SA/CA Cichlid Show Tank: Keeping them in Community Set-up or Mated Pair?

[HenryT]

If you can only have one show tank in the living room, and you decided to keep South/Central American Cichlids in it. Will you keep them in a community set-up with different types of other cichlids that has similar temperament, keeping in a pair (mated or breeding pair) or will you rather keep them solo?
Let's assume:
- The tank size is between 4 foot to 6 foot (55 gallons to 180 gallons).
- The species you choose are medium to large sized, semi-aggressive to aggressive cichlids, example: Oscar, Green Terror, Severum, Chocolate, Jack Dempsey, Red Devil, Midas, Jaguar, Vieja, Texas, Cuban, Salvini, Convict, Rainbow, Firemouth etc.

Which set-up will you choose and why?

 

[Kvandy]

Solo for me, cleaner water, no stress from bullying/fighting/breeding.

 

[duanes]

A 55 isn't large enough for any of your list, except may a single or pair of convicts, or rainbows.
Once you get above 100 gallons, your choices get better.
I have a 180 gal running now with a dozen Panamanian Green Terrors, it is working well, nitrates undetectable, little to no aggression.
A 100 to 125 with a shoal of Firemouths, or a group of JDs, or Rainbow cichlids would work, although I wouldn't combine species, to me single species tanks seem more like reality. Maybe in a 180, a couple species, and dither fish if chosen wisely. I also consider a group of haphazardly thrown together random species, to look unnatural.
For the others you list, such as managuense, midas, Cubans, I consider a 6ft tank only big enough for a pair.
I would also, "not", mix South American cichlids with Centrals Americans.
The aggression level of the Centrals far surpasses any of their Southern cousins. And healthy water parameters are quite different for two areas in the many cases.
If I had soft water, I'd go with S Americans, hard water, Centrals.

 

[neutrino]

It's relative to what someone's used to, I suppose, but to my taste in most cases a "show tank" almost by definition is a tank of some size, usually housing a group of fish, whether a community, single species, a couple of compatible species, etc. To me, part of what makes it a show tank is the activity and behavior of a group of fish. There are a few larger or very beautiful fish that could make a show tank as a pair or single fish in a tank, but they'd be larger, showy fish most people don't have, jaguar cichlids or some of the showier carpintis, for example. For me, a bare tank can't be a show tank, it needs some nice aquascaping-- a show tank is one someone has put some thought into.

A smaller tank, like a 55, would need to be beaufitully scaped for me to call it a show tank, but it can be done. The Takashi Amano tanks certainly qualify.

Basically, to me a "show tank" gets my attention in some way, it's not just a couple of fish a million other people have in a bare or carelessly scaped tank.

 

[Zanzag]

A show tank has to look good. Usually in a family-oriented room. I like community tanks for the activity and movement. But, a well planted tank can have that same wow factor.

 

[decoy50]

100% community tank. I've kept solo big bruisers or mated pairs, but I always get bored with it - typically you end up with one really great looking fish that just doesn't do too much. Now a big South American community with a shoal of cories on the bottom, geos & angels, school of tetras and some plecos - that's a hard tank to get bored with

 

[SwampFins]

100% community tank. I've kept solo big bruisers or mated pairs, but I always get bored with it - typically you end up with one really great looking fish that just doesn't do too much. Now a big South American community with a shoal of cories on the bottom, geos & angels, school of tetras and some plecos - that's a hard tank to get bored with

+1 this.

If I were to do another tank this is pretty much what I'd do. I'd go with another 125 gallon with lots of plants.

Big school of cories
Angels
A school of tetras

And no plecos. - instead I would do a few siamese algae eaters. (Not SA or CA but FAR less bio load, very active, and they are great for keeping algae and bay, especially BBA if you were to get it. These guys have become a favorite of mine as of late. Very very practical fish if you decide to go planted)

 

[MrsE88]

I prefer pairs. I have a trio of gts in my 6’ 135g. I’m not that crazy about communities. Too many fish and they don’t interact with you. I need to weed through my schoolers in with my gts. Since adding their babies back in the tank I feel like it looks too busy and messy.

I do agree that planted tanks make for some of the showiest display tanks. The natural look is so appealing.