Stocking Plan for 55 gallon community tank

[FastFreddy]

Hi Everyone! Long time forum browser, new member. Anyway, I'm starting a new 55 gallon freshwater tank and I'd like some advice regarding stocking density. The tank will be a standard 55 gallon tank. It will be filtered by an eheim 2217 canister filter. Modest lighting as it will only be a community tank with fake plants, ornaments etc. The species I plan on stocking are as follows:

Pearl Gourami
Gold Barb
Neon Tetra
Platy
Emperor Tetra or Harlequin Rasbora. (both if space permits)

My tap water parameters are gh 8, ph 7.1

What I'm mainly having a hard time calculating is the approximate number of each species I'll be able to keep in a tank this size. Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[cicrush13]

I would not do more than 2 pearl gouramis.

Are you thinking of breeding the platies?
If not, maybe rethink this fish.

Neons do at least 12, barbs do at least 12.
I would not add a 3rd school before addressing scavengers.

Are you planning on any catfish, shrimp or snails?

 

[lateinningmagic]

Have you checked http://www.aqadvisor.com/ yet? It's not perfect, but its a good place to start.

I would suggest something like:

Pearl Gourami
12 Emperor or Harlequins (I've had the rasboras before, and they're great)
12 Gold Barbs
6-12 of a bottom dweller like a Cory.
Whatever the biggest Pleco I can find for a 55 gallon tank.

 

[tanker]

IMO--- 12 Emperors and 12 Golden barbs together is too much for a 55gal.

I would pick one or the other, then have a school of 12+ neons.

 

[FastFreddy]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I don't believe I'll need any scavengers as this is not a planted tank and I'll be performing weekly gravel vacuums and water changes as well as feeding carefully enough to not worry about too much excess food escaping. Almost everywhere I've read about Pearl Gouramis states that they are best kept in harems of 1 male and 2 females. Thank you for the link to AqAdvisor. It is an excellent tool. This is the proposed stocking for this tank.

3 x Pearl Gourami (1 male 2 females)
6 x Gold Barb (a shoaling species so no need for a large school)
15 x Harlequin Rasbora
15 x Neon Tetra

Let me know what you think.

 

[FastFreddy]

Thank you all for the advice. I had a look at AqAdvisor and it is a very helpful tool. I have taken all of your advice into consideration and this is my updated stockign list

1 Male Gourami (already owned)
6 Gold Barbs (shoaling species so no need for a large school)
12 Neon Tetras
12 Harlequin Rasboras
6 Peppered corydoras

What do you think

 

[tanker]

1 Male Gourami (already owned)
6 Gold Barbs (shoaling species so no need for a large school)
12 Neon Tetras
12 Harlequin Rasboras
6 Peppered corydoras

Looks good to me.

 

[FastFreddy]

Thank you for the feedback, and sorry for the double post. I confused it taking so long to show up with it simply not working :/

 

[cicrush13]

Glad you are adding some cories, they will help keep it clean in between your water changes

 

[rufioman]

Thank you all for the advice. I had a look at AqAdvisor and it is a very helpful tool. I have taken all of your advice into consideration and this is my updated stockign list

1 Male Gourami (already owned)
6 Gold Barbs (shoaling species so no need for a large school)
12 Neon Tetras
12 Harlequin Rasboras
6 Peppered corydoras

What do you think

Missed the post. Looks great!