Cichlids or Freshwater...

[Lonestarbandit]

Ok here's the deal guys I cannot decide whether to go with cichlids or tropical fish like my 46 and 10 gallon. I originally bought this 55 gallon for the purpose of keeping cichlids but I am recalling now that 10 years ago I kept cichlids both African and South American I believe it was and Oscars. And I recall them being very messy and a lot of work so the question is now do a planted tropical 55 or Cichlid 55?? Thoughts? Comments?

 

[Pton46]

Ok here's the deal guys I cannot decide whether to go with cichlids or tropical fish like my 46 and 10 gallon. I originally bought this 55 gallon for the purpose of keeping cichlids but I am recalling now that 10 years ago I kept cichlids both African and South American I believe it was and Oscars. And I recall them being very messy and a lot of work so the question is now do a planted tropical 55 or Cichlid 55?? Thoughts? Comments?

Oscars are messy and a fair amount of work....a 55 gallon really would be the min you could go.

I just set up a 55 gallon African Cichlid Tanks. No plants my guys are diggers...

Mbuna mostly...I also have a Peacock and Frontosa (For the Frontosa get Huge crowd) I have a 75 Gallon in my Garage with his name on it...He is just a baby now no reason to put him in it for a while.

I would decide on one type or the other and not mix due to difference in Water Conditions (Africans require a higher PH and different food requirements)

All depends on what you like...get another 55 gallon and do both

 

[Lonestarbandit]

Oh I couldn't possibly lol. This is an old pier and beam wooden floor rotting farmhouse. I have close to 2000 pounds of fish tank and stands on it already. And I'm not sure it's liking it too much. This is why I passed on a 75 even though it was a killer deal. Weight lol.

 

[Pton46]

Oh I couldn't possibly lol. This is an old pier and beam wooden floor rotting farmhouse. I have close to 2000 pounds of fish tank and stands on it already. And I'm not sure it's liking it too much. This is why I passed on a 75 even though it was a killer deal. Weight lol.

Oh, well structure is important...lol...

I moved most of my tanks to my Basement just to be safe...LOL

 

[Lonestarbandit]

Oh, well structure is important...lol...

I moved most of my tanks to my Basement just to be safe...LOL

I don't have a basement or even for sure structure 0.o

 

[imtcurveball]

Cichlids

 

[Chiroptera]

There's some really nice tropicals.. but I LOVE the way a cichlid 55 gallon looks. I'd do Cichlid.

 

[Keao_m]

Touché on the cichlids.

 

[BillD]

There are a lot of smaller cichlids that would be ideal for a 55 gal setup, including dwarf type from South America or West Africa.

 

[christine2012]

Cichlids are fun to keep. There's never a dull moment in my tank. No plants though, they will uproot most of them.