Future Tank

[Naruto666]

And I'm starting to think that my final tank might just be a Blue Acara, A Redhead Geophagus and a Hoplo, but a few more questions first. I read that hoplos are slower growers and I know for a fact that cichlids are faster growers, so If I bought all my fish at around 2 inches and the cichlids grew larger that the cat quickly, would the cat be in danger of being bullied or eaten? and How common are those geo's? are they easy enough to find and fairly cheap to buy? And how many hoplos could I do in a 55 with 1 acara and one or 2 geos...how many in a 75?

[JayD976]

well you could always look to buy a slightly larger cat, and i know my LFS has redheads available most of the time.

[OinKY]

Using the space behind the 3D background (why they set it further forward than a usual install) to make a flow-through filter. It's just like a "wet flow" sump except they created a space (and why they were so particular about siliconing it in) instead of using a sepearate tank.
Radically decreases useable tank volume but decreases the pump size,and plumbing,needed. Can hide the heater too.Don't know what they plan on stocking but from their design and media volume it's more "community" friendly than cichlid friendly....and rinsing that media (when needed) is going to be a pain.Going to get a lot of detritus build-up back there too.

Personally,I want all the useable volume of my tank and I'll find a place for the filters elsewhere.Where maintenance is easier.

[Naruto666]

When buying a fish labeled "blue acara" what can I do and look for to ensure that its an acara and not a gold saum or a GT, neither of which I really want

[OinKY]

While they are really similar when small juvis it's still in the name. Blue Acara is blue-ish in all it's markings and hues and the Green Acara complex (which contains all the ones you don't want) are green-ish in base color and body markings while they may still have blue in the facial markings.Individual scale coloration is different too,lacking the strong center spotting or edging of any of the Green Acaras.
If you mess up and get any of the species in the Blue Acara Complex (3 described/2 undescribed species) you aren't hurting. They all have similar temperament and adult size...and the original Blue Acara isn't the one stuck with that name in the hobby now anyway.

[Naruto666]

What about the body shape? I've noticed that the Blue Acaras are have a more oval body while Green Terrors and the Green Acara Complex, as you put it, seem to taper towards the tail, greens seem to have the same body "height" but longer while the blues are shorter and the greens seem to square off at the brown instead of curving like the blues...is that just an adult feature or can that be used for juvies?

[OinKY]

The shape developes as they grow.All the Andinoacara have the same basic fry/juvi shape...one reason they all got lumped in the same genus (for now).
To me,the Blue Acara species develop a more Aequidens ( "Acara" ) shape as they age,which is what you are noticing.

They are going to end up eventually splitting Andinoacara apart anyway,with the GT-ish species ending up in their own new genus.
Far as my personal preference among the "Blue Acara" I like...A. coeruleopunctatus .No confusing it.

[Naruto666]

Very Pretty, I kinda like the Royal and yellows they showed but I still like the coloration and shape of that blue. How rare are the Royals?

[OinKY]

You lost me at "Royal"
Royal is just a marketing gimmick and not a particular type. Looked at what some were calling "Royal" and all I saw were some extra nice A. rivulatus AND aequinoctalis.

OK...Royal Acara (Aequidens diadema). Which I never hear them called Royals. I like A. diadema,but more partial to A. tetramerus.

[Naruto666]

http://www.aquariaveldhuis.nl/index.php ... ctID=10422