Tankmates for guppies

[Ryan22]

Hi all,
I've recently started a 55 gal tank at home because I needed a place to put the guppies that keep reproducing in my 10 gal on my desk at work. The tank was given to me and I had most of the equiptment laying around the house, so I figured it would be a fun project. I built a canopy and I'm using 3 65 watt power compact lights to light the tank. So far I have about 4 pairs of guppies, that are already churning out more babies, a pair of red sword tails, 12 cories (6 corydoras pygmaeus, 6 corydoras melini) and about 150 tiny snails that are also reproducing like crazy. I have a few plants that are doing pretty well so far also. I'm looking for sugestions on what else I should add, or maybe it might be easier to sugest community fish that I shouldn't add to this tank. I wouldn't mind something that will pick off most of the babies, but I don't want something that is going to nip their fins. I was thinking of a pair or two of angels, but I think they might be a bit too agressive, any thoughts on that? I've also been wondering about adding a loach to help control the snails, but I want something that will co-exist with the cories. I was thiking of a clown loach, but I've heard they do better in groups.

your thoughts are appreciated,

[djlen]

Just an observation....you're pushing a lot of light in that 55. You might want to start watching out for algae. If you intend to increase your plant population there are two things you'll need to consider, IMO. CO2 and nutrients. I don't want to scare you, but I've heard of a lot of people adding wattage like that and shortly afterward writing in about algae blooms and the like. Especially in newly set up aquariums.
As I said, just an observation.
Len

[Ryan22]

I already went through an algea bloom. I'm not sure if things have balanced out or if the snails are keeping it under control, but it's gone now. I plan to slowly fill up the tank with plants, that is the reason for the high wattage lights. I expected the algea bloom though, it actually wasn't as bad as I expected. I also forgot to mention in earlier, I'd like to add a small school of maybe 6 or so glass catfish, but I'm going to wait to add them until after I get quite a bit of vegitation in the tank.

thanks again,

[appaloosatb]

I would add a school of about 4 yoyo loaches to that mix - they don't get as big as clowns and will think your tank is heaven with all the snails! :)

[Ryan22]

yoyo loaches? never heard of them, can you tell me more about them? Scientific name maybe or even some other common names? I looked in my Aquarium Atlas but I couldn't find anything by that name. You have my interest though, tell me more.

[SKAPSYCHO]

Hey,
Here's the scientific name for the yo yo loach: Botia almorhae. Read about it here: http://www.loaches.com/species_pages/botia_almorhae.shtml
Also, I once had a "skink loach", aka Botia morleti, formerly Botia horae. Go here to learn more: http://www.loaches.com/species_pages/botia_morleti.shtml
I've owned both types. They absolutely LOVE snails and will destroy the population in your tank... you'll probably be a big fan of aquarist friends who have an excessive amount of snails. Net as many as possible, dump them in, and walla! But seriously, either option is a good call.
Good luck!
~Matt
P.S. go to www.loaches.com for all the info you'd ever want... or need.

[Ryan22]

wow, I almost bought one of those YoYo loaches last time I was at my LFS, they were calling them skunk loaches in one tank and tiger loaches in another. As far as I could tell they had the same fish in both tanks. I held off because my Aquarium Atlas called them agessive and said they were best kept alone. Anyone have that type of experience? If not I'll probably grab a few this weekend.

Thanks,