320 gallon CA stocking advice

[mindstate]

Because of my water parameters I'm thinking about changing my SA tank to an CA tank and I could use some help with potential stocking.

320 gallon tank filtered by a sump
Tapwater pH: 7.5 - 8.0
TDS: 300 - 350

My current tank is an SA tank with 3 Heros sp Rotkeil, 1 Hoplarchus Psittacus, 1 Oscar, 1 Hypselecara Temporalis, 1 Andinoacara Pulcher (non EB), 4 Silver Dollars.

What I miss in this tank is some natural behavior and interaction. These fish don't bother each other much but they also don't interact much with each other besides the Blue Acara trying to court the True Parrot and the bromance between my chocolate and one of the hero's. If I would change the tank to CA, I'd love to see some breeding and natural behavior/drama.

I'm thinking a group of one type of cichlid for natural behavior/mating/drama would be very interesting with the addition of 2 or 3 bigger species with the 'wet pet' factor, who have interaction with me, like currently my Oscar and Chocolate cichlid are doing. And maybe some dithers (doesn't have to be biotope correct, don't care)

So let's have it, what are my options for a CA setup in this tank?

 

[eon aquatics]

You could create some mounds of black slate rock and spider wood for the fish to hide near.
Add some smaller cichlids as well.

 

[Bret Signorelli]

Veijas colony

 

[dmyersWv]

Veijas come to mind. Lot's of color options. Usually work well in groups.

 

[mindstate]

Thanks guys, I'd welcome a pair or trio of Vieja's but don't like a tank full of them. I'm thinking more in the direction of a shoal of Thorichthys with a trio of them for example.

 

[duanes]

From your previous posts, I believe plants are an intergral part if your aquascape, so any Vieja or related species (Oscura, Cinscelithys, Maskaheroa) would probably decimate that aspect,.
Given enough sandy landscape, Thorichthys or Crirboheros could fit the pH 7.5+ water parameters, and shoaling interaction activy, and planted forested areas.


The tank above was heavily planted, had an average riverine current of 1500 gph across the length of the tank, and in the end used geographically correct hard water appropriate, Central American Astyanax tetras as dithers.


,

 

[mindstate]

From your previous posts, I believe plants are an intergral part if your aquascape, so any Vieja or related species (Oscura, Cinscelithys, Maskaheroa) would probably decimate that aspect,.
Given enough sandy landscape, Thorichthys or Crirboheros could fit the pH 7.5+ water parameters, and shoaling interaction activy, and planted forested areas.
View attachment 1551436View attachment 1551437View attachment 1551438
View attachment 1551439View attachment 1551440View attachment 1551441
The tank above was heavily planted, had an average riverine current of 1500 gph across the length of the tank, and in the end used geographically correct hard water appropriate, Central American Astyanax tetras as dithers.
View attachment 1551442View attachment 1551444

,

Yeah I love this setup of a shoal of either combined with planted areas, driftwood, sand and some rocks. If I can get them the Astyanax tetras are #1 on the dither list. Any species that could replace a pair/trio of the Oscura's? Preferable a species that inhabits the middle layer of the tank and doesnt want to make my plants into a salad bar? I know you're all about region correct combinations, but Im fine with complying with the water parameters and co-existing.

 

[duanes]

I also might considered those of the genus Chuco, since the tank is large enough .

Above Chuco mircopthalmus
Below Chuco intermedium