55 gallon ideas

[Ikshvaku]

I'm planning on purchasing a 55 gallon sometime today, though I won't be able to set it up for a week or two. I was wanting some suggestions as to how to stock it.

I had wanted to go with New World Cichlids, like perhaps Blue Acara or Green Terror, but I don't know if a 55 gallon is large enough for those species. If it is large enough, that's definitely what I want to go with, and I'd like to get a feel for how many and what species would be compatible with it. Generally, I am leaning towards Cichlids, though I really don't want to go with Mbuna, because the local store has very limited specimens, although my tap PH is already 7.6 with a hardness of between 50-150 ppm.

Any suggestions are appreciated, even non-cichlid. Though I want fish with more personality.

[Pleco380]

If you aren't too concerned about plants, my SD's have a lot of personality.

[Cliff]

You could go with a pair of blue acara. I have a breeding pair and they are really beautiful fish with lots of personality. They are great community fish and will only get aggressive if they are spawning. You could go with two blue acaras in a 55 gallon, but I would adding more than two. I would not out a green terror in a 55 gallon as that tank would be too small for one, not to mention the potential aggression issues you could have. I do believe the a 55 gallon might be too small Mbuna, but I’m not 100% sure on that.

[AndorranPrince]

Sounds a lot like my tank setup LOL. Put driftwood in the water, it'll lower the pH. You could have a single green terror or a pair of acaras with some larger shoalers, like Giant Danios, or Scissortail Rasbora. Maybe a medium pleco like a BristleNose would be nice too.

[Cliff]

You could go with a pair of blue acara. I have a breeding pair and they are really beautiful fish with lots of personality. They are great community fish and will only get aggressive if they are spawning. You could go with two blue acaras in a 55 gallon, but I would adding more than two. I would not out a green terror in a 55 gallon as that tank would be too small for one, not to mention the potential aggression issues you could have. I do believe the a 55 gallon might be too small Mbuna, but I’m not 100% sure on that.

Sorry about the typos. What I was trying to say is only two blue acaras and no on a green terror in a 55 gallon.

Dang spell check should know what I'm trying to say :hmm3grin2orange:

[Ikshvaku]

So, if I went with the Blue Acara, it would have to be just the two of them and nothing else in the tank? I'm just making sure I understand completely.

I really LOVE what I've seen of the Blue Acara, but the only issue is my LFS has never to my knowledge had any in stock. I'd almost certainly have to order them online. Does anyone know a good place to do that from? (with a shipping price of under 40 dollars, that is) Also, if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to know about how fast they grow, as I'll be moving in a year and I'll have to transfer them to some other tank.

Apart from that, my LFS currently has only three variety of New World Cichlids: Green terror, Texas, and Jack Dempsey. I'm pretty sure the latter two are out of the question, though I had really hoped on the Green Terrors.

And I definitely don't want to do Mbuna. Too much trouble and too hard to get decent specimens. However, other African cichlids look possible, some of the Tanganyika or Lake Victoria, perhaps. Any ideas?

Thanks for the ideas so far.

[LaMaria]

@ Cliff: You seem to have a lot of experience with Blue Acaras. What tank would I need to keep two pairs of Blue Acaras? Would an 80 gallon tank be enough if it is well-structured or does this never work? I would love to see them defend their territories by threatening but obviously I don't want them to seriously fight.

@all: If not, of what Central or South American cichlid species could I house more than one pair in this tank? Mikrogeophagus ramirezi probably, what else?

Thanks in advance for the tips.