need suggestions for stocking a 55gal

[Mr. U]

Hi all, I'm new here, but have been reading your posts which has made me sure I am in the right place to ask questions. I have a used 55 gallon tank that I plan to move my freshwater Angelfish into. I used to have 2 angels that paired and lived well in a 30gal. with a Chocolate Catfish, but a month ago, the female Angel died (no physical indication of what was wrong, and the pet store test of the tank water didn't show anything wrong). Anyways, I wanted to introduce new angels, but I read that it would be better to put my old Bart and the new fish into a new tank to deal with any territory issues. This is where the 55 gallon comes in. Also, I took in a 30gal. from someone who accidently killed a number of fish and didn't want to deal with the survivors (1ft. Pleco, 1 tiger barb, 1 neon), and I was thinking of adding the pleco to the 55-is this a good idea if I want to have live plants in the tank? I am not planning on having a lot of live plants but I understand they may get munched on by the pleco. For filtration, I have a very good canister filter that I will use, but can I also use and undergravel filter in tandem? As far as lighting, I have a Coralife light that was used for a marine setup, can I use this for the tank? Thanks for your help and suggestions, and I hope I posted this correctly.

[GirlieGirl8521]

Since the Angel is probably full grown (or close to it), I'd go with some big bodied tetras. Diamond tetras, Dwarf Neon Rainbows (not sure about their energy though), Emporer tetras, Congo tetras, Bloodfins (not sure if they are nippy), and Pristellas are some examples of "bigger" tetras. I'd pick 2 schools and have 8-10 of each.

[Mr. U]

Hi GirlieGirlie,
Thanks for your reply. I am going to stay away from "nippy" types of fish as the Veil Angel that died had been nursed back to health about a year ago after being attacked by clown barbs that were in the tank. She was left floating horizontally for a while until her long trailing fins healed. I took those barbs back to the lfs ("local fish store", right?) that first recommended them, and haven't returned.

My Marble Angel is four inches, and I have had him for about 3 or 4 years, so your suggestions will help me find some good tankmates. Of the fish you suggested, which are the best to use to cycle my 55 gallon tank? I am planning to put together the filtration system this weekend, and I hope to have the water and substrate in as well - and yes, I am going to wait for the tank to be established before adding fish :).

Again, thanks for your help.
Alex

[Rbishop]

Yes, you can use an UGF in tandem with a canister filter, but I prefer modifying the UGF to RUGF.

Most on here will not recommend a UGF/RUGF with live plants, but I don't have issues with it since all my plants are potted/containerized.

What wattage is your coralife and type of bulbs?

[jm1212]

do you have a local fish store that you can give the pleco? it is much to big for a 55 gallon tank, and you might want to take the tiger barb there too, as they will get pretty nippy and should not be kept with angels.

with the remaining angel from the pair, you mgiht want to keep him in the 30 gallon, and just let him keep it to himself with the catfish.

as for the other 30 gallon that you recently took in with the neon, how about filling out the neon school to about 18, and then getting a group of 6 corydoras for the bottom.

moving on the the 55 gallon, if you want to move the angel to the 55, keep him the only angel in the tank. if you keep him in the 30 gallon, you can have a pair of angels in the tank with a school of larger tetras like lemons, red eyes, or daimonds. for bottom feeders, get a different species of corydoras than in the recently acquired 30 gallon.

[Mr. U]

Hi all,
I really appreciate all the help I've recieved.

rbishop: The Corlife light is a 50/50 65watt. Also, what is "rugf" (apologies for my noobie-ness to the used terms);

jim1212: <sigh> I was hoping to consolidate tanks with the 55gal. and store the 30gals. for now - I have those two 30 gals., plus:
a 10gal. (with a beta and two cory cats);
a 55gal. (with 1 shubunkin, 2 fancy goldfish, 9 assorted cats);
a 200gal. raised pond (with assorted shubunkin, mosquito fish, and very large rosie minnows - were first used to test pond quality);
...and partridge in a pear tree! :)

I think I will put the Marble Angel by himself in the 55 gal. with the suggested tankmates. I had planned on giving the barb to the lfs, but I was concerned about the pleco getting a good home. I have a 90 gallon tank sitting empty in my garage. Would that be a good permanent home for the pleco? I sort of got attached the big guy :)

by the way, I have been reading the threads on cyclying tanks. Becuase of my work schedule, I can't be near the tank during the weekdays to monitor nitrate/ammonia levels. What way would you suggest that I begin to cycle my 55 gallon tank?

Thanks for the help,
Alex

[Rbishop]

If you have already established tanks, use media from them to jump start your new tank. If you stock slowly you should be okay for a weekend.

RUGF....reverse flow undergravel filter. It pushes water down the "lift" tubes, under the plates and back up thru the gravel. This forces the debri up into the water column for pick up by other power filters.

[Mr. U]

rbishop - can I also use a mix of water from the 30gal tanks to further help establish the 55gallon?
Regards,
Alex

[jm1212]

there isnt alot of bacteria in the water itself. the good bacteria live in the gravel, filter media, and on the decor.

BTW, you cant put an angel with goldfish. they have totally different needs.

[Rbishop]

The water column doesn't hold much bacteria. Some of the substrate and/or decor will help. They will have plenty of bacteria on them.

Also, you could run your filter on the old tank and help develop some there before moving it to the new tank. Of put extra filter pads/media in exsting filters and move them over.

[fishcatch22]

rbishop - can I also use a mix of water from the 30gal tanks to further help establish the 55gallon?
Regards,
Alexno, water from your new tanks will not have much of anything to help establish your filter. I reccomend moving gravel and decor from your old tank to your new tank.

[Mr. U]

sorry jim1212, I should have been more clear. I meant to say that I wanted to put the critters in the two 30gal tanks (angel & pleco) into the 55 gallon tank in order to simplify things. yep, i know about goldfish and a bit about tropicals. Thanks for the note though, it might help someone reading this thread.
Cheers,
Alex

[Mr. U]

I have a big piece of fake wood in the Marble Angel's tank which I will place in the 55gallon to begin cycling. problem is the chocolate cat won't be evicted from it easily. I am heading off to purchace a "rugh", heater, and tank covers.
Cheers,
Alex

[Shagmaster]

Run your new filter on your old tank for like 2 weeks to build a good Biospira culture. Putting a small amount of gravel from the established tank into your new filter will help speed this up also.:)

[Mr. U]

Thanks for the tip Shagmaster. I have just taken down one of the 30gal. tanks, and I will add some of the gravel to a spare media pouch, and place it in the canister filter. Sad to see the pleco go to the lsf <sniff>.
Regards,
Alex

[Mr. U]

Thanks for the tip Shagmaster. I have just taken down one of the 30gal. tanks, and I will add some of the gravel to a spare media pouch, and place it in the canister filter. Sad to see the pleco go to the lsf <sniff>.
Regards,
Alex

err..."lfs" (typo)

[Star_Rider]

just a side note..I have added young angels with an older male that lost his mate..luckily they turned out to both be females..and he paired up with one of the females..the lone female was then placed in a 29 I later added a wild male peruvian scalre ,turned out to be male..and they paired up.
so you can add angels to the mix if you choose to. you have plenty of tanks if you need to move fish due to aggression.

[Mr. U]

Thanks Star_rider. I was concerned about the aggression, and I really didn't want to have to return the younger angels, for a "reduced" refund. I decided to move my marble angel by himself into the 55gal. and build a community around him and a choco cat which the angel currently lives with. I am going to use one of the 30gal. tanks to move my betta and his two cory cats into, and build a community around them.
Cheers,
Alex