Suggestions for 55g FW tank

[mlnancejr05]

I was just wondering what everyone would suggest for a good community tank with a good amount of colorful and active fish. All I have in there now is a male betta and a pleco. Corys are already a definite fish but I would like to hear some good suggestions. Thanks everyone!!!!

[Fishguy2727]

My community includes: serpae tetras, glofish, lemon tetras, platies, golden wonder killies, yoy botias, angelicus botias, sterbai cories, checkerboard barbs, gold barbs, albino cherry barbs, rubberlip plecos, an otto, and green swordtails. I may add rams and a few other things. I hope this gives you some good ideas.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Zebra danios are a very active fish and add a lot of life to any tank.

Since it is a large tank, you can put in a school of bala sharks. They are a lot of fun, but also grow quite large

[mlnancejr05]

I dont want anything that is going to get very big. Maximum growth probably between 6-9".

[Fishguy2727]

Balas are very skittish fish that need to be in a school, so a 55 is not big enough for them. Silver dollars stay a bit smaller and a school could be housed in a 55.

[mlnancejr05]

I have never really dealt with schooling fish. What is the best size for a school 5 and up or more than that?

[Abbeys_Mom]

I think it would be different for each kind of fish. If you are talking tetras you could get away with 2 dozen, if it's torpedo barbs, maybe 3-5? I would decide what fish, and then look at the numbers.

[Lady Hobbs]

Zebra danios are a very active fish and add a lot of life to any tank.

Since it is a large tank, you can put in a school of bala sharks. They are a lot of fun, but also grow quite large

Bala's can get to 12 inches and need a much larger tanks. Even one is too large for a 55 gallon.

[Lady Hobbs]

I like the rasbora's for schooling fish. I have the red-tails and they are pretty swimming as a group. Only get to about 1 1/2". You have a lot of ways to go. I have the long finned danios and like those a lot. They are purple/blueish.

I have 6 Silver Dollars and really like them. I have them with Angels. The pearl gourami's are nice, too. About the only gourami I still like. If you have soft water and a lower pH, Discus are awesome.

I would find a fish that meets your fancy and then go with what would do well with it and requires about the same requirements. Here's a list of fish and what does well with it.

http://www.elmersaquarium.com/000tropfishcareguides.htm

[jeffs99dime]

black neons, cardinals, neons, rasbora, rummynoses, cories, ottos, serpae tetra, there's so many to choose from. even my keyhole cichlids school well

[mlnancejr05]

I visited a local aquarium store tonight to check out what fish i liked. I definitely wanna do some cories, they are great fish. Tetras are looking like a good selection also. What about mollies, platies, guppies, or killies? Also could I get a few rams to go to....??? Thanks everyone!!!

[Neithan]

Whatever you decide to get, please make sure they're actually compatible with each other and your tank water. There is a LOT of info on the web about what fish are ideal tankmates and what water parameters they like, so find a few fish you like, then go look them up and see if they can be kept together. This site for instance is a good place to start.

[Lady Hobbs]

I don't like Mollies at all but others do. If you get live bearers, you may want to get all males to hold down aggression. I have 4 platies, all bright orange (males) that toss some color in my tank. Hope to get 4 bright yellows to put with them.

As you mentioned, Tetra's are nice fish. They will only skoal with their own kind tho and different species seldom will skoal together. Planted tanks are awesome I think I may take on that challenge pretty soon myself.

[jman]

My community includes: serpae tetras, glofish, lemon tetras, platies, golden wonder killies, yoy botias, angelicus botias, sterbai cories, checkerboard barbs, gold barbs, albino cherry barbs, rubberlip plecos, an otto, and green swordtails. I may add rams and a few other things. I hope this gives you some good ideas.

Reptile guys fish are all good.

[mlnancejr05]

So I have decided I am going to go with Neon Tetras, Bleeding Hearts, and Flame Tetras, Small Pearl Gouramis, Ram Cichlids, Cory Cats, small Clown Loaches, and some Ghost Shrimp. All the tetras I will school at 4 or more, the Gouramis probably 3, probably 3 rams, 2 or more corys, 2 or 3 loaches, and 3 or 4 ghost shrimp. From what I found, these fish will work together. Look like a good list??? Any suggestions??? Thanks!!!

[jeffs99dime]

i think your stocking list looks pretty good except for the clown loaches. they get way too big for a 55g and they prefer to be kept in groups of at least five. they grow to be atleast 6". you could substitute them with more cories or otto's. otto's are very good algae eaters as well- maybe the best. also, rams and neons are very, very intollerant of fluctuations in water parameters, enough so that they will die. what kind of filtration are you running? this will play a major role in your stocking capabilities as well.--jeff

[mlnancejr05]

I am running a XP1 canister filter, I have been letting the tank run for the past 3 days, no ammonia, and my ph is at 6.2. The temp stays around 72-75.

[Fishguy2727]

I don't think that will be enough filtration for a 55.

[jeffs99dime]

i agree with reptileguy. that's not enough for the amount of "stock" you want in your tank

[mlnancejr05]

The xp1 is rated for 75g and is speced at doing 330gph or some where around there. That wouldn't be enough?

[blue02celi]

I think most go with at least double their tank size, more depending on how many fish they're putting in the tank...
can never have too much filtration

[jeffs99dime]

you do, however, have to be cautious with having too much current in the tank, especially if it's a live-planted tank. just a tip

[jman]

hey do you have pics?

[Fishguy2727]

That means that it could actually handle about 37.5 gallons because you need to cut what the filter is rated for in half and that is about what it can handle, at best. I would definitely add mroe filtration. It is much better to have more than you need than to find out the hard way that you need more.

[jeffs99dime]

how true!!

[mlnancejr05]

Alright thanks a lot everyone!!!! Definitely very informative!!! My tank is not a planted tank. I stocked it a little tonight, I have 6 neon tetras, 3 cory cats, 6 gold tetras, 1 medium sailfin pleco that i have had, and a male betta. Is that too much now or is it about as much as i can go? Would a undergravel filter help any with filtration in the way I need?

[Fishguy2727]

That might be a bit much, watch your ammonia and nitrites. UGF will not really help in the long run, so it is better to take the money and put it toward some other type of filter.

[mlnancejr05]

So...any XP2 or XP3 would do the trick if I stepped up to that?

[Fishguy2727]

If you already have the XP1 still use it, but I would go with a Fluval 405. I woudl also add a HOB, even a cheap one like a Whisper (cheap but still good) for surface agitation and extra filtration. There is an XP4, but at the price you should go with Fluval 405.

[mlnancejr05]

Alright thanks a lot everyone!!!! Its great to be part of something that everyone is so willing to help!!!

[jeffs99dime]

that's what we're all here for!