Ideas for a 55g tank?

[bazil323]

Hey, all, I'm relatively new to this forum. I'm a regular on www.thepufferforum.com, but now I need advice for freshwater, non-puffers . I'm going to be getting a 55 gallon tank soon, but I want to plan ahead so that I can get ready now. Hubby might be getting it for my for our anniversary (October 6) or if I find a great deal on a complete set-up (tank, hood, lights, stand) it may be sooner.

1. Substrate will be sand (preferably dark or black.)
2. I want a plecostomus but I'm not sure what kind to get (too many options, but Zebras, sailfins and Queen Arabesque are examples of what I like)
3. Hubby wants a shoal of cardinal tetras (10-20).
4. I don't really want the common, everyday, same-old, same-old tank. Preferably no barbs, rasboras, tetras (except cardinals for hubby).
5. Gouramis, angels, kribs are examples of the fish I like.
6. The fish I get will be in there for the rest of their lives, so they must be compatible with each other as well as not outgrow the tank.
7. Plants will be mostly fake, but I will probably have some real ones (java moss, java fern, maybe some vals?)
8. I will have lots of "caves" made of rocks or flowerpots, driftwood (I have a piece of mopani wood already too), maybe some other decor like sunken ships or castles.

I already have the filter and heater for it. Also, I will use filter media from my other freshwater tanks and possibly Bio-Spira to cycle it.

:help: I'd rather have suggestions for a complete stocking, but any suggestion is welcome. I will be doing research on any suggestions you make as well as research on my own. If I come up with something, I will post it. Thanks ahead of time!!!

 

[jm1212]

it sounds like a good plan, but sailfins and queens get to big for your tank. clown, rubberlip, and bristlenose plecos are all better choices.

angels will eat cardinals, so try some pearl gouramis and bolivian rams.

 

[bazil323]

I know Zebra plecs are waaaay too expensive for me, and Sailfins definitely get too big. I was just listing them as examples so you have an idea of what I like. I don't like bushynose plecs.

Would gouramis (I haven't seen pearl gouramis around me) and kribs work together?

 

[jpappy789]

Depends.

If you end up with a pair and they breed the gourami would be pushed around and possibly bullied to death. I see nothing wrong with a single krib with a pearl gourami though.

 

[DAVIDFBT]

If you can't find Pearl Gouramies, Honeys do fine in a community set-up too.

 

[Lupin]

I doubt kribs will harass gouramis in a 55g. A 55g is too spacious and gouramis don't usually go down to the bottom. Provide the gouramis floating plants.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

A couple ideas... L129 Pleco instead of a true Zebra. Very cool looking fish and WAY more affordable, see below.

If you like Gourami and Cichlids... check out the Festivum Cichlid. Similar shape to gourami and peaceful (for a cichlid) with alot of personality.

 

[ciaobella7122]

For a 55 I would do a community of honey gourami (my personal faveerv and definitely a school of cardinale tetra (just got my first and they are gorgeous!). For a centerpiece I'd probably do two dwarf (or other colorful) gouramis or maybe two angels (just be careful as they get nippy). As for the pleco, a lot of them are expensive or get too big so maybe you'd be interested in a school of cories instead. They are so cute and they don't bother anyone. Also corydoras clean up all waste product in tanks whereas the plecos generally only take care of algae. They look really beautiful when schooling and they look awesome if you do two or three different schools when they all come together! Hope that helps and can't wait to see what you end up doing! We want pics when you're done! Good luck

 

[derekp]

you could get some praecox or threadfin rainbows, with some rams or apistos, and cories for the bottom

and whats wrong with bushynose plecos? They are algae eating machines.

 

[bazil323]

I don't really want to get corys; I have a soft spot for plecs as I had one when I was a kid (common plec). Derekp, I just don't like the appearance of that "bushy" nose. I don't really care about algae; I can scrape it off myself if needed. I just really like certain plecs. I want a plec with a shape similar to the common but with a really cool, defined pattern and that doesn't get too big for my tank.

The L129 looks pretty cool, and I should be able to have 2!

The gouramis I've seen around here are Dwarf Gouramis (flame, blue, etc), Blue Gouramis, Kissing Gouramis (pink & silver).

Also, I'm kind of thinking of getting GloFish instead of cardinal tetras. The reason I was going to go with cardinals is that hubby thought the look pretty and they are bigger than neons, so there is less chance of them getting eaten. However, cardinals really don't get that much bigger, so I'm a little nervous about getting them. GloFish are also really pretty and will look really cool against the black sand. Plus the should get about 2.5", so that will greatly decrease the chance of loss to predation.