I'd appreciate some opinions

[DC2]

I'm planning to set up a new 6', 125 gallon aquarium predominately with American Cichlids such as Severums, Firemouth, Convict, Blue Acara, and one or two of the smaller Geophagus, in addition to a couple of Ancistrus, and some Blue Columbian Tetras or Giant Danios as dither fish. As far as the catfish go can I put Adolphi Corydoras in with this mix or can someone suggest catfish to use.

[Fish Folk]

This can be a very fun tank! I'll note that it can also become a mini "thunder dome" quickly. You'll definitely want to choose a tank boss. You need one Cichlid that is the undisputed champion of the space to manage and control aggression. Firemouths are either very aggressive or submissive. If they are the biggest thing in the tank, they will terrorize everything. But if you've got a big, dominant male Acara, he can intimidate them into submission. But personally, I would NOT recommend Convict Cichlids with this set up. They will breed like rabbits and fight off _anything_ that threatens their broods. For dithers, you might consider Buenos Aires Tetras. They're lively, and like the Columbians, they school well and are a bit too large to get eaten. 

Here is a 55 gal. we set up with 1x pair of Electric Blue Acaras, about 6x Firemouth Cichlids, 1x Gold Convict Cichlid, about 12x Buenos Aires Tetras, and 2x Bristlenose Plecos. (Note: Buenos Aires will shred out plants . . . they need greens in their diet)

 

[Trish]

1 hour ago, Fish Folk said:

This can be a very fun tank! I'll note that it can also become a mini "thunder dome" quickly. You'll definitely want to choose a tank boss. You need one Cichlid that is the undisputed champion of the space to manage and control aggression. Firemouths are either very aggressive or submissive. If they are the biggest thing in the tank, they will terrorize everything. But if you've got a big, dominant male Acara, he can intimidate them into submission. But personally, I would NOT recommend Convict Cichlids with this set up. They will breed like rabbits and fight off _anything_ that threatens their broods. For dithers, you might consider Buenos Aires Tetras. They're lively, and like the Columbians, they school well and are a bit too large to get eaten. 

Here is a 55 gal. we set up with 1x pair of Electric Blue Acaras, about 6x Firemouth Cichlids, 1x Gold Convict Cichlid, about 12x Buenos Aires Tetras, and 2x Bristlenose Plecos. (Note: Buenos Aires will shred out plants . . . they need greens in their diet)

 

What a lively tank, you must get a lot of enjoyment.  Have bookmarked your YouTube video page as well.  👏

[Fish Folk]

As you’re thinking about Geos... the Threadfin Acaras are really lovely fish to consider. Here’s one of ours from a different tank. 

 

[Prochaska]

18 hours ago, Fish Folk said:

This can be a very fun tank! I'll note that it can also become a mini "thunder dome" quickly. You'll definitely want to choose a tank boss. You need one Cichlid that is the undisputed champion of the space to manage and control aggression. Firemouths are either very aggressive or submissive. If they are the biggest thing in the tank, they will terrorize everything. But if you've got a big, dominant male Acara, he can intimidate them into submission. But personally, I would NOT recommend Convict Cichlids with this set up. They will breed like rabbits and fight off _anything_ that threatens their broods. For dithers, you might consider Buenos Aires Tetras. They're lively, and like the Columbians, they school well and are a bit too large to get eaten. 

Here is a 55 gal. we set up with 1x pair of Electric Blue Acaras, about 6x Firemouth Cichlids, 1x Gold Convict Cichlid, about 12x Buenos Aires Tetras, and 2x Bristlenose Plecos. (Note: Buenos Aires will shred out plants . . . they need greens in their diet)

 

What is your setup on a tank like this? Didn’t know you could get away with that many cichlids in a 55g!

[Brian]

Well, that is a lot and different personality for one tank.  This might fall into the category everything can be possible/done, but should it be done?

With that said, if I was going to try this-  I would aqua scape the aquarium and leave it alone.  Purchase all of the fish at the same time.  Getting fish around 1 inch maybe 1 1/2 for the more aggressive fish and 2 inch maybe 2 1/2 for less aggressive.  Let them mature and grow up together.  Don’t re arrange the aquarium unless necessary.  Let them develop their own territories and pecking order.  So keep that in mind when setting up original scape.  Try to create different size caves and hiding spots all along making sight line breaks. You can hide different size pvc under rocks to make caves.  Also have you seen the betta logs.   If things start to go bad....  make some of those from pvc, put fishing line or whatever through it so you can hang it in Aquarium, I like to use fishing line buck shot sinkers on the other end.  
Good Luck 

[Fish Folk]

6 hours ago, Prochaska said:

What is your setup on a tank like this? Didn’t know you could get away with that many cichlids in a 55g!

It’s got one HOB and 2x small sponges — mostly for aeration. Key is having 1 “tank boss.” For this tank, it’s the male Electric Blue Acara. Eco complete for substrate. Crushed coral to buffer. Wood. Java fern (survives Buenos Aires tetras). 

 Here’s another 55 gal, fed first in this video. Lots of discus, Geos, Rams... runs on 2x sponge filters.

 

[Eric R]

@Fish Folk, do you keep any of the rift lake cichlids, or just South American? I haven't watched your videos yet.

[CorydorasEthan]

On 3/18/2021 at 12:46 PM, DC2 said:

I'm planning to set up a new 6', 125 gallon aquarium predominately with American Cichlids such as Severums, Firemouth, Convict, Blue Acara, and one or two of the smaller Geophagus, in addition to a couple of Ancistrus, and some Blue Columbian Tetras or Giant Danios as dither fish. As far as the catfish go can I put Adolphi Corydoras in with this mix or can someone suggest catfish to use.

I would say no to the Corydoras. Adolphoi cories aren't exactly the largest species either. It is likely they will get picked on or bullied by the larger and more aggressive fish. In addition, it will be hard for them to compete for food. I would leave them out and just go for the Ancistrus instead.

[Fish Folk]

37 minutes ago, ererer said:

do you keep any of the rift lake cichlids, or just South American?

Yes, we have 1x Mbuna tank. Mostly Malawi. This video from awhile ago...

We’ve bred Auratus for BAP. 

 

[Fishdude]

23 minutes ago, Fish Folk said:

Yes, we have 1x Mbuna tank. Mostly Malawi. This video from awhile ago...

We’ve bred Auratus for BAP. 

 

Man I'm loving these tanks, nice work.

[Prochaska]

On 3/19/2021 at 7:31 AM, Fish Folk said:

This can be a very fun tank! I'll note that it can also become a mini "thunder dome" quickly. You'll definitely want to choose a tank boss. You need one Cichlid that is the undisputed champion of the space to manage and control aggression. Firemouths are either very aggressive or submissive. If they are the biggest thing in the tank, they will terrorize everything. But if you've got a big, dominant male Acara, he can intimidate them into submission. But personally, I would NOT recommend Convict Cichlids with this set up. They will breed like rabbits and fight off _anything_ that threatens their broods. For dithers, you might consider Buenos Aires Tetras. They're lively, and like the Columbians, they school well and are a bit too large to get eaten. 

Here is a 55 gal. we set up with 1x pair of Electric Blue Acaras, about 6x Firemouth Cichlids, 1x Gold Convict Cichlid, about 12x Buenos Aires Tetras, and 2x Bristlenose Plecos. (Note: Buenos Aires will shred out plants . . . they need greens in their diet)

 

How large of water changes and how frequently in order to do something like this. 50% 3-4 times a week?

[Fish Folk]

8 minutes ago, Prochaska said:

How large of water changes and how frequently in order to do something like this. 50% 3-4 times a week?

It’s a huge tank. I’d just do 20% (25 gal) once per week.