55 gallon Krib community

[Shadow_GF]

I have a nice 55gallon tank with 20 some plants but Im thinking of getting some more. I also currently have a 350 Penguin Bio-wheel but I plan on getting a glass top and then adding another filter, so that both halfs have a filter.

What type of filter is best. When ever I do the carbon filters, rinse them and then place them into the filter some of the carbon ends up in the tank. Is this normal?

What would be a good filter to get for my second one?

Now for the fish I have the temp at 78F. I have a nice piece of Bogwood in the tank as well as a rock cave I built, I plan to add some small ceramic pots. I have 1 dojo loach [yes I know I shouldn't], 3 Kuhli loaches, 5 otto cats [bought five and none ever died, I was surprised XD], 12 Pork/Lamb chop Rasboras, and what I hope is a pair of Kribs [not exactly sure, but looks like it.]

Would it be okay to add a few more Rasboras or other small top fish It still looks soo empty since the rasboras are on one side or another in a group and the rest is empty. What would be some other types and how many? I would like SMALLER Dither fish nothing over 2".

P.S. My family says my tank looks like a garden not a tank. And how I like the little fish with the plants X)

[Buggieboy]

Hello and welcome to the site, Frist A good secound filter is a whisper 60-80 , quite and a great add on for a tanks. On the carbon coming out that's fine. I always remove the carbon from my filters and replace it with crushed cermic, cermic helps remove amonia and is a better filter media then carbon. the only time I use carbon is to remove meds from the tank. On ditcher fish a good one is the penicl fish are great but med water swimmers a good top swimmer is the white cloud minnow.
Other fish to go with the kribs is Apistogrammas, German blue rams, mollies,platties and a few others. I have Apistogrammas and kribs in a 75g planted tank and they get along just fine. The kribs get a little bossie when spawning but no more then the Apistos. On the kribs the femle has the most color out of the pr.

Now I have a question for you. why not the dojo louch? I have 2 with mine and in a couple of tanks and they are fine with spawners ,eggs and fry.

[Shadow_GF]

Well arn't Dojo Loaches coldwater and my temp is 77. Would the Rams be able to mix with the Kribs in a 55gallon?

[gomezladdams]

Another penguin 350 would be a great choice.Or if you have a closed stand a canister filter would be even better esp if youre thinking of adding co2 injection