new 60 G tank

[kamantas]

Hi
I am new to the hobby and I plan to have 60 G tropical fish tank. I’ll put plastic plants not live ones. What is your suggestion for community fish types suitable for this tank ? please give the answer in order of adding to the tank ( cycling first then next and so…)
Also divide them into groups ( top , middle and bottom dwellers )

please suggest the type of filters and substrate to use.
Thanks

[Sploke]

For filtration, I would probably use two Emperors or ACs, or a pair of XP2s if you want to go the canister route. If you haven't yet, I highly recommend reading the article on cycling a fishtank, and going with the fishless cycling method. This will allow you to add all your fish at once when the cycle is complete.

As far as stocking goes, you have a lot of options with a tank that size. It really depends on what kind of tank you want to do. If you wanted something a little on the aggressive side, you could do a pair of convicts or a jack dempsey, some spotted pictus and some black skirt tetras or something like that. Angels would work well in that tank as well, with about 15-20 cories on the bottom. A school of about 30 rasboras with a group of gouramis would look good. It really depends on what you want to do with the tank. I would look at a bunch of setups and decide what you want, or pick a "centerrpiece" fish if you want to go that way, then build around it.

[jm1212]

go with 2 Penguin 350s for filtration

do you have any ideas on what fish you had in mind?

[kamantas]

i rather select more peaceful fishes distributed in top, middle and bottom dwellers. all better to be similar sizes so bigger fishes doesn’t eat smaller ones.
Any suggestions ??

[Lupin]

Surface: Danios, hatchetfish, killifish, glass bloodfins, penguin tetras

Mid level: Tetras, angelfish, pencilfish, rasboras, barbs

Bottom: Cories, ancistrus plecs, otos, Hara hara catfish

Pick your choices.;)

[Lady G]

There really are too many possiblitys to name on this one for me...I say look into LOTS of fish, pick a couple you like best then go with tank mates from there (this from the queen of impulse/sympathy buy)..but really if I had a fresh new tank to start with this is the way I would go for sure.
Good luck and have fun..keep us updated don't leave us hanging on your thoughts!

[assuit]

Hi, a suggestion I read was having a showcase fish species like say congo tetras, probably 20 in a tank that size with 4 corys to clean up the bottom and 2 ottos to clean the glass and plants. Also I saw a really cool set up with cardinal tetras in a big tank, 50 gallons I think. There were 40 of them and and it was like watching a school of ocean fish moving.