My Cichlid Criteria! 55G FW Community

[coldmachineUK]

I'm looking for a centerpiece fish (or a pair) for my FW community tank. The tank is peaceful, so preferably nothing semi-aggressive or aggressive.

Here are the 'criteria': I wondered if anyone has any suggestions?!

* No angelfish
* No rams
* pH: 7-7.8 (i.e. ideally alkaline friendly rather than acidic friendly)
* Hardness: hardwater
* Peaceful
* Not going to breed on me heaps
* 4-6" in size preferably
* Single, or a pair (trio at a push if I had to for whatever reasons there may be)

Talk about demanding huh?!

I'm currently thinking about kribs if that gives any indication of the sort of thing that's possible although I'd like something more striking and less...umm...pretty...I guess (although pelvicachromis sacrimontis fit the bill perfectly!) lol!

 

[maxwell1295]

What size tank? Is that the 55 gal? With those water conditions, something from Central America would probably fare better than a South American species.

 

[WaterPond]

Howzabout a tbar cichlid? They are central american, and pretty peaceful. Also very nice looking. I would only go with one though, because when in a breeding pair they fish alot.

heres some info: http://www.aquariumlife.net/profiles/central-american-cichlids/t-bar-cichlid/100113.asp

 

[JDogg]

i keep apistos in water PH 8 KH 13 GH 23, they do not breed but the do great

how about a Festivum?

 

[coldmachineUK]

Are your apistos aggressive at all? I thought they might be a bit much for a peaceful FW community.
Those festivums look lovely though: I'm put off keyholes (which look a bit similar) primarily because a hobbyist friend has them and I don't want her to think I'm 'copying'! But the festivums look lovely. You def. got my taste figured out!

In terms of apistos though, you got my attention! Any recommendations? Is it possible in a 55G peaceful community to keep a pair?

 

[JDogg]

i keep 4 cockatoo apistos (2m/ 2f) and one male Apistogramma Sp. "Steel-Blue" in my 75 gallon planted tank, the are very peacefull IME