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Stocking my 55g

5K views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  burnsbabe 
#1 ·
Well my first attempt to cycle my tank didn't go so well, so now I am doing a fishless cycle using pure ammonia. I am looking to turn my soon-to-be cycled tank into a cichlid tank. I may want to try and breed them eventually. I am having trouble deciding on exactly what I should put in there, so I need your help :thumbsup: Also I am going to get all the fish at once and as juveniles so hopefully they will play nice :)

Also I am using an aqueon 55 quietflow filter on one side of my tank and a whisper 40i in tank filter on the other. I have my tank set to 78 degrees. I am using crushed coral as substrate and am going to use reef bone as the base rock in my tank.

Here is what I was thinking so far:
-5 Demasoni

-5 Gold Labs

-5 Red Zebras

-1 Blue crayfish

-Some Shrimp (Haven't decided which ones yet, need help :))
-Some Snails (Must NOT be asexual, I don't want a snail infestation. Neep help with these also)
-Possibly an eel, I need help deciding if I should put one in there or not.
-Possibly a synodontis multipunctatus ( Need opinions for some bottom feeders)


I am open to any and all suggestions as well as choices for other types of cichlids I have overlooked. And if you don't mind I would love you forever if you included a picture with your suggestion :) :)
:cheers:
 
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#2 ·
My first thought is that you're overstocked for a 55g. But then I remembered you're running cichlids so you're probably good. I'd read up on the Syndontis to see if you need a group or not.
 
#3 ·
I read up on the Syndontis and they do like to be schooled up so I would probably end up getting 3 of them if I got any. Maybe I would be better off with a different bottom feeder?
But if I decided to to just get 4 of each Cichlid instead of 5 could I introduce another Cichlid species as well?

And I did some looking around and for snails I am thinking about Nerite snails. There are a couple different types so I will get whatever I can find locally.
As far as shrimp I am looking at red cherry shrimp if I can find them.

But I still want some opinions on an eel in my tank because I'm not sure if it would get along with the other fish, especially the crayfish and shrimp.
And I wouldn't mind adding one more species of Cichlids to my tank if anyone has any ideas
 
#4 ·
I read up on the Syndontis and they do like to be schooled up so I would probably end up getting 3 of them if I got any. Maybe I would be better off with a different bottom feeder?
But if I decided to to just get 4 of each Cichlid instead of 5 could I introduce another Cichlid species as well?

And I did some looking around and for snails I am thinking about Nerite snails. There are a couple different types so I will get whatever I can find locally.
As far as shrimp I am looking at red cherry shrimp if I can find them.

But I still want some opinions on an eel in my tank because I'm not sure if it would get along with the other fish, especially the crayfish and shrimp.
And I wouldn't mind adding one more species of Cichlids to my tank if anyone has any ideas
I'd nix nay on the crayfish. They are known to snap up sleeping fish during the dimlit hours. Your starting out with small cichlids, I woudn't trust that cray, not for a minute!
I'd send you a handful of my RCS but not for this tank. Your cichlids would snap them up faster than you could say, "Jumping Jack Flash".
 
#5 ·
Hmmm I guess I didn't really think about that. Do you think I could put a crayfish in once my fish get a little bigger? Cause I think they are REALLY cool!
Well looks like my shrimp idea got shot down as well.

Could any of you suggest another cool species of cichlid?
 
#6 ·
I actually did a good deal of research about that a few months ago. It is possible to keep a crayfish once they are grown up, but it is not ideal since the crayfish will get in fights with the fish, and will likely loose some legs and other body parts.... it can and has been done though, but it is not ideal
 
#7 ·
I'm a little late getting back to the party, but I did feel like it needed to be said. I'd stick with the three species you have planned for now. If things look good in a while, you might be able to go with one more species.

But my knowledge on the lake cichlids is only second hand. Never can be too careful.
 
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