New World Chiclid Tank mates

Question
Thanks for the reply/.

Do you think it would be better to have one of each type, or a pair one type of fish?



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Followup To
Question -
After viewing your profile I was excited, as I think you may be jsut the expert opinion I need.

I am going to purchasing a 55 gallon fish tank, and am going to adore it with New World Chihlids. I absolutely adore this family of fish, and was hoping that you would specifically help me out with some general questions on tank mates and compatibility.

Here are the  finalists that I did research on and think fit well
- Bala shark
- Albino Oscar/ Pink Oscar
- Fire Mouth
- Blue Acara
- Pleco
- Pink Convict
- Severums

* Not crazy about really aggresive fish like the Jack DEMPSEY, and green terror.

* Ideally I would like to be able to house 4-5 fish in this tank.

1) Whats your feeling on housing a pair of the same fish? Do you think there is less tension in a tank if only one of each fish  is present?  I know some of the above get
hostile during breeding and dont want to take a chance of that happening. I'd prefer a nice stable peaceful home for them :-)

2) What combination, do you think is the msot aesthetically pleasing. I know fish can be boring to some, but I want the most exciting ones available.

3) Who would be your final 5 selections. Is five too much?
I was thinking if I was forced to decide today: Oscar, Firemouth,  Blue Acara,  Bala Shark, pleco ( I think he's needed to help stabilize the tank)

4)  Lastly is 55 gallons enough. I can possibly get a 75 but thats max with the space I have available


Any advice/ recco  you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for taking the time to help out a fellow chichlid enthsiast, i'm very excited to find a New World expert to help me. I expect to but the tank with fish soon so if you could get back to me it would be great

Regards,
Thomas

Answer -
Hi Thomas,  
  (The bala shark actually comes from South East Asia and isn't a cichlid)

  The key to your success will be to resist getting an oscar.  If you put an oscar in that tank, after awhile, and it may take a year or so, you will nothing but the oscar.  Oscars are wonderfully interesting fish, but they don't get along well with others.  In fact, an oscar will eat pretty much anything that fits in its rather large mouth.  So don't get the oscar.
The others should be okay, though 75 gallons is much nicer than 55 if you can afford it.

  The next key is to make sure that you have lots of structure in the tank, i.e., wood, rock, plants etc.  If the tank is one large open space, then a single fish will likely try to dominate the whole thing. But if the space is more complex than that, then each fish can have its own chunk of space.  

   Which fish are most aesthetically appealing is pretty much up to you... not even my wife likes my choice in fish!  

   Exactly how many fish you put in there depends on how large they are and on the amount of complexity you create, as I mentioned above.  Partly this is a trial and error sort
of thing.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


Answer
Hi Thomas,
  My preference would be for a pair of each; however, if you get a pair, they are eventually going to try to spawn (which I think is the best part) but which will make the tank a little more complicated at times.  It's up to you.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>