I will speak on experience and take it for what's its worth. First I'll say this... There are many many well educated members here that are only trying to assist the OP in stocking the tank responsibly, if the OP chooses not to follow then so be it. A wise member form here once told me. You can lead a horse to the water but ya can't make him drink
Anyway....
Take it from me and everyone here will vouch for me. IF you go "unorthodox" and try and house all different cichlids in a tank your asking for trouble and believe you me.... Trouble is what's gonna follow!
Yea I know some may not know me but that's ok... I'm a guy that "thought" eh... Who cares what people say, who cares what the "book" says and who cares what the members say... There just being hard on me and don't really know "my tank"
I was DEAD WRONG!! If I'd listened I'd be better off. But I'm a better person for them now. Andy, Elise, Becca and many many others have taught me what's right from wrong etc etc... Also some have taught me how NOT to get over excited over these issues.
Yea... I'm rambling but that's me
I stocked my tank with want I wanted and never once listened to anyone!! You wanna know what it got me!!?!
20+ dead fish! A blood bath! UFC in my tank!! And once again I'm dealing with a hyper dominate male.
Don't do what I did!! Use me as a learning tool PLEASE!! I've had fish jump out of my tank because they were being bullied much!!
Yeah certain fish may work for a period of time but when they get older they FIGHT!!
Do you really want to net fish out every morning because a killer fish in your tank is killing other fish under the cover of night?
Finding fish on your floor dead because they were so scared they bailed?
It's NO Fun!!
Please listen to the members and stock your tank the right way with the right male/female ratio and you'll be able to enjoy your tank! Don't be like me!!
I've learned a lot from these fine people and call many of them my friend. There passionate about the hobby and only wanna see what's right for the OP and the fish.
It's no fin watching your stock list deplete due to in my words stupid stocking ( I'm taking about myself no one else)
Hundreds of dollars lost because I thought that I knew it all! I thought Dino was the man and knew everything and I was gonna show the world that it can work. It didn't work.
Be smart, be responsible and take pride in knowing you did the right thing.
Someone said "every tank is different" I echoed those same words over and over again... As I watched my fish die.
One more thing... It's NO FUN breaking a 75 gallon tank down every few weeks to net a killer.
That's pretty much all I have to say... Sorry for the rant or whatever you wanna call it. But this is real like experience here not just advice.
Take it for what it's worth.
The Con....