New Tanks

[KKona21599]

I've had fish for about 5 years now so I'm not really a newbie but up until now all I have had was a 20 gallon tank so stocking a larger tank is uncharted territory for me.

The new 55 gallon tank currently has an 8" L21 common pleco and two recently acquired pearl gouarmis (1 gorgeous male from one lfs, 1 female from a different lfs). The two females I found appeared to have been picked on before they were traded into the lfs (one I could not nurse back to health and she died shortly after I brought her home) but the remaining female appears to have made a full recovery...so much so that the male is convinced it's time to spawn but so far has been unsuccessful in building a nest. I also have an 8" featherfin synodontis that is currently alone in the 20 but she will also go in the 55. (Anyone know the age of sexual maturity for featherfins? I thought it was a he that was constipated so I cut way back on food and gave it peas but it's behavior and eating have stayed normal this whole time so I'm thinking it's a she that has eggs?) The pleco and syno were probably the very first fish I got and have been together with blue gouramis, tiger barbs, and a red tail shark with no problem. I was thinking of adding 2 more pearls, 2 golds, 2 blues, and 2 opalines (all female). What do you guys think of this combination? I know, kinda bland having all the same type of fish, but gouramis are easy and I've always liked having them. I have read some things that say groups of trichogaster trichopterus don't get along with each other but it's been so long since I've had them that I don't remember. I have also considered panda barbs. What do you guys think? Any other suggestions on stocking?

I am completely starting over with the 20 gallon tank and I want to make it a danio tank with 4 zebras, 3 turquoise, 3 leopard, and 3 gold zebras. I would like to have a pleco like a LDA67 clown or three LDA25 pitbulls but will this cause the tank to be overstocked? I have no previous experience with danios so I don't know what their bioload is. (I started with 6 but one died from internal injuries when it got sucked up in the bottom of a sponge filter so no more filter for now and the other one that died was never quite right.) I do have driftwood for the 20 if I get a fish that requires it and rock & wood ornaments that can create lots of hiding places.

I know it's a lot of questions but I would really appreciate your opinions. Thanks!

 

[7itanium]

I think your on the right track with most things.. aside from 2 things

1- 13 danios is a bit much for a 20g tank

2- the pleco is fine in the 55 right now.. but be advised that he may need rehoming as he will get HUGE

 

[67chevelle]

I have only kept single dwarf gourami and never had much luck with them so I can't really comment on your 55.
Your 20 sounds fine to me.13 danios is not too many for a 20.Schooling fish do better in larger numbers,20 gallons is enough water for them,and the bio filter should not have any problems with the waste from them.If you go with a clown pleco it will need some wood in the tank.They are nocturnal and very shy,I hardly ever see the one I have.I look in the cave he stays in when I do weekly water changes to make sure he is ok.Mine has stayed very small,probably 3 inches at the most,and I have had him for about 18 months now.A group of 3 pitbulls would be fine too.They are much better algae eaters than clowns,and are not nearly as shy.

 

[KKona21599]

Thanks for the info. I will be graduating college in a year and am hoping I'll be able to afford a huge tank then but I know I will have to find a new home for my pleco if I can't afford a tank that large. I felt so guilty having it in the 20 then when I was able to afford the 55 it took months for any nitrite to appear even though I was introducing ammonia into the tank.

I'm not too concerned with having a couple too many danios since my aquaball filter does such a great job of cleaning the tank and I do keep up on water changes. I recently bought it to replace a hang on filter and it has made worlds of difference. I have 20 or so pounds of Top Fin "Polished Pebbles" left over from the 55 gallon tank that I was going to use but should I find something a little more fine for the pitbull plecos since they like to bury themselves?

Is there anywhere online I can get pearl gouramis that will let me request just females? The lfs says most of the time they can't get pearls. The male is slowly but surely building a bubble nest in full breeding color and the female is quite plump with some color developing on her chest but I don't know if anything will come of it after just 2 1/2 weeks of having them.