Need ideas stocking two tanks

[Vincenia]

I’m currently cycling two of my old tanks, the third is already cycled and has fish. The 55g (originally was going to be for African cichlids, but changed mind, tamk is a bit on the small side) and the 20g Long. It’s been a while since I kept fish, about a year or so. After a hard time thinking of stock lists of these two tanks.

I want to have angels again, loved my old angel I had in my 37g a few years ago. I do know angels do and will eat small fish that can fit in their mouth, and can be aggressive at times.

Stock for 55g, (may change, as it cycles)
1-2 angels
1 rainbow shark(just a thought)
10+ Black Neon Tetras or Cardinal tetras
4-6 corydoras, not sure of what kind

Stock for 20g long (may change as well)
1-2 pearl Gourami or pair of kribs
8-10 Harlequin rasboras or tetras
4-6 otos

Any ideas or suggestions? Anything helpful?

 

[tanker]

55gal, nice, but IMO, Rainbow sharks will be too aggressive for that stock. Maybe add another school of tetras?
20gal, Otos like a very established tank and 4-6 maybe too many initially.

 

[myswtsins]

Agree rainbow shark may be too aggressive but love the rest of the stocking, would just bump up the tetras and cories schools. Black neons are a great choice with angels and one of my fav tetras, they will be fell safest with a bigger group especially when the angels breed and the cories also will appreciate a bigger group and the angels won't bother with them really.

Agree that otos needs a very established aquarium. Kribs might not tolerate the Otos when breeding. May I suggest honey gouramis? Feels like a better fit for the tank size/space and stocking.

 

[Vincenia]

I’ve kept rainbow sharks before, never seen any aggression from them. Kept them with my old angel and black neons before, only issue is that they jump.
I can up the school to 15 or so Black Neons, as they are one of my favorite fish to keep. Also kept them with angels once before, so I know theres no issues there. I think I can get away with 8 corydoras or so.


For the 20 I could do a pair of bolivan rams or a pair of GBR instead of the kribs. I can swap out the otos for 2-3 South American bumblebee catfish, which is another fish I love.

 

[Tifftastic]

The GBR or bolivians are going to be just as aggressive with bottom dwellers when spawning as kribs will be. I really like the idea of honey gouramis, so I am going to second them.

 

[Vincenia]

My water is a bit to hard for rams to breed. I already have a Gourami in another tank with tiger barbs, not sure if I want another with a gourami as a centerpiece. I know with the bumblebee catfish, they hide and rarely come out, nothing really bothers them.

 

[Tifftastic]

I wouldn't count fully on that. Why not a single ram or krib for a centerpiece? Or a school of something nice like threadfin rainbows?

 

[Vincenia]

I could do a single Krib instead of a pair, that way I don’t have to deal with them spawning. I’m going to swap out the rasboras for serape tetras instead. Harlequins are hard to come by around me lately.

20g long stock: seems more reasonable
1 kribensis
10-12 serape tetras
2-3 bumblebee catfish
Maybe a snail or two.

55g stock:
2 angels
15 Black Neons
8 panda corys
1 clown or bristlenose pleco

Both tanks have plenty of hiding places for all fish. Working on adding plants first then fish. Tanks are halfway through their cycles. One I seeded the filter, while the other was a new filter.

 

[myswtsins]

Sounds better! Only suggestion is to stick closer to 10 serpae and add more like 6 bumblebees. They are pretty shy in general so a bigger group really helps. I like where this is headed, pictures or it didn't happen.

 

[Tifftastic]

I like the new stock lists! Looking forward to seeing pictures!