55 gallon stocking

[Signus]

Ok. After deciding to go home this summer to work and reading all of the articles of 10 gallon tanks being too small, I've decided to purchase a 55 gallon tank at the end of the summer.

All of my current fish will go into it, but I'd also like some feedback on stocking and filtration. I do plan to heavily plant it.

Currently:

5 Zebra Danios
5 Adult Paleatus Cory Catfish
2 Juvenile Paleatus Cory Catfish
1 SAE (1 inch right now, hence my overwhelming desire to upgrade as well)
2 Cherry Barbs (m/f pair)

I would like to possibly increase the number of SAE and Cherry Barbs. What would be ideal numbers for each given the size of the tank? I don't want a huge number of cherry barbs (5 max)

I really like Harlequin Rasboras, but I'm afraid with the current and future numbers everything is maxed out. Is this true?


What sort of filter would you recommend?

I'm planning $300-400 for startup. This includes the tank, a self-made stand, a CF light fixture, the extra fish, and the filter.

Thank you a million times over!

 

[Blinky]

Cherrys are fine in pairs, they don't need to be in a group. If you don't want any more you don't have to get the ones you have any friends (though I highly recommend it, they're my favourite fish ).
I'd go with 3 SAEs. That should be enough to keep a check on some of the algae that may appear without taking up too much space.
You'll have room for more in the 55g, it's got a lot of surface area. I see no reason you can't get a group of harlequins. Lighting a 55g is easy too, since if you want to save money you can use 4' shoplights or similar fixtures from a home improvement centre.
I'd recommend a Rena FilStar XP2 or XP3 - they're fantastic filters - lots of space for media, quiet, easy to clean and not too expensive. I had my XP2 on a 45g tank and since I've switched to the 65g I'm still using the same filter and it's keeping up nicely. It's rated for up to 75g so I'm pretty much maxing it out, but the bio load isn't heavy and the tank has lots of plants.
Whatever filter you choose, a canister is your best bet for a planted tank because you want very little surface agitation - a HOB will flush the CO2 plants need out of the tank.

 

[Signus]

Awesome! Thank you so much!

I really do love cherry barbs too. The bright red and gold against the green of the plants in the tank always catches my eye when walking through the living room of my dorm.

So maybe:

6 cherry barbs: 4 females and 2 males, or would 3 of each sex be fine?

5 Harlequins (They should school with the danios, right?)

I was hoping you'd say 3 SAE. Mine is so fat. Jeeze. It does nothing all day but clean the tank and pig out on the cory food. One time it was so full that it couldn't even rest on its fins nor swim around a whole lot! It just sorta wobbled in the current and looked at me with a worried expression. LOL

Ps. I'm not sure how many fish I could really have given the types I like: Small schooling and brightly colored fish. So, if I can stock more, please let me know. I've figured that since many of them are so slimmed bodied and will max out at 2 inches, the inch a gallon works (I know, it's a horrible rule). But if surface area can determine the amount of fish instead, what number would I divide the SA by to get the amount of fish that can live comfortably in the tank?

 

[Megatron]

While some may disagree I would say you do have room for some other smallish fish other than just the rasboras (which BTW will not school with the danios). Also I would watch the SAE. I have had trouble in past with both CAE and SAE being aggresive towards other fish. Alot of people have no problem with them but I find the bigger they get the more of a taste they get for going after fishes slime coat, I have not noticed them doing this with my smaller fish but the more broad fish such as angels or gouramis seem to be to much temptation. Anyways good luck on your new tank!

 

[Signus]

Surprisingly, the male cherry barb I have now likes to try challenging the SAE. The SAE seems to be oblivious of the fact that the barb is approaching him and minds its own business. Thanks for the heads up!

If I were to use driftwood from the saltwater marshes in Florida, would I need to worry about anything other than them leaching salt into the tank? I could always use waterlogged wood from my Papa's property on the Withlacoochee River. I don't plan to use Florida stone because of the high amounts of carbonates in them.

Ps. Chances are 10 to 1 that the wood would be cyprus (good/bad idea?) or oak.