55 Gallon Stocking ?

[The Curious]

http://i786.photobucket.com/albums/yy145/The_Curious/Tanks/0504102050-00.jpg
Ok, so I've been planning turn this into a south american cichlid 55 gallon tank, which I am still planning to keep 2 cichlids in, a keyhole and a sajica. But I'm liking the tetras a lot though, which I have never really been too big a fan of in the past.

I got 9 cories and 6 otto cats, in addition to the 2 cichlids, 6 pristella tetra, and 5 golden pristella tetra (gonna get another 1 when the LFS gets them). I have been thinking about getting 6 or so Serpae tetra, instead of the angelfish I was originally planning to get.

I guess my question is...How many tetra could I fit in the tank, having groups of 6?

With the 1 inch per gallon rule, I would be looking at 42" worth of fish if I count the keyhole and the sajica as 5" each and add in the sepae tetras, counting all the tetra as 1" each. I am getting the cichlids as juveniles so they are only one and a half inches each at the moment. This would allow me to get 2 more species, 6 of each, in the 55 gallon.

I would just like to get other opinions before I start figuring out which tetra to choose...thanks guys.

[The Curious]

I found the answer for myself today...www.aqadvisor.com

good stuff

[N0body Of The Goat]

I think some schooling tetra do better in groups of 10, for instance Rummynose. The larger numbers will help them all settle and being toothed fishes, they would also be less likely to nip at other fish in the tank.

[Rhaethe]

Slightly off topic, but I really like that driftwood stump. Great find! :sbiggrin:

[The Curious]

Slightly off topic, but I really like that driftwood stump. Great find! :sbiggrin:

Thanks...walking on the beach...found a tree tree that drifted on shore...sawed off the trunk and took back the root structure. Its definitely exactly what I was looking for.

I love that driftwood too. I actually cured it for a few weeks outside, scrubbed the hell out of it, and thought I had it completely cleaned. A couple weeks ago, however, I found a lil crab that somehow survived the trip back. cool lil guy.

[annageckos]

The pristella and golden pristella are the same species. Serpae tetras can be nippy so it is best to keep them in a larger school, 8-10 would be a good number. Also keep in mind that the one inch of fish per gallon 'rule' is more of a guide or starting point. I wouldn't even go by it. You need to look at bio load, surface area, aggression and thing like that.

[Lady Hobbs]

I have never had the sajica and don't know if any tetra would be safe with them. I'm just not familar with the fish. Maybe you might do better with some Congo tetra's.

[The Curious]

The Sajica is being pretty good towards everyone, he is still pretty young though. I'll keep an eye on him, but no problem has come from him yet.

1" per gallon rule is a beginner's tool I know. This aqadvisor.com is great though, really helps you see what you are looking at. I've actually been noticing that the serpaes need some more of their kind. I just got 6 black skirts, and I think I'm gonna get 3 more of them and 3 more serpaes instead of the Keyhole cichlid.

Thanks for the input guys.