[Unlimited13]

Just bought a 55 gallon aquarium, and had it set up for about 3 weeks now. Got it fully cycled already using material from my old 10 gallon aquarium. I'm looking for advice on stocking it. Currently, I have: 6 cory cats 2 angelfish 1 red tail shark 1 Rhino pleco Looking to get 2 more angelfish. I have 2 emperor 400s for filtration, and a aerator.

 

[fashionfobie]

I got the impression that red-tail sharks can harass cories. I personally don't have experience with red-tail sharks, but this is something I have read more than once.

 

[Freshcatch]

Just bought a 55 gallon aquarium, and had it set up for about 3 weeks now. Got it fully cycled already using material from my old 10 gallon aquarium. I'm looking for advice on stocking it. Currently, I have: 6 cory cats 2 angelfish 1 red tail shark 1 Rhino pleco Looking to get 2 more angelfish. I have 2 emperor 400s for filtration, and a aerator.

First off... Welcome to the Forum. :razz: You have good and bad news with your current setup. Your filtration is great for your tank size, but your stocking is already over the recommended amount for your size tank. Also the Pleco can grow to over 10 inches, and is not suitable for the tank. You would be much better off with one of the dwarf Pleco species. If you rehomed the pleco, you could go with 2 more Angelfish, and you would be right at capacity for your tank.

 

[Unlimited13]

First off... Welcome to the Forum. :razz: You have good and bad news with your current setup. Your filtration is great for your tank size, but your stocking is already over the recommended amount for your size tank. Also the Pleco can grow to over 10 inches, and is not suitable for the tank. You would be much better off with one of the dwarf Pleco species. If you rehomed the pleco, you could go with 2 more Angelfish, and you would be right at capacity for your tank.

Do you know if the pet store would take him back if I just bought him? The guy there told me he has had his rhino pleco for years, and it never grew over 8 inches. Although, a 10" pleco would be kind of cool too. .:lol:

 

[Freshcatch]

Do you know if the pet store would take him back if I just bought him? The guy there told me he has had his rhino pleco for years, and it never grew over 8 inches. Although, a 10" pleco would be kind of cool too. .:lol:

Each pet store has their own policies about taking fish back. Some do and will give you your money back, and some will only give you store credit, and some will not. I would ask them if they would, that is the only way you will know. A 10 inch Pleco would look COOL!

 

[Unlimited13]

Just called the pet store, and they do not take back live fish. . . If i was to take out 2 or 3 cory cats, you think I could add the angelfish? The tank looks so empty at the moment.

 

[fashionfobie]

This might be a useful tool for you to check out too. It is at least a nice guideline.

AqAdvisor - Intelligent Freshwater Tropical Fish Aquarium Stocking Calculator and Aquarium Tank/Filter Advisor

I would not break up the cories. They are very social and shouldn't be kept in groups that are fewer than 6.

I hope this helps!

 

[ANGELFISH GUY]

Stocking

first of all, alot of people on here get WAY too technical about stocking parameters. in my 55 Gal i have 5 angels, 7 marble hatchets, a male beta, 3 corys, 2 SAE,and a gold nugget pleco, and about 50 ghost shrimp. the tank is moderately planted and has lots of driftwood. the main concern on stocking lots of fish is how much maintenance your willing to do. i do 20% WC once a week and a 45% every month. its time consuming but with the amount of fish i have in my tank, in order to keep good water quality thats what it takes. and dont ask me my water parameters because i havent checked them in 3 years. LOL take it slow on stocking, dont shock your tank or the other fish, get lots of maintenance fish!!! corys, SAE, Nitrate Snails, shrimp. im going to add a group of 10 jumbo Cardinals to this tank next week. take your time and experiment.

 

[ANGELFISH GUY]

Oh and one other thing.............get rid of the red tailed shark.......cool fish, but a serious tank bully. every time i set up a new tank i put one in and i always end up trading it in at the LFS!

 

[Unlimited13]

GOOD NEWS... found a store to take my Rhino Pleco back. Picked up an Inspector Pleco, and 2 other Angelfish. I'm guessing the Inspector pleco is the same thing as a Snowball Pleco?? About the Red Tailed Shark. . He is a HUGE bully, only if there are other fish in the aquarium that look just like him. I had a black Molly in there, and he chased it 24/7, and ended up having to separate them. Ended up setting up my old 10 gallon tank, and putting my molly in there. He gets a long great with the other fish in my tank. Too cool looking to get rid of! IMO

 

[ZivaD]

What is the current size of your redtail? He may be behaving himself now, but that doesn't mean he won't change as he matures/grows - especially since you have already seen aggression towards the one molly. Unless you have had him prior to getting this new tank you have only had him for three weeks at the longest, and seen aggression in just that short time. Being cool looking is not a good enough reason to keep incompatible fish, jmo.

 

[Freshcatch]

GOOD NEWS... found a store to take my Rhino Pleco back. Picked up an Inspector Pleco, and 2 other Angelfish. I'm guessing the Inspector pleco is the same thing as a Snowball Pleco?? About the Red Tailed Shark. . He is a HUGE bully, only if there are other fish in the aquarium that look just like him. I had a black Molly in there, and he chased it 24/7, and ended up having to separate them. Ended up setting up my old 10 gallon tank, and putting my molly in there. He gets a long great with the other fish in my tank. Too cool looking to get rid of! IMO

That's a great fish. They usually don't exceed 4 inches in length and can be some very nice patterns. Hypancistrus inspector is called a Snowball Pleco.

 

[Unlimited13]

Had the RTS for about 6 months now. Anyone know anything about caring for the Inspector? Says he's carnivorous. . I'm just worried my cory cats are going to eat any food that I might put in for my pleco at night.