Help me pick a cichlid group for my new aquarium

[Larry Grenier]

Here's my setup:
1) 42"L X 24"W X 22" (that's not a typo, it's a custom tank) about 96gals.
2) Sand substrate
3) Two large pieces of driftwood with several anubias and a few java fern plants attached. Might add java moss too.
4) Only plants in the substrate is 1 crypt and a few dwarf sags (root tabs inserted under them)
5) Medium low lighting
6) It's connected to a 2nd heavily planted tank of same volume.
7) 1 school of 20 Tetra Hyphesso. bentosi (like bleeding hearts but a little smaller)
8) 1 school of 6 roseline sharks (Sahyadria denisonii)
Maybe's
> small school or hatchet fish
> several Sterbai cories
Fish I've thought about:
1) 6 - 7 Angelfish (cannot afford Altums)
2) 5 - 6 smaller Geophagus (thinking I'd need a bigger tank so maybe it's a no-no)
3) 6 Apistogrammas (not rams) (thinking they're be lost in there, it's supposed to be a show tank).
No's:
Discus
Something that will eat the tetras
African rift lake cichlids

Suggestions?

 

[jonclark96]

Most cichlids of any size will eventually make a snack out of the tetras. I'd stick to apistos or maybe one of the smaller acara species, like nannacara anomala.

 

[Mwildgruber]

If you go with angelfish the max should be 6 for that size tank... I have 8 adalts in my 150 planted with lots of tetras, neons and rummy noses they have never had a problem togather.

 

[Jt731]

When I stand in front of my tanks my Apisto all come out to stare at me. I have a bunch of caucatodes double red so they have no issue standing out. I also have a wilhemi pair in another tank but they are pricey to get a lot of.

http://www.apistogrammaidiots.com/Fishroom_1/fishroom_1.html
http://www.apistogrammaidiots.com/David_P__Soares/Articles/articles.html