FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I've a 55 Gallon that I've started cycling; it's going to be a heavily planted tank.

I've never managed anything above the 10 Gallon (minus my pond, which I accomplished with sheer dumb luck).

I've heard that smaller tanks are harder to manage, but I'm sure that I'm going to run into some troubles with the 55 Gallon. I'm going to be able to handle a large bioload. Now... what to stock it with?

I've been throwing up my options the last couple of weeks but I'm not sure about what I want to stock it with, or what would be overstocking it.

I would like to do a "flashy" community tank, as it is in the living room for my mother and rest of the family to enjoy. I was looking at tetras but mother is not fond of the smaller varieties (neon, glowlight, ect)

I'm looking in to a pair of angels, but what else would fit with the angels in a 55? The angels are not a must, I'm looking for fish with colors.

Prefer: larger fish (2-3 inches) with color (looking at different Gouramis) I want to stay away from the dull blues and any shades of brown (I'm colorblind to those shades/hues -.- a spotted pelco is only one color to me, and I loose colorless fish easily) I also spotted Odessa Barbs as a posible choices...

I'm also leaning towards two or three ropefish (if I don't do them for this tank, I will for the 55 I'm setting up in my room) and am curious if anybody has kept these and had any luck with tankmates.

Help? ^_^*

wut a afican mawliawa tank i got one its nice with light yellow's and blue's ill try to get a pic

I think you should take a good look at pearl, moonlight and snakeskin gouramis. All are beautiful and have lots o' color. As for bright flashy fish, how about something like cherry barbs? If you get several, the males will turn wonderful shades of bright red as the face off each other. The gouramis move a bit slowly around the tank, while the cherries zip around. Some loaches that max out at about 4 or 5 inches could complete the tank.

Angels are a good choice, and pearl gouramis really do have beautiful coloring.

Cherry barbs are nice but not schoolers; I like [link=belted barbs]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/pentbarb.xml" style="COLOR: #336699[/link] but there are other barbs that would work well in your tank and aren't nippy.

[link=Congo tetras]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/congo.xml" style="COLOR: #336699[/link] are a bit larger schooler, similar in coloring to pearl gouramis.

For activity and color livebearers would actually work, I personally like guppies and platies. With the other fish-especially angels-fry wouldn't be a problem. If you were concerned though you could have all males.

A group of cories or loaches for the bottom...not really bright coloring but active and fun to watch, I prefer the latter.

You might also want to consider a plec or group of otos for algae control.


~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

For color, and high activity, I would suggest the Rainbows. They will do really nicely in a heavily planted tank. As the tank is going to be heavily planted, I would susggest you stay away from the Angels, as you will be limiting space for them, as the plants grow larger and such. Rainbows make an awesome site of colors, they school, and you can keep multiple species together in the same tank. As well, they come in a very wide range of colors and designs.

The congo tetras are another good choice, and the males will become around 4-5 inches in a couple of years. They are gorgeous when then reach these sizes. I have kept mine for over 10 years now. I love the activity and colors of these fish. They will also get along fine with any Rainbows you might add.

There are also many live bearers to choose from that will make a nice look in a planted tank.

HTH.....

_____________________________________________________________

There is always a bigger fish...

Well I vetoed the pair of angels, I may go back to them later, but my aunt says they're a hassel in a planted tank - and I do not want them eating the plants.

I've got two corners of the tank planted, looking for a nice piece of drift wood and maybe some java moss and other plants to complete the tank.

For fish I have 6 Serpae Tetras and two Ottos at the moment, any suggestions for tankmates for serpaes? I'm getting two or three more ottos - these are just what I had on hand from the pond which doesn't need algae control with the winter upon us.

Last edited by sandy02 at 19-Dec-2004 17:28

the angels would be fine in a planted tank and wouldn't eat the plants.

I wouldnt put the ropefish in the 55gallon comunity tank as they will eat some of the fish. They are related to the bichir and are capable of breathing air. Also known by the reedfish and snakefish. Scientific name is Erpetoichthys calabaricus. They have the same family as the common polypterus Quite peaceful but are predetory and eat meaty food whether in/out of the aquarium They can reach up to about 36in but are usally smaller in aquariums. Heres the profile from this site about it. Erpetoichthys calabaricus Not positive if you can keep them in a 55 gallon being that im not good with bigger fish and tanks but seeing that it doesnt move around to much it should be fine imo

Last edited by fish1 at 19-Dec-2004 18:08

I've read all there is to know about Ropefish, trust me, I've repeatedly yelled at the LFS that stocks them but refuses to keep a lid on the tank (I've found quite a few ropefish around the store, even caught one slithering out of its tank once)

But I want to know about tankmates for serpae tetras atm -.- beautiful fish, and I know quite a few fish that will go with them, but what will go with them and look nice?

If you want an impressive schooling fish go with the congos, they are just a very graceful fish. And they are active to, I keep five in my 55 and they are always on the go. About the ropefish in the 55, I think it would be fine. I have one in my 90 and he only comes out to eat, the rest of the day he is in the rocks. They do get big though, and do not keep with small fish, because they will snatch em.