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Hi,
I've had this tank setup as a community tank for 16+ yrs. About 1 1/2 yrs ago I was getting board with it, and as fish died I didn't replace them. Well, the kids wanted to get it up and going again and we can't make-up our minds on what kinds of fish to raise. The tank was broken down, cleaned and is up and running again with about 50 comet's in it, to get the cycle going again.
We need suggestions on stocking!
Thanks in advance for your input!

Welcome to FP and holy cow do you really mean 50 comets as in goldfish, or I'm hoping this was a typo and you meant to say 5 (five) comets to cycle it. The bioload that 50 comets would place on a tank would be huge. If it is 50 I would seriously consider reducing it to around 5 to get the cycle going.

Anyways, in a 55 gallon tank there are so many stocking options available it is a matter of personal choices. Do you plan on having live plants in the tank? If so, is it high light, low light or what? What type of fish do you like? Larger species or smaller ones? Interesting in breeding fish or is this a tank primarily for observing.

Jim

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Yes, it's about 50 or was as 10 have died. They are small feeder fish size I can probably hold them all in the palm of my hand.
I do have an undergravel filter in there and also have a Whisper 3 that I have used on occasion's depending on what was in there (not installed now).
I have raised African Ciclids in a 30 gal.tank. I've had anything from Swordtails to Severms in the community tank and everything in between. The Severms (gold) were the last to die, they started the size of a quarter and were about 6"-8" when they died, the last one was about 7 yrs old. I had always looked for the unusual fish.
We've looked at Fancy Goldfish (not my favorites), schooling fish 1"-3" sizes, Rainbow fish, Brackish water set-up like F-8 Puffers, etc. Looking for just about anything that will live together in about the same water conditions Ph, Hardness, etc.
Thanks

Going with plastic plants for now, the light is 32w (came w/new hood) I do have some under water lighting on the way (3) 2" 20w fountain lights, a big 17"x5"x16" Manawar ship and a smaller Spanish Gallon that I'm also waiting to arrive. Right now there's nothing in the tank but the gravel, for decorations.

Goldfish if you go that route get extemely large and are huge producers of waste products. The maximum you should keep if even any in a tank the size you have is 1 and maybe 2 which is really stretching it.

You could possible go with a pair of angelfish, a school of tetra's such as cardinals or lemons. If you have angels then you want to keep with larger schooling fish so they don't become a snack for the angels.

Possibly going with some type of gourami such as pearls or opaline. You could then add some schooling fish there also.

There are numerous types of barbs that would fit in nicely in this aquarium such as tiger's.

Like I said earlier you have many choices and it really comes down to what your personal preferences are.

Jim

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Don't consider goldfish, they just don't work in tanks. There are so many other options as OldTimer mentioned that really the only reason one would consider goldfish for a tank is if they didnt want to spend money. Which IMO is someone that shouldnt be in the hobby ...

If you want active, I'd say go with an asian themed tank.
If you want calm and peaceful (ie hardly doing much ) go with an amazon themed tank.
If you want lots of color, I'd say scrap the plastic plants, get lots of texas holey rock and go the cichlid route again.

BTW, I do hope you have an intended home for all those goldfish . It's a pity you killed off 10 already when you could have just as easily done a fishless cycle.

^_^

I agree with Babelfish. IMO take the feeders back to the LFS you purchased them from. Explain to them that you did not realize they could get so large and they should not have a problem taking them back. Do not expect a refund, but you will feel better. Keeping Goldfish in too small an aquarium is a common mistake among people new to the hobby (including myself at one time). Read the article on fishless cycling that Babelfish was talking about and do it that way. Goodluck!

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"

Here is the article Kunzman mentioned.

If you don't have unscented uncolored ammonia you can also use fish food. As it decomposes it'll produce ammonia. I assume that since you had fish you also had fish food.

If you can't return the fish, start looking around now for someone with a pond that can take them. Also do your best to make sure the tank doesn't get overheated, and that you have a good ammount of surface agitation to help increase oxygenation of the water.

^_^

Thanks for your replies!
I did not plan on keeping the feeder fish in the tank, they are only there to help the cycle. My LFS gave me the fish and I did intend to return them when done.

great to hear.
I'd suggest taking the time the cycle is offering you to look in on your LFS and see what they have in regularly, make some notes and double check that they'd work in your tank. Since you're not cycled yet you're slightly safer from making any impulse buys.

^_^

I am also so glad to hear that. Sorry we were a bit abrupt with you on this topic but several of us feel strongly about the subject of goldfish in aquariums. It was exactly this type of post that taught me the error of my ways a while back with my own comet goldfish. He is now living happily in a pond.

"Talk is cheap. Action can be almost as affordable"