Community tank some help needed

[S.T.]

I have a new 60 gallon (272 L) tank that I want to set up as a community tank, I'm going to shift a pair of A. Trifasciata in there and a pair of rams. Other than a whole heap of small tetras anyone got any ideas for some interesting tank buddies? I'ts going to be fairly heavily planted with a huge piece of wood on one side and a quartzite cave system covered in moss on the other side, in between planted with anything and everything.

I'm looking for tank mates that wouldn't harass the cichlids if they did end up breeding, hence a whole plethora of small tetra types. Anyone else got any ideas?

Cheers

 

[Mike Wise]

Sounds interesting! Add some cory cat and don't worry about breeding any of the dwarf cichlids. That "whole plethora of small tetra types" will wipe out any brood in short order. The parents will be overwhelmed.

 

[bigbird]

Hello,

Sound intersting. Like Mike says, the Tetras are wonderful hunters, so they will make mince meat of the fry eventually. Tetras I like to only keep 2 of the same species, makes the school look great. Corries are also good for bottom dwellers. have you got any plecos . Although not from the same group, I recently added 5 kuhili loaches in my 500L tank and they bring us a lot of joy with their swimming etc and the kids love watching them. cheers jk

 

[MonteSS]

Keyholes go nice with the dwarves. Maybe a pair of Angels?

...Bill

 

[Bilbo]

IMO the trifasciata are truly stunning fish and if they aren’t to shy and will come out to play then these should be the central theme for your tank. If the apistos are shy and you want a display tank then a different display or wow type fish might be needed. This could be the Rams you mentioned or perhaps a nice pair of wild altum angels.

I also think a school of pencilfish or headstanders make interesting tank mates or maybe some of the rasbora family. So many stunning fish out there.

None of the fish I have mentioned are shy when it comes to having a snack on apisto fry though.

 

[S.T.]

I had intended to make the A. Trifasciata my "main theme". The rams were just because I thought it might be nice to have another "big fish" in there. I had thought so far to stock the tank with the small tetras... 2 cm and under and with some microrasboras... so the Trifasciata will be twice as big as anything else in the tank.

I've had the Trifasciata's with guppies and they didn't even eat the guppy fry! So I figured they'd be alright with the microrasboras and the "nano" tetras. I was kind of thinking that if the tank was heavily planted enough then some of the fry would survive.

I've had the Trifasciatas in their own tank but it's ony 30 gallon so I thought dropping them into the 60 gallon tank would be awesome for them. And then I was trying to find peaceful small community minded fish to share the tank :biggrin:

One last thing I saw "neon blue rams" at my lfs. It's a decent one and the owner said they weren't dyed, and as I looked at it, it didn't look dyed as the neon did change shades through the ram. Does anyone know about this fish? It also seems smaller than the normal rams

Cheers

 

[Mike Wise]

Neon Blue Rams are just another domestically produced color morph of M. ramirezi. They aren't dyed.

 

[S.T.]

Well the tank is stocked with small (2cm and under) rasboras and tetra species and 10 pygmy corys. I was wondering so far I have a single pair of A. Trifasciatas in there, would it be presumptious to add another female? The tank is 1.7m long and 55cm wide.

I have a "spare" female that has bred a few times but her mate kicked the bucket and I feel guilty leaving her in the fry tank "alone" with 20 or so fry about half an inch long.

I'm just worried the current female, who is younger (not related at all). Might become dominant cause she's occupied about 1/2 the tank or vica versa. The tanks decently planted with very holey wood one end (with loads of caves) and a rock wall also with caves at the opposite end of the tank.

What do you all think


p.s.
The small fish seem to never come down to the bottom third, other than the cory's) infact the apistos seem to travel more of the tank height than the small fish do. I was really impressed when the female swam all the way to the top to attack a bunch of live food I put in there. I think they really like having the schools of dither fish.

 

[Mike Wise]

If the tank is as large as you say, then a trio of apistos should do fine in it. Of course the tetras don't come into the bottom third of the tank. When these little hunters find live food (fry) on the bottom, they will be there, too.