FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi friends
I recently lost my male texas cichlid and subsequently and going to restock my 4ft tank. After having cichlids for a few years I was thinking of getting a less active tank and going for a peaceful cruisy vibe.

I was thinking of a school of silver dollars because I always admired them in the lfs. I like the way the school but could be convinced otherwise by more experienced fish keepers...

I would be interested in other people's idea of what is the most serene stock for a tank.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Discus seem to be laid back.. ive never had one myself but they seem laid back and are very handsome.. not 100% sure but they could prolly get along with silver dollar fish and would add a lil color to the all that silver


someone correct me if im wrong (usualy am)
Have fun
-CJ

I wouldn't get the silver dollars. They get pretty big, and pretty active. I wouldn't put them in less than a 6 foot tank, personally.

As for discus, sure, you could have them, but you have to be really committed. They are sensitive and expensive. If you get discus, you can't have anything but the best. Live foods and good quality foods, not just flakes or pellets.

For an easier alternative, I'd get angels. They are gorgeous, serene-looking, and are easy to keep. They are cichlids, so they have personality, but they aren't really aggressive. For tankmates, think about going with a SA bio-type, and getting cories, tetras, and perhaps rams or other dwarf cichlids.

---

They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

Just an example of a VERY peaceful tank (and what I have in my 6ft planted tank currently)

Pearl Gouramis -very peaceful, and I even have 2 males (they spawned too..dunno if any fry will make it ..but I have them in a net)

Cories- great cleanup crew(C. Trilineatus, C. Elegans, C. Arcuatus)

Brochis Splendens-..impressive when they are larger ( just got mine and they are 3" can't wait to see them grow out!)

Glass Catfish-..even with companionship, these guys do hide alot on the dark side of my tank (NEED to be in a group of at least 3-5 I'd say)

Otos-..absolutely necessary for my planted tank to combat algae

Bristlenose Plecos-..don't do a WHOLE lot for algae..

Clown Pleco-..just looks neat.

Spotted Hillstream Loaches-..one of my fave fish..brave at feeding time for such little guys (these do require cooler water and current, I keep this tank at about 76..and half is unplanted with current)

Zebra Loaches-..very shy.. (another one that DEFINITELY needs a group..I have 7, these are great for snail control)

Oh..I dunno bout silver dollars for a "serene" tank..I, too , wouldn't have them ..except in a larger tank..if i DID want them..

Pearl Gouramis are awesome en mass..and at maturity.. very iridescent..and the males long threaded fins..are beautiful. Course I am BIASED.
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Oct/20041053707999600645104.jpg
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Oct/20041054825610682473939.jpg
http://mediaservice.photoisland.com/auction/Oct/20041058908061593677905.jpg

Gouramis are great, in addition to pearl gouramis, take a loook at moonlight gouramis. I have one in my tank. He is one of my favorite fish--curious and rather funny at times. They grow bigger than many gouramis--6 inches.

In my three foot tank, which is rather peaceful, I have:
1 moonlight gourami
1 pearl gourami
2 keyhole cichlds
1 bolivian ram
10 zebra danios

I know you said you have already had cichlds, but I highly recommend keyholes because they make a great addition to a peaceful tank.

A couple fish to look at: platies, tetras, gouramis, some cichlids (like the keyhole), some barbs (cherrys are great), and of course loaches, and corydoras.

Lots of good suggestions so far

I've found a single angel works well in a peaceful community-type tank, kind of a centerpiece fish.

Any of the bottom feeders mentioned would work, I happen to prefer loaches 'just because' And IME my BNs have done a great job with algae.

I have both pearl and moonlight gouramis. I think they have similar personalities, and while moonlight end up a bit larger it's really a choice of which look you like better.

I'm also fond of keyholes, very peaceful Lots of choices with tetras, rasboras, some peaceful barbs...even rainbows.





[/font][/font][/font]

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

Well I have a 55G community tank. It is stocked with:
6 Angelfish
6 Flame Tetras
3 Platties

I'm waiting on my anglefish to pair off. Then I'll change the stock list to something like this:
2 Angelfish
10 Flame Tetras
3 Platies
4 YoYo loaches

The platties are nice because they give my angels some live food. The tetras are great schoolers, but are only active at feeding times. Of course the angels are the best part of the tank.

Well it sounds as if the silver dollars get the thumbs down.

I will definitely check out the gouramis.

I can't do anything for the next few weeks so still have thinking time.

Thank you for your suggestions so far everyone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

I always Heard moonlights can get up to about 8-10"..and think I remember actually seeing some close to that big.. My pearls have gotten up to about 6" w/out counting the tail..

If you want a school of largeish, pretty, peaceful fish, congo tetras are just about the right size for your tank

><>

I will check out the congo tetras.

Thanks for the advice friends...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

In my 75 gallon I keep schools of danios, black neons, rasboras, and a huge school of rummy noses. Additonally I have cories, ottos, and a BN. My tank is very peaceful, plus there is movement all around the tank.

I think you should go asian with

14 glass catfish (the best schooling fish ever)
3 blue gourmis (peaceful yet interesting)
3 gold gourmis (peaceful yet interesting)
3 pearl gourmis (peaceful yet interesting)
3 M circorcintus (small eel 16cm max related to fire eel)
1 betta (interesting)
6 zebra loaches (can shoal)

This is the best (most peacful)suggestion you will get

---

''All the clown fish and yellow tangs in the world cant save you now!''

personally i'd get rainbows and angels, thats pretty much all my tank is ( i have cories and 2 rams as well) and its a great tank with lots of movements. the rainbows are completely awesome, pretty colour and nice attitudes.
athough a couple colisa fasicata , giant gouramis max size 5-6 inches, would be excellent in there as well beautiful fish that dont harrass tank mates

me

14 glass catfish (the best schooling fish ever)
3 blue gourmis (peaceful yet interesting)
3 gold gourmis (peaceful yet interesting)
3 pearl gourmis (peaceful yet interesting)
3 M circorcintus (small eel 16cm max related to fire eel)
1 betta (interesting)
6 zebra loaches (can shoal)

That many gourami would not be peaceful... They would nip and chase quite a bit. Also, bettas and gourami tend to fight... to the death... Not to mention the bettas and gourami picking on the glass cats.