55 gal and dont know what to do

[wardy24]

He people, here is my dilema. i have a 55 gal with a fluval 404 and an aqua clear 300 i think it is, it is a big one. and i want to do something new. i considered going with salt water, but was turned off by the need for a protein skimmer and expensive pump. i used to have a cichlid tank with dempseys, pacus, gar's, convicts, all that stuff which is fun, but i want somethign new. i was considering discus, but there are not enough appealing fish that can go in the tank with them. african cichlids look fun, but not sure really how to get started. i am open for suggestiosns. i would love to if possible do saltwater with the equipment i currently have.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dlau21]

My friend has a 55 gallon and he recently got a Flowerhorn. These are some pretty weird lookin fish, but seeing them live and in living color, they are real pretty. These fish are symbols of good luck in southeast asia cuz of the markings on the side of their bodies, which resemble chinese charachters. And also, they got these lumps on their heads, the bigger the better. They are aggressive, but check it out.

[wannabefishguru]

well with saltwater you wont need a protein skimmer right away, i think some people say to wait 3 months or something like that before even getting one and plus it all depends on what type of setup for sw you are doing, fish only, fish with live rock, reef.

most people start of as FO or FWLR and then turn to a reef.

[fish_freak]

Flowerhorns are hybrids which are ok but i am more for keeping species mother nature made.

Anyway africans would work great in that tank start with crushed coral for your substrate cause it helps to raise the ph otherwise there similar to other chiclids. I recomened adding rift lake essential elements its a mineral and salt additive that simulates the water conditions in the rift lakes in africa and makes there colors come out. Stop into your LFS and ask for a few to get started with the only think I would add is another aquaclear300 or just buy a 500

[NatakuTseng]

Flowerhorns are too large for 55s anyway, many of them can get up around 18" easy.

Africans, oh my here we go again. Lets see there are "African Cichlids" from Lake Malawi, Lake Victoria, Lake Tanyganika, and then we have the West Africans. So which Africans is it that you are infact suggesting fishfreak?

Also a note, those "rift lake essential elements its a mineral and salt additive that simulates the water conditions in the rift lakes in africa and makes there colors come out." Is not nessecary or needed to make their colors come out. Give them (the rift lake cichlids mind you as most of the west africans actually come from soft acidic water, see the delima we are encountering here?) hard alkaline water using epsom salt and baking soda and you'll have some happy rifties. Get the pH up around 8-8.5 and gH of 14+ with a high kH (8+). Then give them the right diet, GENERALLY Malawis need a mainly vegitarian diet, Tangs are carnivorous, and Victorians are omnivores. There are exceptions though. Do your home work before buying anything. Go down to the LFS look, find out what a fish(s) is, then come home and do research on it to decide if it will infact work with what you want to do.

[sublime1184]

if you're into aggression I suggest a compressus (http://www.piranha-fury.com/information/default.php?id=compressus), altuvei (http://www.piranha-fury.com/information/default.php?id=altuvei) or irritan (http://www.fishpost.com/piranha/serirritans.html)

[NatakuTseng]

55s are still a bit small for those guys though Sublime. 75s or larger would be the choice as a minimum for me anyway, though they are pretty cool fish.

[FishFreak101]

an oscar?

[sublime1184]

55s are still a bit small for those guys though Sublime. 75s or larger would be the choice as a minimum for me anyway, though they are pretty cool fish.


10" and smaller solitary piranhas will do fine in a 55g

[FreddytheFish]

if u wanted to get a sltwater tank, u wouldn't need to get a skimmer right away. lots of people don't buy askimmer for a while, and some people never get one at all. just be sure to get a bunch of live rock just like wannabefishguru said

[NatakuTseng]

55s are too small for Oscars, period. The width is in some cases less than how long the fish can get, jeeze give them some room.

Yeah you can do that Sublime, but just with me I think a 75 would be more suited for them. A 55 would be a minimum though.

[nascar2]

Check the ph and hardness of your tap water and then research fish that live in that type of water. It will be easier and cheaper. good luck.

[fishfreek4life]

You could go SW fairly easy with a Fluval, as long as you dont go reef. I have a 55G FO tank and the hardest part was keeping water in the tank. I suggest if you do want a SW tank, go with the fish first, manage that, and then slowly move up to whatever you want.

I also happen to have 2 other FW 55's, one being a critter tank and one being a Medium Aggressive tank. My critter tank is full of many kinds of shrimp, a few crabs, 2 FW lobsters, and plenty of hiding places. My other 55 is 2 hampala barbs and a 18'' fire eel. There is so much you can do if you do your research.