Cheap easy fish for a 55g?

Kengel

I 55 gallon tank is in my future, I've been looking at piranhas for it, but they appear to me as boring fish because you can't put much else in them. I'm wondering what semi-large fish I could put in a 55 gallon tank. I don't really want any high-maintenance fish either, I have a standard foot-long aerator, I'm wondering if I need a large filter for a 55g and I'm going to pick up a heater. Any suggestions as to what I can fill this tank with, fish or whatnot would be greatly appreciated.

MXS

Giant danios, gouramis, some loaches, anything basically

adiumroot

Three to four fancy Goldfish?

All you need is good filtration and aeration. A large enough sponge filter will probably do both.

They don't need a heater since they're coldwater fish. The tank's gonna be indoors, right? as long as humans are comfortable, I'd say they will be too.

Kengel

Not into Goldfish, the gouramis' look great, would a plecco work here? And I'm realllly new to fish-the few you guys mentioned brought my fish vocabulary up to 10 words probably.

MoneyMitch

plecos go with pretty much anything, maybe oscars are up your alley? they are some of the smartest fish out there, not to mention you can get some really cool looking ones. as far as heater goes DONT CHEAP OUT on these as they are the #1 most important piece of equip in your aquarium. just think if a filter goes no prob since most of the good bac is mostly in the tank and you would notice a bad filter almost right away. they are even more essential than lights. i would go with a shatter proof one theres a few out on the market. the one i currently have is the 250 watt stealth by marineland. i put it into a new tank w/o fish and it brought the water up to temp in about a day or so "very efficent" you could also go with some other type of cichlid as they have some crazy cool colors "stay away from man made colors parrots are infamous for this" hope this helps. Money

as far as cheapest goes dont get me wrong its good but fish are just like any other pet. they require meds conditioners and maitnance just throughly think this through before you commit or youll be out of alot of money and time

MXS

It depends if you want more of a community tank or a species only tank...

Kengel

I'm looking for a community tank, I thought Oscars would dominate anything that went in the tank with them. I'm not going to skimp on keeping them alive, but I'm not dropping $50 per fish. Maybe Oscars, Chichlid and a Plecco? Or would we have behavioral problems?

DragonFish

According to my knowledge, a 55 gallon is too small for an Oscar long term as opposed to popular belief. Several things I've read stated that they require at least 75 gallons, grow fairly quickly.....and you wouldn't be able to keep it with anything else other then perhaps a large Pleco.
However, a Jack Dempsey would work in a 55...much like an Oscar, but slightly smaller. My dad kept one once, very neat fish for sure. Though I don't think you could put much with it either, also like an Oscar....

If your looking for a community, then both the Oscar and Jack are Cichlids you wanna stay away from, that much I know for sure. How large is semi-large to you? Do you plan on planting the tank? Whats the Ph of your tap? Are there any specific fish you have your heart set on?

MoneyMitch

it actually depends on the individual Oscar as they all have their own personalitys (which makes them so great) you could definatly throw in a pleco and maybe another type of cichlid that isnt super aggressive. You could probobly have a better chance with getting diffrent cichlids with the Oscar if you buy them around the same size. oscars are really affordable and are some pretty hardy fish. i used to have (1) in like a 30 a few years back and i had him till he was about 10 inches then i turned around and sold him for like 60$ store credit at the lfs.

Kengel

Been looking it up, Oscars seem like they'd be too big for my tank. Chichlids, Jacks and a Plecco, would they fight?