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Stocking Plans for a 55 Gallon

2K views 8 replies 3 participants last post by  DJMonty 
#1 ·
Hello, everyone.

I've drafted up a few plans for stocking my 55 Gallon. Could you please inform me as to whether I'd be overstocked, understocked, just right, and any issues I may have? Thanks.

Plan 1

4 Hong Kong Plecos
21 Black Neon Tetras

Green Cabomba
Twisted Vallis
Dwarf Hairgrass
Orchid Lily
LOTS of driftwood
Sand Substrate

Temp: 73-75
pH: 6.2-7.2



Plan 2

10-14 Albino Black Widow Tetras
10-14 Regular Black Widow Tetras
8 Pitbull Plecos

Java Moss
Dwarf Hygrophila
Giant Ambulia
Sagittaria platyphylla
LOTS of driftwood
Sand Substrate

Tank Temperature: 68-79F
Tank pH: 5.8-8.5

Plan 3

3 Porthole Catfish
8 Panda Corydoras
2 Longfin BN Plecos
2 Twig Catfish

Java Moss
Dwarf Hygrophila
Giant Ambulia
Sagittaria platyphylla
Green Cabomba
Twisted Vallis
Dwarf Hairgrass
Orchid Lily
LOTS of driftwood
Sand Substrate

Tank temp: 72-76F
Tank pH: 7.0-7.2


Plan 3

2 Angelfish (breeding pair)


Twisted Vallis
Orchid Lily
Java Moss
Java Fern
Amazon Swords
A few roots/branch type driftwood.
Sand Substrate

Tank Temp: 79-82F
Tank pH: 6.8-7.0


Which of these tanks are overstocked? If I breed Angels, what other fish can be put in there, if any? What species would you replace in what plan, and what would you replace them with? What stocking levels would you recommend?
 
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#3 ·
only concern i'd have is with plan three (the first one). it looks like that one is only bottom feeders. that is a lot of fish for one layer. you may want to swap some of these out for upper fish.
 
#5 ·
i'm not positive you'd have issues, but i know some kinds of plecos can get territorial, i'm just not sure which ones exactly. and since plecos get several inches at full grown, they tend to need good sized territories.
 
#6 ·
I'll touch on a few issues that stand out to me. Only thinking of the fish here.

Plan 1. The Hong Kong pleco, which is not a pleco but a hillstream loach, requires cool water (temperate, room temp max) and a strong current; fairly direct or bright light is necessary to promote algae which is a necessary food. These limit tankmates severely. Warm water tropicals are out, as are those preferring quieter water movement, or bright light. Most forest fish (tetra and other characins, rasbora, other catfish) would not do well in such conditions. Some possible tankmates would be some of the barbs, check those included in our fish profiles. The Hillstream Loach is also in the profiles.

Plan 2. The "pitbull pleco" is presumably Parotocinclus jumbo, a species very closely related to Otocinclus. So it needs a very quiet tank, well planted, minimal water movement. The tetra are fine with this. And there is lots of room for many other fish. The water params are critical, as this fish will be wild caught and needs soft water with a slightly acidic to slightly basic pH, say 6.0 to low 7's max.

Plan 3 (first). All substrate, but given the species I don't see issues in a 55g. But upper fish would be advisable. Substrate fish frequently "hide" a lot with nothing above them, corys in particular.

Plan 4. You asked about tankmates for the angels. Several are possible, characins including tetra in the Rosy clade of Hyphessobrycon are usually good, just avoid a couple species that will nip fins. Hatchetfish, especially in this case the larger species in Gasteropelecus or Thoracocharax. Substrate fish that are small and peaceful, say corys. However, when spawning, this can be an issue. Substrate fish are usually nocturnal or semi-nocturnal, and will likely get the eggs or the fry at night.

Byron.
 
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#7 ·
Thanks a bunch, Byron. I'm still spoiled for choice with these plans. I don't know whether I'd rather have a display, or have just a pair of angels. I'd make money from the fry, but I'd get more pleasure out of a display...


If I edit plan 3 (the first) to the following, would I be okay for stocking and aggression?

10-14 Albino Black Widow Tetra
10-14 Black Widow Tetra
3 Porthole Catfish
8 Panda Corydoras
2 Longfin BN Plecos
2 Twig Catfish
4 Pitbull Plecos
Java Moss
Dwarf Hygrophila
Giant Ambulia
Sagittaria platyphylla
Green Cabomba
Twisted Vallis
Dwarf Hairgrass
Orchid Lily
LOTS of driftwood
Sand Substrate

Tank temp: 72-76F
Tank pH: 7.0-7.2


Basically combining the second and third plans.
 
#8 ·
Thanks a bunch, Byron. I'm still spoiled for choice with these plans. I don't know whether I'd rather have a display, or have just a pair of angels. I'd make money from the fry, but I'd get more pleasure out of a display...


If I edit plan 3 (the first) to the following, would I be okay for stocking and aggression?

10-14 Albino Black Widow Tetra
10-14 Black Widow Tetra
3 Porthole Catfish
8 Panda Corydoras
2 Longfin BN Plecos
2 Twig Catfish
4 Pitbull Plecos
Java Moss
Dwarf Hygrophila
Giant Ambulia
Sagittaria platyphylla
Green Cabomba
Twisted Vallis
Dwarf Hairgrass
Orchid Lily
LOTS of driftwood
Sand Substrate

Tank temp: 72-76F
Tank pH: 7.0-7.2


Basically combining the second and third plans.
Fish are basically fine. Bear in mind that the Black Widow Tetra species (black or white, still the same species) can be fin nippy, especially with sedate fish, so if angelfish are still "possible" I would not have this tetra. Same holds for gourami, and any fish with long fins. Other tetra are sometimes nipped too.
 
#9 ·
Thanks, Byron. I'm guessing the longfin BNs are out, then. The catfish are going to be revised and replaced countless times before I am actually 100% sure of the species I want. The bioloads will be around the same, though.

And the Angelfish are still possible, but they'd be kept in a tank of their own, for breeding purposes.
 
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