i want to do a special tank

[MyCatsDrool]

I have a 30 gallon long tank.

I am thinking about a species tank with either some red african cichlid with blue longfin danios as dither


OR

Albino Socofoli african cichlids with either neon tetras as dither or rummy nose tetras as dither

OR

something else


I want a tank that is primarily 1 or two species, one of which being a schooling species

If you have any interesting ideas, let me know. I want only 2 species. I'd love to hear your ideas.

Thanks

[Fishyfanatic]

I strongly suggest you go with the "something else" option. 30 gal is not a lot of room for African Cichlids. They are far too aggressive to be housed with a community specie. More than likely the danio will no longer have the long fins and the tetras will become lunch.

[hc8719]

arent the Albino Socofoli incredibly mean fish, and shouldnt be kept with neons?

[tropicfishman]

a nice black ghost knife would be pretty cool, live plants, maybe a small pleco of some sort for the center fish, might be hbale to include some tetras of osme sort and I think danios would be fine with the BGK

[toddnbecka]

African cichlids in a 30 long limits your choices considerably. You could do 10-12 demasoni and a few yellow lab's, provided you have sufficient filtration and do regular, massive water changes.
Paracyprichromis nigripinnis or Julidiochromis transcriptus would be alright, along with some shellies. Lamprologus multifasciatus are a rather social species, and the growing fry would make a nice school.

[severum mama]

A BGK will quickly outgrow a 30 long.

Most African cichlids, other than shellies, will not only outgrow a 30 long, but will have their dithers for lunch. JMO.

[MyCatsDrool]

while I would like to keep some aggressive fish, specifically cichlids, i am open to ideas for a different species tank. Please make suggestions rather than just telling me i can't do this or that.

I would love to hear ideas for a species tank that would be colorful and exciting. I have done tiger barbs in the past, and do not want to do them again.

Thanks! Especially for the suggestions I have received.

[maxwell1295]

For Africans in a 30 long, I'd go with a species setup like group of 12 Demasoni or Saulosi. Just make sure you have plenty of rockwork. They won't outgrow the tank, but you will have to find a place for any fry that happen to survive.

[Fishyfanatic]

Originally Posted by hc8719

arent the Albino Socofoli incredibly mean fish, and shouldnt be kept with neons?

No, Socofoli's are a peaceful Mbuna but they definitely should not be kept with neons.

You could have a school or two of Tetras and a few centerpiece fish. What kind of fish interest you?

[MyCatsDrool]

I am thinking maybe a pair of moonlight gouramis, a school of neon tetras ( and a school of gold tetras (6)