Looking into getting some cichlids for my 40 gallon. Here is a list of the current equipment I have on my tank.

250gph Regent HOB Filter with polyester fiberfill and biomax media
300gph AquaClear 70 HOB Filter with Biomax, Carbon, and Foam
36" Single Tube Striplight capable of 38watts / has 25 watt bulb right now.
200watt Visi-therm Stealth Heater

I have moved one of my blood parrots into the 40, the smaller one. I'd like to keep him in there if it is at ALL possible. I know some cichlids are agressive, but I've heard of some species getting along great with blood parrots. I'm going to move my ever so small senegal bichir to the 10 gallon. It will allow me to feed him the bloodworms without having to worry about other fish. When he gets big enough to handle his own, I'll move him back to the 40 or buy a new tank for him.

As far as the cichlids go, the pH of my water is 8.3. I'd like to be able to have a breeding situation, however I'd like the tank to be more of a several generations in the same tank aquarium. If that makes sense.

For the recommendations, would you mind posting pictures or a link to the picture? 9 out of 10 pet stores I visit, even the nicer ones, don't have a clue about scientific names. So if you know the common name, or again, have the picture, I can always find the fish that matches the picture.

I am used to overstocking my tanks and do regular water changes. Every week if not bi - weekly. I'd like to have as many fish in this tank as possible, and I'd like some bigger fish if possible. 5-6" or so.

Thanks again guys!

You should definately consider a dwarf cichlid community.
Agassiz' Dwarf Cichlid.
Cockatoo Cichlid
Macmaster's Dwarf Cichlid.
Steindachner's Dwarf Cichlid
Keyhole cichlid
the Ram Cichlid/German and bolivian.

Will those work in alkaline water like mine? I was thinking more along the lines of maybe some julidochromis or mbuna cichlids. I'm wondering which can be mixed and which can't. The reason I'm asking is because I am going to go pick some up tomorrow.

I'm suprised all your tanks are not holding africans. People dream of having water like that. I for one have water at 7.0 and have to fiddle alot to get my water right but you have it right there. Tangs would be a great choice specially jullies. As for selecting tankmates its bit tidious because what might work for someone might not work for others.

There are tanks full of 'mixed africans'. I'll just buy a bunch and weed out the trouble makers. Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. LoL! I can always ID them after I get them home and take pictures, right?

Yeah, thats the funny thing. I hear people say all the time that they would be in heaven if their water came out of the tap at 8.3. I wish I had two faucets. One at 7.0 and the other at 8.3.

I'm sure if I kept africans in a bigger tank I would appreciate them more. I had a pair in a 10 gallon of neolamprologus brichardi. The 6 convicts we're extremely active in the 10 and a lot of fun. I took every one of them back but the pair the next day. That's when they weren't as active, brave, or curious. When I came up to the tank, they would all come and watch me. When there we're just two, they would hide as soon as I walked in the room.

The only bad thing is I'll have to move the parrot back over to the 29 gallon. While they are small and I'm not too worried, I just want the single red parrot in the 29.

I have a sponge filter for a 40 gallon and a P-200. The tank is able to handle the bioload, no problem. Just with two dojo loaches, 3 zebra danios, the 2 parrots, and a peacock eel... Guess you have to do what you have to do. When they get bigger, we are going to move them into their own 55 gallon.

So, I guess I'll move the senegal bichir to the 10 gallon and move the unidentified african cichlid to the 40, and then I'll buy a half dozen or so mixed cichlids from the pet store. If any quarrel, I'll just take them back until I can find a happy mix. That will also give me time to take pictures and identify them and see what the 'experts' here think.

OK, I think I've figured out what I am going to do with the 40 gallon....

I'm going to move the blood parrot back to the 29... then I'm going to take the three bleeding heart tetras and the rainbow shark back to the pet store. I'm then going to leave the senegal bichir in the 40 gallon since he has already established territory. I'm going to go to the pet store and purchase about 6-7 asst. african cichlids. Peacocks to Julidochromis. I'm going to let them all get situated and weed out the aggressive ones and take them back to the pet store. I figure they should be alright since each one of them is about 1.5 - 2" or so on average. The senegal bichir is a little over 2".

What do you think?

Of course this way I could identify them and figure out which ones I want to keep.

One more thing... Could I keep convicts in with the senegal bichir and blood parrot? I know the blood parrot could possibly breed if it wasn't sterile.

Would the convicts attack the bichir?

Of course I'd be getting 4-5 convicts.

If you get a pair they would definaly attack whoever comes near their space. I have no experience with birchirs but if you give the cons and parot alot of hiding spots they will be fine.

I have been thinking of getting several julidochromisoranatus. If i'm not mistaken, thats the species they are selling at the pet store. Again, I can't tell since they are almost all exactly alike. I knew the bichir would probably be OK with the julidochromis. I guess he would be OK with 6-8 convicts, too. I guess I could always give it a try and see what happens, right? I'll go purchase all of those convicts while they are small and add them to the tank. Since the parrot and the bichir have already been there and established their territory, I figure everything should be fine. If it doesn't work, I can always take them back and get some julidochromis.

What if I purchased several pairs of convicts? Are they still so aggressive with so many in the tank? I thought about moving them to the 10 gallon to breed, and then moving the father back to the 40 gallon.

It is not recomended to mix african with americans. It would be difficult also because of water parameters. You couldn't keep one kind without stressing the other, Also I have a 1.5'' jullie that beat up an 5'' jewl cichlid so I wouldn't know what would happen to convicts. I really think if you are going to go with africans do an all african tank and if you do and american , well you get my point.

Sorry Cichlid Commander! Didn't mean to sound so confusing. That's what I was talking about. I was either going to go with 8-10 convicts OR the mixed africans. Turns out I brought home 7 mixed africans to go with the one I already had, for a total of 8. They seem really shy at the moment, but as inquisitive as ever. They seem to be leaving the bichir alone, only following him around. Curious I guess. They haven't nipped at him, but if they do, he's going in my 10 gallon. I've got quite a smorgasboard in there. All different colors and kinds of africans. It's a really interesting tank. Can't wait until they get used to me and will 'beg' for food.

They are all about 1.75" I would say...

Would you guys mind helping me figure out which ones that I have? I'm going to post some pictures in a new post..