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My Ideas for a 55 Gallon..Input please!

2K views 16 replies 5 participants last post by  CinBos 
#1 ·
This weekened I will be picking up a 55 Gallon Aquarium with Stand and Emperor 400 Filter. I am pretty stoked about this, because I already have my 125 Gallon with my larger/predator cichlids, and I want to create a biotope of smaller peaceful cichlids.

Here are my ideas for what I am looking at:

Inhabitant:
3-4 Angelfish (Will wait till 2 pair off and then I will move the others)
3-4 Rams (Not sure which type I want yet)
3-4 Oto Catfish
10-12 Neon Tetra (Want a cool schooling fish to accent the tank and angels)

Plants and Decor:
Amazon Swords
Water Sprite and Wisteria
Pygmy Chain Swords
Java Moss
Scattered Driftwood or Single Centerpiece driftwood
Maybe some Anubias (But I want to keep this aquarium to a specific Biotope)

Fertilization:
Seachem Flourish Comprehensize

Filteration:
Modified Marineland Emperor 400 (Modified just as the one is in the library)

Background:
Painted Flat Black

Substrate:
Not sure where I want to go with this yet...ANY IDEAS? Currently using pool filter sand for my 125 Gallon, wasn't sure if there is something better out there.

Lighting:
Blue and White LEDs with a Dimmer!

This is where I am at right now. So what do you all think? Any Ideas or maybe some direction of where I should go with it?
 
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#3 · (Edited)
Yes. Seen and read about many tank setups having the combo. Rams are one of the most peaceful cichlids, and they both actually come from the same biotope.
 
#4 ·
I would select a different characin than neon tetra, as these are quite likely to be eaten by angelfish. Linear fish should be avoided, and instead go with the disk-shaped tetrta like the Rosy Tetra, Roberts Tetra, etc in Hyhessobrycon. The two I've mentioned wll add some colour, which you mention wantng. Obviously avoid any nippers, like the Serpae in this same genus.

On the substrate, if you want to re-create the Amazon, use play sand. The Quikrete tan [actually a mix of black, tan, white and gray] that Home Depot and Lowe's carry is almost identical to the sand in Amazonia. And substrate fish like corys will feel right at home.

Byron.
 
#6 ·
I will be looking into that sand.

Also, would cardinal tetras do? What is the huge different between neon and cardinal tetras? They almost look identical to me.
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#5 ·
Rams and angels can live together but they must be introduced at the same time otherwise it can cause issues.

Agree with everything else that has been said and the stocking looks good.
 
#7 ·
I will introduce them at the same time then. I will try introducing 2 of each at first, and then I will introduce the rest 3 or 4 days from then. I dont want to stress the bioload too much. Also, I think it will help with all the plants and excess media from my 125gal to help kick start the cycling...or what little cycling I will need done. I have plenty of swords and wisteria and water sprite to throw in when I get it up in running.
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#8 ·
Also is it essential to ensure I have a pair by placing 4-6 angels in the aquarium at first, or can I just throw 2 or 3 in there? Not sure if I care too much about creating a pair at this point.
 
#9 ·
The only difference I see with the neon and the cardinals is that the cardinals have a full red stripe on their belly tail to nose, and the neons red stripe only goes half way tail to middle of belly. They are both beautiful little fish. My hubby is legally blind and he can watch these colourful fish in the tank. I chose the cardinals. Due to the full red belly.
I have 20 cardinal tetra's in my 55g with my 5 angels. No problems at all. My angels are only 8 months old though.
 
#10 ·
This is what I am think about doing as well. Could you post a pic of your school of tetras. Curious to see how they all look in your 55gal.

I guess now all I need to figure out is a little more about the eco-complete for my plants.

Could I place eco-complete under my sand substrate?
 
#11 ·
Picking up the questions from the last three posts.

On the cardinals, these too may get eaten. Linear fish means those shaped like a torpedo or cigar, such as neon, cardinal, glowlight, rummy, etc. Disk-shaped includes the ones I mentioned earlier, Rosy, Roberts, Bleeding Heart, etc. Just avoid the fin nippers. As for the two species, have a read of our profile of both species which goes into the relationship of the 4 "neon" tetra species. These fish, all in the genus Paracheirodon now, have some specific requirements.

On the introduction of the angelfish and rams, they must go in together (for each species). Select your angelfish, and buy them at the same time, and get roughly the same-sized fish. No less than 4, ever, because with just 2 or 3 there is a very high risk than one will become a bully and the others will be harassed too much. Having 4 or better yet 5 spreads this out more.

With rams, you want to buy bonded pairs, always. Both ram species select their own mates, and will not accept any other fish. In the store tank it is usually easy to see bonded pairs. When you do, buy both of those fish, and get both pairs at the same time. I can explain further if asked.

Byron.
 
#12 ·
Picking up the questions from the last three posts.

On the cardinals, these too may get eaten. Linear fish means those shaped like a torpedo or cigar, such as neon, cardinal, glowlight, rummy, etc. Disk-shaped includes the ones I mentioned earlier, Rosy, Roberts, Bleeding Heart, etc. Just avoid the fin nippers. As for the two species, have a read of our profile of both species which goes into the relationship of the 4 "neon" tetra species. These fish, all in the genus Paracheirodon now, have some specific requirements.

On the introduction of the angelfish and rams, they must go in together (for each species). Select your angelfish, and buy them at the same time, and get roughly the same-sized fish. No less than 4, ever, because with just 2 or 3 there is a very high risk than one will become a bully and the others will be harassed too much. Having 4 or better yet 5 spreads this out more.

With rams, you want to buy bonded pairs, always. Both ram species select their own mates, and will not accept any other fish. In the store tank it is usually easy to see bonded pairs. When you do, buy both of those fish, and get both pairs at the same time. I can explain further if asked.

Byron.
I understand regarding the tetras, though I think I may try it out anyways. Not sure if this is going against my better judgement, just want to try out the biotope theme, with some more appealing fish.

As for the angels...I need to introduce 5 all at once.

And the Rams, always buy the 2 rams that look to be pairs in the store tank. So I figure I will do this twice, since I am looking at 4 total rams in my aquarium. I have read that Rams will pair and never leave each other. They will never pair with another ram if they already have one. The seem to be very loyal fish...from what I have read.
 
#15 ·
Is it fairly easy to keep a breeding pair Angels? I just dont want to have to worry about the other tankmates when they do breed. This would be the main reason I dont care at the moment. But if a breeding pair is not too demanding, then I will not mind, if I end up with a pair.
 
#16 ·
Is it fairly easy to keep a breeding pair Angels? I just dont want to have to worry about the other tankmates when they do breed. This would be the main reason I dont care at the moment. But if a breeding pair is not too demanding, then I will not mind, if I end up with a pair.
It has been many years since I had breeding angelfish, and then they were on their own. They can be very good parents, though often not until they have tried several times--with commercially-raised angels it is interesting that the first few spawnings often get eaten either as eggs or fry [wild angels do not do this, unless stressed]. Other fish in the tank may cause them to eat the eggs/fry, the thinking seems to be that if the spawn is to be lost it might as well be to their advantage as food.

Depending upon the temperament of the individual angels, other fish in the tank may find it annoying. In a 4-foot tank it is usual to see the angels spawning at one end, and the male keeping all other fish in the opposite half of the tank. At night things change, and nocturnal fish such as any catfish have an easy time of devouring eggs/fry.

Byron.
 
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