Topic: 56 gallon

[fender222]

i just got a 56 gallon to set up in my den and was wondering what type of cichlid community i should set up.
so please help me stock my tank.

[Gerry]

Would you prefer Africans or American cichlids.
 
If you want a cichlid  community you may be better with Africans as you can usually overstock with them.
 
With Americans you will need to stick to the smaller kind for a community and even then it won't be a lot.

[fender222]

i actually had africans in there but i just didnt like them that much id much rather have a couple larger fish than a bunch of smaller ones

[Tony]

56g isnt all that much room for a community of american cichlids in the long run unfortunatly.
Was there any particular cichlid your interested in at the moment?

[wacked]

i think you can keep a pair of angels for the upper parts of the tank keep a few kribs for the lower have afew danios and some catfish . unless you want big fish . like tony asked anything in mind

[fender222]

well im getting a 150 or larger not sure yet after summer (september) is there any cichlids i could keep until september rolls around

[fnesr]

you could go with something like firemouths, acara's or convicts. like Tony mentioned your probally best not going with anything too large in a 55g.

[Dan]

you could go with something like firemouths, acara's or convicts. like Tony mentioned your probally best not going with anything too large in a 55g.

That just about covers it. Salvanis and Jewels could be added to that list also.

[Nate_N_Nicole]

Probably some mid sized Africans(Mbuna) or Americans(convicts, firemouths)

[fender222]

no my GT is in a 55 gallon, should i switch him into this tank?

[Ezekial]

If you know you are getting the 150 gallon by september then there are several combinations you can start in a 56 gallon. There are so many possibilities though it would be easier if you had some idea and listed those we could tell you what would or wouldn't work.

[Gerry]

If you are getting a 150gal in early september, Then I suppose you could get 2  very juv Americans about 1  to 2".
 
By the time you get your Tank (2 Months) they will have grown to about 5", if you use you existing filter media and gravel to seed your new tank (like a tank move) then you could be ok.
 
This is not ideall[/b][/u], But if you are impatient, It may be a start, You will need to keep a close eye on aggression as they get bigger due to the small space provided.

[Dan]

It would help if you give us an idea on what you like. Then maybe we can suggest to you what to mix with what you like, since your getting the 150 Gallon in Sept.

[JC]

IMO you should get something that you know you can keep permanently in the 55 now. Then when you get the 150, think of something to stock that. It's not the greatest way to go, to stock a small tank by thinking of upgrading in a few month's time since a lot of times, life can get in the way of those future plans and then you're stuck with an overcrowded tank and no way of upgrading

[Silven]

Jc is very wise listen to her. Besides just think of the fun of starting over with a big new tank when the time comes.