Need livestock ideas

Hi all, as i'm sure most of you already know, i started on this forum not so long ago with my 100 ltr convict cichlid setup, about a week ago Angelcichlid was kind enough to hook me up with a great 200ltr tank and kit, i plan to move my convicts along with a pair of bristlenose pleco's into the 200ltr setup, possibly with a second pair of convicts or another type of cichlid from the same area able to hold its own against the convicts.
My question now is what to do with my great 100ltr setup?
I'm looking to add a bit of colour to this setup as much as possible, i'm concidering an african cichlid setup, as they come in great bright colours, love my cichlids because of their parental instincts and their characters, but i'm concerned about space, the other option is to do a community setup with a varriety of species with bright colours like tetras or things like tygerbarbs, the most important objectives for me to put as many fish with bright colours as possible into my 100 ltr setup as possible without causing stress and discomfort.

As my knowledge on the livestock available these days is limited, i thought i would put it you guys for some ideas, so don't be shy any advice or help will be appreciated.

If you feeling bored, some pictures would be great so i know what you are talking about

Some of the larger tetras make for a very colourful set-up, Congo tetras, which get to a decent size with the males growing beautiful extensions on their fins, Buenos aires tetras are beautiful Fish and also a decent size, Lemon tetras are gorgeous as are pristella tetras. The tetra family present you with an amazing array of shapes, behaviours and colours.

Kev.

I don't normally suggest what fish someone should go for, but if there is choice between African Rift cichlids and Stretnik's suggestion, then I go with Stretnik's suggestion:
If you start with african rift cichlids, then that is what you end up stuck with; if you start with guys such as Congo Tetras then there is a massive opportunity of adding so many other fish in the future (it is almost 'the skies the limit'....well not quite, but as close as you'll ever get in fish keeping).

If want cichlids......Kribensis are fab fish that would fit in nicely (it would need a pretty sick Congo Tetra in a small tank to not cope with an overly aggressive krib).

There is opportunity for hatchet fish. You could put in either smaller tetras, or leave out the smaller tetras and give you space to add an interesting odd-ball such as an african brown knifefish.

You are then left with an option for plants or bog-wood etc etc.

With rift valley cichlids.......apart from a few selected other fish, you would end up with a white decorated tank full of fish that are essentially not much different to each other (unless you go to Tanganyikans)
And the breeding behaviour of rift valley cichlids is actually nowhere near as interesting as, say, a kribensis kept in proper conditions.

ian

Thanks for the advice guys and thank you Ian, i'm thinking a well stocked community tank with tetras and other colourful fish seems the way to go i'll have to visit places like seahorse for a definite list of options will do my homework to see which species are compatible with eachother, however keep the ideas coming the more the better

If you want colour, you definetely can't go wrong with dwarf cichlids! One of my favourite would be apistogramma agassiz or apistogramma pandurini.
I will always go for a South American set-up

Yep.
If you don't nail your feet to the ground with the first fish, then a varied community tank is as fascinating as any 'specialist' tank.
It doesn't have to be the often boring 'pretty tank in a corner'....it can be vibrant with loads of characters in it.

Poor 'first fish in' choices include neons or mollies....they simply nail your feet to the ground too much from day one.

You can get Congo Tetras quite cheap nowadays (they may not be 1.50, but you do get a lot of fish gram=per-euro).

In just looking at my fish collect now, there are only the lungfish, the large arowanas, and mudskippers that I have that could not be plonked with Congo Tetras. The big bouncy red hook pacus are even a great mix; as are discus, and even some of the more aggressive large killfish (that would put most cichlids on their backs).

Another great tetra (if you like smaller fish with loads of personality) is the emperor tetra....they look drab in the shops, but not in amongst some bouncy congos in good water. They also can look after themselves pretty well against often boisterous fish.

A good community tank is very nice. To give you an idea: we have african knife fish in with red hook pacus and large arowana in one tank; in another we have african knife fish with congo tetras, hemiodus, rams, honey gouramis etc; in another we have red hook pacus with emperor tetras (which I'll add have had 3rd place best in show for 2 years running) , african bush fish, and gouramis; in another we have red hook pacus with croaking gouramis; in another we have croacking gourami with rams in with cardinals and chocolate gouramis and very large hatchet fish. That is just a few of our general community tanks.
They work very well as certain fish have great 'transferable attributes' because of their vigor and behaviour.

Ian