I'm planning on picking up an 80g tomorrow. This will be my first "big" tank. I've had a 30g community running for a while now. I was looking for stocking suggestions. After looking at oscars I'm not sure I just want to have two big fish in the tank, and I would like to be able to plant it at some point. Other cichlid thoughts or different ideas?

Cichlids usually dont go well with plants,do you plan on doing south american cichlids or african cichlids?

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Current Tanks:
90G,30G,10G,10G,5G,38G,20G

You have quite a few options with a tank that size, Angels and a school of cardinal tetras or rummy nose tetras always looks nice, but it depends on what kind of fish you are interested in. Can you give us an idea of your likes and dislikes to go off of?

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"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

Angels would be good. I like the look of a busy tank. Bigger is better too, but don't have to be. Other cichlids that don't get a foot long maybe?

If you like busy I def. suggest having a schooling fish and a shoal of cory cats too, those little guys never stop moving i swear. Pair those wiht some angelfish and you have both activity along with grace and beauty too.

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"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

80 gallons is good for cichlids.
I'll bounce some ideas your way that you can look up.

a) softwater South American tanks. Angels, rams, Bolivian rams, Apistogramma, schooling tetras and Cory cats. Lots of plants - 78f.

b) hard water central American - firemouths, rainbow cichlids. They dig up and often eat plants. Livebearers (swordtails, mollies, platys), good current 75f

c) soft water African rainforest - kribs, Congo tetras, upside down cats, Anomalochromis African butterfly cichlids, lots of plants 75f

d) hard water Lake Malawi cichlids - no plants. 76f

e) hard water Tanganyika cichlids - no plants - 78f

So first, check your water. The check your wallet. You can get most fish by ordering and paying for shipping, but you may want to stay close to home and see what's around regionally.

In my 75 I have 4 almost grown angelfish along with 10 neons, 10 rummy nose tetras, 2 bristlenose plecs one albino and one brown about 1 and half inches, 2 albino cories and 3 fancy male guppies. These are all fairly young still, but what a show.....I really like this mix for a community tank this size. I just moved a young pair of angelfish to a 20 High as they just mated up and were running everyone else to other end of tank. As the remaining angels mate which I think they are....they will go to seperate tank as I want to keep the fry. I have other angels that I can move back into the big tank. I really have grown to like the Angels, never had them before.....their personalitys are awesome to watch as they are definately a cichlid.

Thanks for the thoughts. I'll check out my water and see where to go from there.

The guy I was buying from was holding it for me until I could get off of work. His wife sold it while I was on my way to pick it up. :rage: Looks like ill be getting a not quite as exciting 55 then.

Women

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