Suggestions for 55 Gal

thespiff

Hello all,

I was a regular browser of these forums back when I was new to the hobby, but haven't been here since my tanks became fully stocked and stable. For Christmas I got a new standard shaped 55 Gal tank as an upgrade for my 29 Gal long, and now I'm looking for stocking advice.

This is going to be a planted tank (Flourite substrate, 2x 55W lights from AH Supply, DIY CO2) pretty much the same as the tank it is replacing.

Since this is a replacement tank (Not an additional tank. By sheer willpower I will break down the old tank and sell it once the new one is up and running) some of the fish are pre-determined.

I have a Synodontis Eupterus, a pair of Bosemani Rainbows, a pair of Green Swordtails, a Pearl Gourami and 6 Oto's which will make the (much needed) move from the 29 Gal. My Leopard Sailfin Pleco (L083/L165) will also be joining the ranks from another tank.

I'm looking for something decent sized and showy with a bit of personality to it to round out the tank. I was thinking maybe a knifefish of some sort, but I feel like it would be too timid and low-level swimming, and I've already got some big mean catfish at the bottom. I saw a few varieties of Geophagus at my LFS, I was thinking maybe a trio of those would be cool. But I'm not sure if their needs are compatible with my tank.

Anyone have any fish suggestions or advice on the ones I mentioned?

Thanks!

fishman09

could get some sort of shark

InsaneoMan

maybe a gourami of some sort?

Tyyrlym

A shark is a bad idea, the tank is too small fora bala and a rainbow, albino, or Red Fin will want to stake out a territory on the bottom which will end poorly for someone in that tank, probably the shark. The only gourami I might add would be another pearl of the opposite sex of the existing one. Pearl Gourami's can be laid back but I still wouldn't add more than one male to the tank and probably not more than one female. Geophagi (?) are sediment sifters, which means they'll be trolling around the bottom of the aquarium and you probably don't want that.

I'd probably add more rainbow's myself, there are quite a few varieties.

thespiff

Yeah, I know, I was thinking about adding several rainbows. That was going to be my fallback if I couldn't come up with a better idea.

aunt kymmie

I know that Jeaninel keeps rainbows with congos and that combo looks really nice, imo. I was just looking at her tank yesterday...

Sucidemonkey

How about a Male electric blue ahili!

They are Very active fish. (mine follows my fingers)

I can get mine to play with a pingpong ball its really funny.

Mine likes to try to eat feeder fish. notice try. He cant excatly Catch them correctly.
He eats basicly anything. And is a very beautiful fish. He isnt that agressive.

Then again i dont know much about fish Matching

thespiff

SuicideMonkey,

A very cool fish indeed, and someday when I do an African Rift Lake Cichlid tank I will probably have a few. But I don't think I can make my tank into a habitat that is comfortable for both him and the fish I already own.

I think I'll probably just go with the Rainbows. That is, if I can ever stock this thing. I got it up and running Sunday, rinsed the heck out of 2 bags of flourite, dumped it in, and I've had mud colored water ever since. It doesn't look like it'll clear until at least this weekend. And I still have to migrate the flourite from my 30 gal, which will make a mess all over again. The difference is that when I move that, the fish will need to go too. New tanks are a lot of work.

onefish2fish

black substrate,black background,live plants,big school of neon tetras,cherry red shrimp

willow

that sounds beautifull. !!