Adding "color" in my 55g

[djlamonica]

I have a 60g tank in the living room that is housing a bunch of geo and severum juvies and my wife hates the tank.  Says it 'has no color.  I will be moving most of the severums to there own tank and probably leaving the geos.  They are 1"-5".  With the auction coming up I was thinking about picking up some juvie africans to add "color". I want to stay away from mbuna and was thinking more a few haps or peacocks. 

I know nothing about haps or peacocks.  So could some one give me a couple options that won't get huge and won't bother my geos.  They must be "colorful". Very.


Also willing to take other suggestions.

If this works it could possibly lead to more tanks!

Thanks

[danielratti]

Ngara Flame tail
Lawanda
Taiwan Reef
protomelas kirkii(maybe)
Blue Orchid Peacock
Blue Neon
Midnight mloto
Placidochromis electra

That's just a few ideas.

[djlamonica]

Thanks I'm going to check those out and make a list of the ones I like.  Hopfully ill be able to pick some up for a decent price at the auction.

[linuxrulesusa]

What are the dimensions of your 60?  48x12 or 48x18 base? 

If it's large enough and you wanted some CA or SAs, pink convicts are 'colorful' CAs, or you could go with several pairs or singles of smaller and more passive species like chetumalensis (like convict but lots of reds as well), nanoluteus (yellow), honduran red points (very blue if you get a nice pair), etc.  If you mix single CAs with pairs you are more likely to get crossbreeding, though.

SAs that are colorful would include angelfish, oblongum/red ceibal, gold/blue/electric blue/Bolivian rams, etc.

I personally would not mix most (any?) Africans with geos, but I like to keep fish from at least the same continentn in the tank, or with very similar water requirements.  Probably skip the angelfish if the geos stay in the same tank unless it's a very calm geo as they get too big for the most part to play nice with the angels. 

Most of this depends on the floor space in your tank and how much deco you have as far as plants, rocks, etc.

[Helloitsme]

Ahh..., the old question of color. If you want to keep the Geos. I too would stay away from africans. I would add some clown loaches and a gold nugget pleco or two. Now, some of my cichlid friend purists are going to get on me for this but if you are just looking for color try a Jelly Bean Parrot. Mine look like they run on batteries, they play well with everything and they are like under water puppies. If I posted the stock list of what's in my 60 soon to be 100 gallon show tank, I'm sure some would be scratching the heads or rolling their eyes. I've had people over recently and they were mesmerized by the tank. I personally consider the shape (geometrically speaking) of and my personal attraction to the fish, more than color, when making a community tank.

[djlamonica]

The tank has a standard 55. foot print. 48x12 I thinks actually slightly taller then a normal 55.  Probably going to stay away from ca cichlids.  I don't mess with my ph or any of my water.  I just keep it clean and prime.  I havnt mixed old and new worlds yet either,  but I think I'm going to give it a shot atleast short term I don't see the geos I have causing problems at there size. 

Thanks for the ideas though.

Oh I enjoy the tank the way it is this is soley for my wifes enjoyment tried parrorts already wernt her thing and plecos she finds boaring also rams she wasn't impressed.  I need a WOW fish to the normal person not just fish geeks like us. 

[danielratti]

I've seen the geos mixed with haps and peacocks. As long as they are not super aggressive they generally do not bother each other. Everyone has had different experiences though.

[djlamonica]

Yeah I believe it will work with the geos I have and at there current size really just looking for some suggestions.

Thanks all for the quick responses.

[Helloitsme]

"... this is soley for my wifes enjoyment tried parrorts already wernt her thing and plecos she finds boaring also rams she wasn't impressed."

Set her up a Saltwater Nano Cube. Just don't blame me when she wants you to turn your biggest tank into a reef tank, lol.

[Regalblue]

Why not just switch your Mbuna tank with the Geo tank? 

That way she'll get the colorful tank in view & you can keep what you want.

[djlamonica]

I have thought about that.  I guess my only issue with that is I just got this tank "stable have had problems with it since I got it ich not cycling correctly mini cycles (all my fault) and I just had to move it 4 times due to use doing some re modeling and I didnt want to stress the fish again.  I am still thinking about it though.  I was just trying to come up with a short term solution for now though.

[Ron]

Why not just switch your Mbuna tank with the Geo tank? 

That way she'll get the colorful tank in view & you can keep what you want.

IMO that's the best idea.

My impression of geos is that they are timid. Maybe that is incorrect because I've never actually kept some myself, but I think almost any african is going to get pushy to some extent once full grown.

[djlamonica]

Moved the mbuna to the living room, and the sa to the 40b. The mbuna seem to be doing well the sa are pissed.  I pray that safe start we got works or I'm screwed. 

[danielratti]

hahahahahaha Im pretty sure it work. If it doesn't they wouldn't be selling it. But that might explain why they give it out for free...

[Marty]

We've been giving it out for free because the manufacturer was kind enough to send us a bunch of samples.  Quite frankly, I think it was a brilliant move on their part because you get to try it for free.  Additionally, you can order it straight from their site so you don't even have to make a trip to the store.