55G setup, how's this fish list?

[Abeam47]

5-7 Black Phantom Tetras
5-7 Kuhli Loaches
1 Angel
1 peacock eel
3 chinese algea eaters
1 clown pleco
4 german rams
5 Sterbai Cory Cat

I have a 55G tank that I'm currently doing a fishless cycle on, almost two weeks into a nitrite spike, so hopefully I'm almost done. I intend to keep it at 80F because I don't have AC and don't want large fluctuations. It will be lightly planted. I have two filters a HOB filter rated for 60g and a Rena Xp2. What do people think about stocking level and compatibility? Doing a check it looks to me like the compatibly is good, but I may have missed something.

[ko4000]

Those chinese algae eaters are going to get big and aggressive. I'd recommend against them.

[Dave66]

I agree about the Chinese algae eaters, and I'd also recommend against the angel. One, is they get too tall for a 55; up to 12 inches, which leaves them six inches of vertical movement, less if there is a substrate. Two is solo angels can turn from Dr. Jeckle to Mr. Hyde in an instant, as soon as they figure out other fish run from them. Angels are more trouble than they are worth in a 55.

On the upside, you could bump up your groups of tetras and loaches to a dozen each, have six Rams, and add a sixth sterbei. Just make sure to stock your tank just a few fish (two or three) at a time, every other week. The Corys should go in first, followed by the clown pleco, then the loaches, then the tetras, and the Rams last. Taking your time with stocking will prevent many ills.

Dave

[Abeam47]

Just make sure to stock your tank just a few fish (two or three) at a time, every other week.

Where I'm doing a fishless cycle can't I start with higher stocking levels? How many would people suggest starting with? Once I get my nitrite zero, I was thinking about increasing my ammonia dosing to get a good solid colony going.

[Wiggs]

Where I'm doing a fishless cycle can't I start with higher stocking levels? How many would people suggest starting with? Once I get my nitrite zero, I was thinking about increasing my ammonia dosing to get a good solid colony going.


Its best to take it slow, esp at first. Once the tank is cycled, you shouldn't worry about increasing ammonia doses as it will be safe to add fish and the colony will continue to grow with the bioload.

[Dave66]

Where I'm doing a fishless cycle can't I start with higher stocking levels? How many would people suggest starting with? Once I get my nitrite zero, I was thinking about increasing my ammonia dosing to get a good solid colony going.

If you look around the forum for a while, you'll see just how many problems people experience problems; sometimes catastrophic problems, by stocking fully or nearly so after ammonia-based cycling. While adding just a few fish at a time weekly or bi-weekly, which I've done since 1972, allows the bacteria to build up its colonies naturally over time, which prevents ammonia bounces and rampant disease that kill fish.

Dave

[Abeam47]

How slow is slow? What size should the first batch be? I'd hate to only put 3 fish in 55G and starve off most of the bacteria I've been growing.

[Wild Turkey]

The truth is: Yes you can add more bioload the first time only and you will have less chance of causing a mini cycle. However, the more you start with, the more likely you are to have a mini cycle (and maybe kill off/hurt those new fish)

Daves first post is an absolute gem, agree 100%

If it were me, Id do the 6 (yes 6 :D) corys first, then go 2-3 fish at a time in two week intervals. I agree with Dave spare the angel and caes, and instead bump up those schools a bunch.

[Wiggs]

How slow is slow? What size should the first batch be? I'd hate to only put 3 fish in 55G and starve off most of the bacteria I've been growing.

I would head the advice of Dave below, he's easily one of the most experienced and knowledgeable people here at AC. As he said hes been using that method since 1972/

Just make sure to stock your tank just a few fish (two or three) at a time, every other week. The Corys should go in first, followed by the clown pleco, then the loaches, then the tetras, and the Rams last. Taking your time with stocking will prevent many ills.

Dave

If you look around the forum for a while, you'll see just how many problems people experience problems; sometimes catastrophic problems, by stocking fully or nearly so after ammonia-based cycling. While adding just a few fish at a time weekly or bi-weekly, which I've done since 1972, allows the bacteria to build up its colonies naturally over time, which prevents ammonia bounces and rampant disease that kill fish.

Dave

[Dave66]

How slow is slow? What size should the first batch be? I'd hate to only put 3 fish in 55G and starve off most of the bacteria I've been growing.

Like three sterbei one week, three more the next. The bacteria won't 'starve'. They will build a buffer that can easily handle the next three, and the next, and the next. I know patience is tough, but I have aquariums a good deal larger than your 55, with dozens to many hundreds of tetras in them, all added a dozen at a time, after a month in quarantine EACH, so it can take me far more than the weeks it'll take you to stock a 55.

And that's why I've had a 25-year old Jack Dempsey, 20-year-old common plecos, etc., etc. You can certainly completely stock your tank within a week if you are impatient, but don't say I didn't warn you. I'd much prefer you to be a success with your tank, rather than suffer the problems that all too often crop up when stocking hurriedly.

Dave

[btate617]

I would follow what Dave has said, after all think how tough it was for Dave way back when before there were filters and air pumps and such.....

Brian

[Abeam47]

I'm on board with adding fish slowly, especially after the first batch, but I was under the impression from all the reading that I've been doing you start out with a decent number of fish in the first batch. Add only 3 in the beginning after cycling a tank seems a little excessive though. Though based on the number of responses supporting Dave, I'm leary of adding too many, enough people tell you you're drunk... And I certainly don't want to disrespect your advice, and I'm not intending to nearly fully stock or fully stock. I was intending to start with closer to 7 or 12 fish.

[btate617]

It's your tank but like you said yourself.....

Though based on the number of responses supporting Dave

Brian

[Wild Turkey]

I'm on board with adding fish slowly, especially after the first batch, but I was under the impression from all the reading that I've been doing you start out with a decent number of fish in the first batch. Add only 3 in the beginning after cycling a tank seems a little excessive though. Though based on the number of responses supporting Dave, I'm leary of adding too many, enough people tell you you're drunk... And I certainly don't want to disrespect your advice, and I'm not intending to nearly fully stock or fully stock. I was intending to start with closer to 7 or 12 fish.

I think that will be fine if you do fishless. Just add a few fish at a time at 2 week intervals from there on, (as long as you dont have a mini cycle)