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Yesterday in chat we were discussing some ideas for my 55G tank. The tank is almost finished cycling and I wanted to consider some stocking options and timelines. I got so many good ideas that I wanted to get even more input from the forums. I'll outline the details of the tank, the fish requirements I have and finally the initial stock list and a proposed time line for adding fish. I would like to thank everyone that participated in the chat for their ideas. I am also looking for ideas on theme, decor and plants.

First a little background on the tank. My father loves fish and last year he achieved one of his life's dreams by building a decent size pond. He cycled the tank with some shiners (bait fish) and a few feeder comets. All of the fish survived the winter and the pond never completely froze over. This summer he got a few Koi]http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/fw/profile.asp?id=Cyprinus+carpio+carpio[/link] and Ryukin [link=goldfish.

My wife and I loved the pond so much we decided to go out and get a tank. We did a little bit of research on starting a tank and cycling before even looking at a tank. When we started to look we knew that we wanted a big enough tank that we would have a lot of choices when it came to fish. When comparing prices a 55G wasn't much more than a 30G so we decided on a 55G kit. The kit seems like a good kit. It came with everything we needed except gravel and fish. The instructions talked briefly about the nitrogen cycle and it even came with a chart for cycling the tank with normal water parameters. This was very helpful. We have had the tank set up for three weeks now and are almost finished with the cycle. Nothing is going to be added to the tank until the cycle is finished. Right now we still have about 2ppm of Nitrite, but Amonia is at 0ppm and we have about 10ppm of NitrAte. As soon as the cycle is finished we will do a gravel vac and water change.

here are some photos of the tank. Our water PH is 8.0, GH is 7 and temperater is 78* F. Right now our stock is down to a platy, a ghost shrimp and an Angelfish. And we plan on adding stock by this weekend if the cycle permits.

Next I would like to describe the requirements I have for the fish. I know that I want a pair of angelfish]http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/fw/profile.asp?id=Pterophyllum+scalare[/link] in the tank. My wife and I love these fish. We want to have a pair as the centerpiece of the tank. Next we want some kind of schooling fish to give some movement to the tank, probably some kind of larger tetra. And of course we would need some kind of cleanup crew like [link=ottos]http://www.fishprofiles.com/profiles/fw/profile.asp?id=Otocinclus+affinis[/link], [link=cories or both.

Suggested fish should fit the water parameters of the tank and should fit in the tank when full grown. Scientific names or even links in to their profiles will be very useful in determining the stock.

I'll start with a final stock list and an aproxomite timeline. This is the stock list we came up with in chat yesterday:

2 Adult Anglefish
6 Flame Tetras
6 Ottos
5 Panda Cories

That may be too many bottom feeders. My wife calles me a "scavanger lover". The timeline would probably be something like this:

Week 1: Add ottos and dose NIC.
Week 3: Add 6 angels and dose NIC.
Week 7: Return remaining 4 angels and add 6 tetras.
Week 8: Add 5 cories and dose NIC.

Of course there will probably be plants and decorations added as time and money permits. But I know I can't just put all those fish in at once. I think this would provide a very happy environment for the fish and a very attractive tank for us.

The reason for posting this thread is to get ideas, so feel free to suggest anything. In the end this is our tank and the wife and I will decide what we like.

So my wife and I were looking at fish today and we liked the yoyo loach. What do you guys think about these? Would 3 be too big for that tank? What should I take out. I guess I really do have a thing for bottom feeders .

Week 1: Add ottos and dose NIC.
Week 3: Add 6 angels and dose NIC.
Week 7: Return remaining 4 angels and add 6 tetras.
Week 8: Add 5 cories and dose NIC.

i just have little problem with you plan above.

1 ottos eat algae, in a new tank there will not be any = fish hungury =die. also ottos aren't the best fish to help cycle.

i'd get the tetras first to help cycle the tank, and also if the angel fish are in before the tetras, they could make a meal out of them.

1 tetras (6)
2 corries get 6+ better for the corries
3 4-6 small angels


i'd get 3-4 yoyos or the corries not both

sorry didn't read your post that well thought it was new tank, i'd still go for the order i said to give algae time to grow.

ps
looking at your photos, i'd say add more caves and plants for the ottos to hind and corries, put in some amozon swords if trying to breed angels, they like laying eggs on the leaves.

[span class="edited"][Edited by shekoi 2004-07-16 10:51][/span]

www.blooming-brilliant.co.uk

I'm a bit confused. You say a pair of angels, but the timeline says 10 angels?! Stick with just a pair. When stocking, I'd start with the flame tetras, then the angels, then pandas, and then otos. The Otos should have algae and driftwood when they go in. Also, the Pandas like their temps below 78 degrees farenheit. The yoyos would fit, just make sure to provide some hiding places (rocks, pvc pipes, overturned flowerpots) to set up territories. Plants would be nice, if you have some lighting. Start with stem plants, like hygrophila, water wisteria, or watersprite, and then add some other easy slower growers, such as java moss, java fern, anubias, or algae balls.

I would say this...

2 Angels
10 Flame Tetras
10 Panda Cory's
6 Ottos
2 Rams

Just adding to your list. With only what you originally had that would be very understocked...I think You could prolly still add a few more fish...I think

Okay, here's my 2 cents worth... you may want to do a variety of cories for interesting colors, we have 4 albino cories and 2 pepper cories and the six of them love to play together... since you should have cories in a group of 6 maybe think about 2 each of 3 different varieties... I personally think my cories are some of the more active and interesting fish in my tank. Also, are you planning on keeping the platies in the tank or were they just for cycling it? I love my platies, they are peaceful and pretty and about once a month we end up with 2-3 more (the ones who survive). If you are keeping the platies then you need to think about them in your stock list, too. Although you may want to drop them down to 2F/1M instead of 7 fish... you'll eventually have more. HTH,
Beth

SheKoi,

Thanks for the info about the algae eaters. The NIC is only part of the plan to prevent a mini cycle. Probably not even necessary. The order you propsed works well except we have 1 angel now that we hope will pair up. We kinda feel like a . Put in 5 more angels and let her pick her favorite (yes it might be a he, won't know till there are eggs). Also thanks for the suggestion of more plants. I like the amazon sword and plan on adding that soon. More caves and driftwood are also planed. I'll add pictures when I'm done.

joe fish,
Re-read the timeline:
Week 1: Add ottos and dose NIC.
Week 3: Add 6 angels and dose NIC.
Week 7: Return remaining 4 angels and add 6 tetras.
Week 8: Add 5 cories and dose NIC.

The idea is to wait (week 7 is not a hard deadline) until we know we have a pair. Then we will return the other 4, leaving a pair, for something else.

I can lower the temperature to lower than 78 to suit the pandas if we get them.

Thanks for the advice on the plants. I'll look for some of those. I definitely want a heavily planted tank. Right now I have a Hornword and a stemed plant (can't remember the name, but it gets purple leaves).

Tetra Fan,
Rams would be wonderful. I've always enjoyed the picture of your rams. I figured the original list was understocked. I wanted opinions on more stock.

bscal,
I didn't know that the corries would shoal (sp) with different varieties. It makes sence they are all cories. That's something fun to consider. I only have 1 platy left they didn't cycle well. I will probably keep Scalet if she lasts through the last week.

Thanks for the replies. This is thread is starting to get some ideas flowing. Many of you suggest a different stocking order:

1. Tetras
2. Cories OR loach (not both)
3. Angels
4. Ottos
5. Rams

Could I do:

1. Tetras
2. Angels
3. Cories or loach
4. Rams
5. Ottos

Or something like that. I want to keep my chances of getting a pair out of my single one high.

Everyone (myself included) thinks I need some caves. I'll do that this weekend. I also plan on getting some driftwood. If I get it from a lake, what can I do to clean it?

Anyone else have an idea to do with an angel tank?
The only requirement for stock lists are 2 Adult Angels in a 55USG tank.

If you got the driftwood form a lake then you would probably have to boil the heck outta it to get rid of any little critters that might be in it. Also I think I will add to my list i said earlier...

2 Angels
15 Flame Tetras
10 Panda Cory's
6 Ottos
2 Bolivian Rams
2 Blue Rams
2 Keyhole cichlids

With that many bottom dwelling cichlids, though, you will need at least 6 caves. I'm also not quite sure if 2 Keyholes would be over-doing it. Good luck though Hope you find something that works out for you.

[edit] Oh, and I'm glad you enjoy my pics




[span class="edited"][Edited by Tetra Fan 2004-07-16 16:30][/span]

Things are progressing nicely. Last night I got a piece of driftwood, 2 amazon swords, some other plant and a strawberry rock. This morning my nitrites were 1.0ppm As soon as they drop I'll do the *my nitrites dropped dance*. Then I'll get a school of 6 flame tetras.

hereare some new pictures of my new stuff.