Stocking plans for my 55g.... Need opinions on my final choice

[southpaw]

Well since my 55g likes 2-3 weeks before it should be fully cycled I am now trying to get a stocking list going.Here is what I am planning right now but I will consider any changes that you might see I need to do....

10 Rummynose
6 Cory cats
2 German Blue Rams

I am wanting another school of 10 fish but havent made my mind up yet... was thinking maybe getting either Cardinals, Harleguin Rasboras or maybe some Danios of some kind. What do you guys think would look the best and go with the fish I have listed.

Here is a pic of my tank as of now...I am going to be adding another stump like i have but is much taller in the middle. Will the cover I have now do good for the GBR's or should I make a few small rock caves for them? I am not concerned in the GBR's breeding as from what I have read they like 80+ temps when mating and I plan to keep my tank around the 76-77 degree range for all the other fish.

http://teamwhitetail2005.com/Tourney%20pics/tank%201st%20fill.JPG

[Dwarf Puffers]

White clouds? Lemon tetras? Glowlights? Cherry barbs?

What else will you put in?

[davexstumpe]

First off I like the stocking plan, in fact its pretty much exactly what i have now, except only 8 Rummies and 10 Corys(Pandas). I would personally add a couple more corys.

You could either add another school or go with a centerpiece fish for two.

I would personally add 3 Discus in the tank, but they require a commitment to water changes and higher temps, 82F + .
BTW, the GBRs do best in temps above 80 ALL the time, not just during breeding, as I keep mine at a constant 82 with my rummies and corys and they are all doing fine.

You could also try angelfish, but i dont have much experience with them except that i know a lot of people keep them as centerpiece.

Or just stick with your plan and get another school of cards or herlequins.

I would suggest adding a small cave for the GBRs, because even if you don't plan on breeding them, they probably still lay eggs and get very territorial when they do, so a cave will give them a nice secluded spot to protect instead of the whole portion of the tank. ANd like i said before, the GBRs really show their best colors in 80F and up.


and how are you cycling the tank? If you can't add any media from an established tank, i really suggest using BioSpira to speed up the cycle.

[jm1212]

add 2 more rummynoses to round out the school to 12, and then you could have another school of 12 cardinals easily in the tank.

be careful with those pieces of decor. they have been known to trap fish waste and cause problems in a tank. if you regularly clean them though, it shouldnt be a problem.

[southpaw]

Would all the other fish do well in the 80 degree range? I dont have a problem with keeping the tank at 80 ....I just want all my fish to be as happy as they can be and figured a temp around 77 would be a good medium for all of them.

[southpaw]

add 2 more rummynoses to round out the school to 12, and then you could have another school of 12 cardinals easily in the tank.
That was kind of my original plan .....but didnt know if two schools of 12 would be too much or not. I do like the idea of having two schools of 12 though.

[davexstumpe]

Would all the other fish do well in the 80 degree range? I dont have a problem with keeping the tank at 80 ....I just want all my fish to be as happy as they can be and figured a temp around 77 would be a good medium for all of them.


I have 10 panda corys, 8 rummies, and a pair of GBRs at 82F and they all look amazing.

[southpaw]

and how are you cycling the tank? If you can't add any media from an established tank, i really suggest using BioSpira to speed up the cycle.

I am doing a fishless cycle.....adding ammonia daily now to keep it in the 2-3ppm range as the nitrites are spiked out beyond what my API test kit can handle. I tested for nitrates this morning and it was around the 7ppm range. So things are moving along.

[southpaw]

I have 10 panda corys, 8 rummies, and a pair of GBRs at 82F and they all look amazing.

My plan is to add the two large schools first then the corys and then the GBR's last....I figure about a week between each school.

If I do it this way and keep the temp around 80-81 then I should be able to see how the fish handle the warmer temp before I ever get the GBR's ...then I can make up my mind then.


Leaning toward this stocking as of right now

10 Rummynose
10 Cardinals
8 Corys
2 GBR

[jm1212]

Would all the other fish do well in the 80 degree range? I dont have a problem with keeping the tank at 80 ....I just want all my fish to be as happy as they can be and figured a temp around 77 would be a good medium for all of them.
80º should be fine for all of the fish you have.

[davexstumpe]

My plan is to add the two large schools first then the corys and then the GBR's last....I figure about a week between each school.

If I do it this way and keep the temp around 80-81 then I should be able to see how the fish handle the warmer temp before I ever get the GBR's ...then I can make up my mind then.


Leaning toward this stocking as of right now

10 Rummynose
10 Cardinals
8 Corys
2 GBR

Sounds perfect. And if you loose a couple Rummies, dont be discouraged about the temp, because rummies are known for not acclimating well to any tank, so i'd say buy 12 and if you have 12 that live than great, but most likely you'll probably only end up with about 10 that live.(i know its sad, but for the most part its true)

[southpaw]

Sounds perfect. And if you loose a couple Rummies, dont be discouraged about the temp, because rummies are known for not acclimating well to any tank, so i'd say buy 12 and if you have 12 that live than great, but most likely you'll probably only end up with about 10 that live.(i know its sad, but for the most part its true)

I never thought of that but sounds ike a good plan. I might do the same for the Cardinals too (just in case)

[southpaw]

Being that I am doing a fishless cycle would adding a school a week be the best way to do it or will my tank be able to handle adding them all at once? Except maybe the GBR's

From what I have read doing the fishless cycle with pure ammonia gives the tank a pretty good bacteria colony to handle all the fish pretty much at once but if adding a school a week would be better I will stick to that plan too.

[davexstumpe]

Because you did fishless I would think that the would be able to handle two schools at once, but i would stay away from putting them all in at once anyway just to be safe, no need to rush.

I'd keep the GBRs out for atleast a month and let the water params stay constant before adding them.

[jpappy789]

Angels? Not with cardinals though, too risky. But I like what you got...

[southpaw]

Angels? Not with cardinals though, too risky. But I like what you got...

Why do you say risky with cardinals?

[southpaw]

Or are you saying it would be risky to have Angels with my cardinals??

[davexstumpe]

Or are you saying it would be risky to have Angels with my cardinals??

i think he means it would be risky to put angels with cards becasue they could potentially eat them when they are fully grown

[jpappy789]

There are mixed opinions. Some say its ok, just not with neons, Some say, its not ok at all. And some say if they are intoduced together than its ok...I'd say that you have a good mix anyways, plus I can't imagine a pair of breeding angels with a breeding pair of GBR's...ouch

[southpaw]

I see what was being said now....I just read it wrong the first time I think and got me confussed :)

I am going to let the GBR's be my centerpieces as I will for sure spoil them ..... I just wanted a good mix to be in with them and it seems I have pretty much found what I wanted.....Now to run the stocking by my wife (hopefully I wont have to change anything...lol )

[jpappy789]

just show her all the pretty pics you can find! she'll fall in love...

[southpaw]

just show her all the pretty pics you can find! she'll fall in love...

LOL..She is cool with it . She is just happy that the time to add fish is getting closer. I think the cycling time has been harder on her staring at an empty tank than it has me and I guess because I am the one testing the water daily and getting on here and reading and learning alot of different things everyday that keeps me involved in the tank process even without any fish.

[jpappy789]

Good to hear! Picking out fish and stocking are my favorite parts...