Is this a good stock for a 55g?

[FishKeeper123]

Hello everyone, and thanks for checking out this thread. So, I just started cycling this tank and have been thinking about stocking ideas. I've just got one filter rated to 60 gallons but will be adding another one soon. How does this sound?

5 Silver Dollars
5 Cories
1 Pictus Cat
1 (Dwarf?) Gourami
1 Senegal Bichir (was hoping he would work in here, not sure though)
1 Krib possibly or another small Cichlid?
Maybe a school of small rainbows or swordtails?

Thanks for any input!

[Kuli_Loach]

Depends on the size of the fish when you get them. Looks close to being over stocked. Mine is and here is what is in mine:

4 Angels (half dollar size)
3 Corys (2")
4 Apple Snails (full grown)
2 Khuli Loaches (3")
4 Sailfin Mollies (4 1/2")
2 Bamboo shrimp (3")
1 Green severum (5")
1 Dinosaur Eel (bichir) (7")
1 common pleco (5")

I have great filtration along with 35% water changes every 3 days to keep mine up to prep. The bichir will not eat the corys but anything else under 4", he will eat. I have lost numerous smaller mollies and platys due to him. They are mostly young fish, I am soon to get a tank for my angels so they won't be in there much longer, either my angels or my mollies, don't know yet.

[Drumachine09]

What is your filtration/waterchange schedule?


Trust me, you do not want a pictus. Not only is a 55 not big enough for them, but they move around alot, and will dig up all of your decor.

[FishKeeper123]

I plan on getting another filter, maybe an emperor 400. Once it's cycled, I guess I'll be doing 30% weekly, more if needed however. The tank has a layer of sand with larger rocks on the outside, with smaller rocks on the inside with pebbles, tried to make it like a riverbed.

[Kuli_Loach]

Yea, no pictus. You need a few plants, at least fake ones. Live plants are awesome, make sure to cycle it.

[FishKeeper123]

I do have some fake plants planned out for it, would do live, but the silver dollars would feast upon them.:ezpi_wink1: The reason I wanted the pictus was because it stayed 4"-5" and was very active. Are there other smallish catfish that are active?

[Drumachine09]

Ive seen pictus pims at 7" and larger. IMO, they are too active for a 55. I would say 100 gallon minimum.

[Kuli_Loach]

They get like 10". My silver dollars never ate on my plants. Just get plants that are already larger and feed a lot of vegetable based foods.

[FishKeeper123]

What other bottom feeder would replace the niche of a smallish cat? I would like something besides the cories.

[YaYgoldFish]

shrimps and snails?

[Kuli_Loach]

Corys do a great job of cleaning the bottom.