 gal. My tap water ph is 5.8 and very soft.
I was thinking about : 8 German Blue Rams
10-14 Marbled Hatchet
10-14 Rummynose tetra
4 Festivums
But as I read the festivums will get 6-8 inches and eat smaller fish possibly. So my next stock list is this
8 German Blue Rams
10-14 Marbled Hatchet
10-14 Rummynose tetra
3 Apistogramma Panduro (1 male, 2 female)
So how is my 2nd stock, assuming the Festivums won’t work.

 

[SouthernRebel]

Anyone?

 

[lljdma06]

Anyone?

I personally prefer one cichlid species per tank in a community setup, but after a brief google, I haven't found anything that would say that the second list is not doable (except for tank size), but I didn't do a thorough search. That being said, I think your tank is too small to house that many cichlids. Considering your water quality, it wouldn't surprize me if your Rams bred. If they do, then cichlids, no matter how tiny and cute, turn into Satan's spawn when protecting the little ones. As a rule of thumb, based on my experience, I prefer a good 20 gallons per breeding pair, especially in a community setting for the dwarf cichlids. I used 30 for the larger apistos and kribs. You can breed Rams in a 10g, but they are then the only fish in that tank.

If I were you, I would reduce the amount of rams to 4 or 6, preferable 4, and only keep the rams OR I would just do the apistos, not both. I tend to think ahead regarding stocking and often consider potential breeding activity and how this activity will affect different tank mates. This often means that I am very conservative with my stocking when I'm dealing with cichlids. You want to create the most stress-free environment for ALL the members of the tank.

Your ideas for dither fish, as I like to put it, seems really lovely and are in adaquate numbers to really get some very nice schooling action.

I assume that you are doing a fishless cycle? I highly recommend this, but you've probably heard this a million times already. A word of warning, I don't think any of the fish on your list are great fish for a new tank. The hatchet fish might work well, but I know the rummynose can be very twitchy with regard to water quality and nitrate levels, as are rams. These fish would probably do best in a tank that is over 6 months old. To ease this, however, I seriously recommend that you consider planting this tank. It may help make the fish more comfortable with their surroundings. Also, when I kept my cardinal species tank, I had to mature the tank with hardier species. I then gave these fish away to a LFS and some friendly neighbors to make room for the cardinals. You might want to think about that and make arrangements with a friend who shares your hobby or a LFS.

 

[SouthernRebel]

What about:
6 Marbled Hatchet (top)
6 Reticulata Cory (bottom)
6 Rummynose tetra (mid)
6 Bleeding Heart Tetra (mid)
3 German Blue Rams (trio)
3 Bolivian Rams (trio)
3 Apistogramma Panduro (trio)
3 Apistogramma Cacatoide (trio)
1 Centipede Knife ~ If I can find one.
A fancy pleco, or two..

 

[Alex_]

What about:
6 Marbled Hatchet (top)
6 Reticulata Cory (bottom)
6 Rummynose tetra (mid)
6 Bleeding Heart Tetra (mid)
3 German Blue Rams (trio)
3 Bolivian Rams (trio)
3 Apistogramma Panduro (trio)
3 Apistogramma Cacatoide (trio)
1 Centipede Knife ~ If I can find one.
A fancy pleco, or two..

i would get ridd of the bleeding heart tetras and the pleco.

 

[SouthernRebel]

What about:
6 Marbled Hatchet (top)
6 Reticulata Cory (bottom)
6 Rummynose tetra (mid)
6 Bleeding Heart Tetra (mid)
3 German Blue Rams (trio)
3 Bolivian Rams (trio)
3 Apistogramma Panduro (trio)
3 Apistogramma Cacatoide (trio)
1 Centipede Knife ~ If I can find one.
A fancy pleco, or two..

i would get ridd of the bleeding heart tetras and the pleco.

Just wondering, but why?

 

[lljdma06]

What about:
6 Marbled Hatchet (top)
6 Reticulata Cory (bottom)
6 Rummynose tetra (mid)
6 Bleeding Heart Tetra (mid)
3 German Blue Rams (trio)
3 Bolivian Rams (trio)
3 Apistogramma Panduro (trio)
3 Apistogramma Cacatoide (trio)
1 Centipede Knife ~ If I can find one.
A fancy pleco, or two..

I know you probably didn't like what I said before. I tend to be very conservative. But what I did like about your previous setup were the larger shoals of one species of tetra and hatchet fish. With the list you have now, aside from the fact that IMO you STILL have too many cichlids (12 is still 12, whether it's 4 groups of 3 or a group of 8 and 4), especially if you are considering breeding them, you have only adaquate populations of the major schooling tetras. Yes, tetras will be fine with 6 individuals, but they'll be better with 10 or more. I also see the potential for your corys to get picked on by your pairs of cichlids. I also really don't like the choice of the knife fish. I only found information on the black ghost, and unless this fish is a midget of some type, I really don't think your tank setup is appropriate. I'm sorry, it's probably what you don't want to hear, but I'm thinking of the fishs' best interests. Again, if you limit your cichlids to 4 fish, not species, don't get the plecos, and don't get the knife fish, you'll probably be fine.