Help to choose new stock for my tank please?

[Wild West]

55 gal, currently danios, platys and shark that will be going to a new home later this week......

I am looking for a great show for my lil one. I am looking for minimal maintenance as I am handicap, I would love live plants in the tank but in the past they have have made it harder for me to keep the tank/gravel clean maintenance wise.

In any of the scenarios below there will be atleast one clown loach

First thought is SA cichlids, gold severums (one of our favorites in the past)......then I got confused drooling over red severums. How pretty might gold and red look together? Then again my SA cichlids always try to pair off and territories get uncomfortable....... So then I thought about angels and community tank, same thing, angels pair off and get territorial. Next thought was rainbowfish, some very pretty ones, but it appears they appreciate live plants that I do not want to maintain, and I dont like jumpers, never fun to find a fish on the floor...... Back to angelfish and tetras.... (roll eyes at myself)

Someone suggested kribensis.

I am all over the board, even took a look killifish, pretty lil things, but I fear my canister filter is too stong of a current for them?

thanks for any thoughts, opinions,


ETA, I had a blast breeding africans in the past, not up to the calcium build up maintenance now......

 

[Kaliska]

Rainbowfish will do fine without live plants if you add some artificial items. Not many fish like a big empty tank, especially the smaller they are. Rock structures, fake plants, large driftwood structures, or any artificial decorations you like will usually work. Most tetras like a planted tank just as much as rainbowfish. Probably because of their history being some of the first aquarium fish kept in mostly bare tanks with the odd artificial decoration they haven't acquired the same comments about live plants as some of the fish that have recently become more common. Even many of the newer tetras (have you seen emperors?) a lot of people will tell you they benefit from more plants.

You seem to have looked at many of the cichlids. Gouramis can be a good choice for a moderately sized colorful fish but may be shyer than many of the cichlids. They do come in various sizes, aggression levels, and colors. 3 spot which are sold in blue, opaline, and gold and paradise fish are some of the more aggressive and you need to be cautious attempting more than one, paradise fish are easier to tell gender and females can be kept similar to female bettas in groups, or with certain other fish in a 55g. Dwarf gourami, pearl, and honey are medium size gourami that *usually* remain peaceful. Do not mix with cichlids or you increase the odds of aggression.

 

[Greggz]

Having kept Rainbow fish for quite a long time, I'll tell you what I know.

The reason I keep them is that they are colorful, active, not too big, not too small, easy to care for, long lived, but most importantly...........they are peaceful!!

In my much younger days I kept all different kinds of cichlids. After many years I got tired of all the death and destruction. Maybe I've just softened but now I prefer less tension in the tank.

I keep mine with Clown Loaches, Roseline Sharks, and a few Rams (cichlids I know, but they only bother each other).

Do they appreciate a planted tank? I think so. Will they do great without plants? I think so. Maybe low tech planted with just Crypts & Swords?

Now as to jumping, that can be a concern. Of course, that can be a concern with many fish. I have a full canopy, which keeps them in the tank.

 

[wesleydnunder]

+1 Rainbows are beautiful and will keep little ones' attention with all the color and movement. You could have minimal hardscape and no plants and they'll be fine. I'd put about 8 sterbai cories in with them.

Mark

 

[FreshyFresh]

Wild West, you say you could have issues performing maintenance. Are you able to perform weekly water changes of 50% or more? If you can't, I'd concentrate more on stocking that can work with what you're able to support.

 

[Wild West]

Thank you for replies, I really appreciate them!!

 

[Wild West]

Wild West, you say you could have issues performing maintenance. Are you able to perform weekly water changes of 50% or more? If you can't, I'd concentrate more on stocking that can work with what you're able to support.

Thanks, but I am a little confused, why would I need 50% water change once per week? From too many fish in the tank?

 

[Wild West]

Maintenance IS and issue for me... Previous home was 40' surgical tubing on hose reel that I hooked up to laundry sink, no such thing here in new home. Someday I will find a way to attach my knock off python the the new bath sink or new kitchen sink which are close to the aq. For now, the only attachement I can make is the old bathroom, surgical tubing connected to python stretching almost 50' (smh)

Water changes using a bucket, not an option......

 

[FreshyFresh]

Thanks, but I am a little confused, why would I need 50% water change once per week? From too many fish in the tank?

Weekly water changes are needed to keep nitrates <20ppm for most setups. More than 20ppm negatively effects your fish over time. A crowded tank can require a weekly fin-level change or more!

This is why I always suggest gearing your stocking/setup towards a maintenance regimen you can support. Locating your tank so that it's easy for water changes is key too.

 

[fishorama]

If regular maintenance is an issue, I'd go with a lightly stocked tank. Almost anyone can grow java ferns. They attach to wood or rocks, grow slowly & come in a few forms.

Please don't get "a" clown loach, they are shoaling fish that need friends & can grow quite large, 10+ inches!. A 55g would only be a temporary home until they get 5 inches or so in a year or 2. There are several smaller loaches that you could keep in a group of either 6 kubotai (aka angelicus), or 8-10 sidthimunki (dwarf chain) would be my first choice. Zebra loaches are a bit shy IME, cute but harder to find sometimes. Yoyos get a little big & can be semi-aggressive. Kuhlis are interesting to kids, like pretty "worms", but can be more shy than most botias, you could have 6-12. You could stay with Asian fish: pearl gouramis are pretty (1 male & 2-3 female) &. have "feelers" & a big school or rasboras either red tailed or harlequins, you could keep the danios too, if you like them.

I hear you on the breeding thing with cichlids (& live bearers). You can keep a ram or 1 kribensis (I think females are prettier) but then you don't see the fun behaviors either. I have a single angel since his friends died off, he seems ok & much less aggressive now.
I also wouldn't keep angels with gouramis. A group of corys, maybe pearl gouramis or honey (dwarf aren't often healthy, females not usually sold), the usual school of rasboras, cardinal tetras or instead maybe even roseline sharks. They are a tiny bit nervous IME, I had 1 jump from a 75g (but rescued him). A bristle nosed pleco is kind of fun for kids too, sucker mouth &, if male, bristles. You can play find the plec.

As you can see I love bottom feeders but don't get carried away. A BN & corys OR 1 species of loaches. Shrimp are interesting to kids too. The fish "should" keep the population from booming, they often eat baby shrimp if they can. Cichlids & botias (but not kuhlis) can & will hunt adults. Remember, less is easier to maintain, so pick a couple options, not all (remember less fish, less maintenance), lol. Bigger groups of 1 species can be much more interesting than several small. You can play count the schoolers...I still have trouble with that sometimes, lol.

Killies are pretty but some have special needs & for their size, can be aggressive. Do the research & ask us. You probably can aim the filter return or spraybar so the isn't too much current for them (or honey gouramis). There are other interesting options, I have a 55g planted "river tank" with hillstream loaches, gobies & whiteclouds I enjoy but it may not be what you're looking for. Another is a 20 long, all tiny fish & shrimp, can you & your child get up close & personal with your tank? I think those may not be for you but you've got fish experience, it may be time to try something very different!