55 Community! Stocking ?/ suggestions?

[Dark_Rider2k3]

Tomorrow I will be going out to the LFS to get some supplies to clean the tank (the API stuff if they have it, and a good scraper). While I am there, I want to check out their fish, and am just curious what fish you'd suggest?

I will be moving my white clouds (6x currently) and Otocinclus (3x currently) into this tank (as I'll use my 20-gallon for my betta who is currently in a 2.5gallon that is too small for him).

I will most likely get more otocinclus, but what else would go good? I thought about glowlite tetras, but then I also thought about cichlids (but i don't know what their needs are.. i just saw them and thought they looked amazing).

my LFS posted this link that I was using to pick out some fish, so tell me if it's wrong:

http://elmersaquarium.com/c106community2.htm

they have a lot of different "community" tank suggestions, and a lot of the fish on there seem neat (though i know i can't have them all lol).

So the more I write this, the more I'm thinking:

White clouds
Otocinclus
Cherry Barb
Mollies
(maybe) african frog

could I add any more, or is that pretty much good?

Thanks a lot everyone!!

[MissMTS]

In a 55 gallon tank, you could do a lot of different things. That is really a nice size! I would do the following stocking scheme if you wanted to use the fish listed above:
6 White Clouds (9 inches)
6 Otos (9 inches)
6 Mollies (18 inches- don't get sailfins because they get bigger)
6 Cherry Barbs (12 inches)
That leaves you about 7 inches to spare. With this mix you could maybe throw in a single angel fish (I don't know if it will eat your white clouds though), or a BN Pleco. You could also maybe do a pair of small apistos if you like dwarf cichlids. You should check out the fishlore homepage for more profiles on different kinds of fish. Remember to stock slowly so that you don't get an ammonia spike. Mayble try 6 fish per week and keep testing your levels to make sure you don't go into a mini cycle.

[Dark_Rider2k3]

haha that was exactly what I was looking at (6 fish each).

I was also thinking of a fish that could "stand out".. i forget what it's called but you know what i mean.. Hopefully someone can give tips about angel fish.. i'll also check on the Pleco

I'm also going to pick up Bio-Spira, so (and please correct me if I'm wrong) i should be able to add them all in when it's set up.

I'm so excited though LOL!!

[MissMTS]

A fish that can stand out is commonly called a Showcase Fish. Gouramis are beautiful too. I especially like the pearls. An angelfish would do great. I have three angels and they will get along fine with all of those fish. They just tend to eat smaller fish like neons when they get bigger. You may have good luck if you get a really young angel and let him grow up with the other fish around. IMO, angels are great showcase fish.

[Dark_Rider2k3]

ahhh okay now I know what they are called...

I was searching for Angelfish and wow.. this one is beautiful:



I also like this gourami:



man.. decisions, decisions..

[MissMTS]

That is a Platinum Angelfish. I have one and I love it! That would make a very pretty showcase fish

[Dark_Rider2k3]

Yeah that's what I want.. it's soooo beautiful!

I'm going to go to 3 diff. LFS's (Petco, Pet supplies plus, Elmer's Aquarium center) and see what they have.. I never really looked @ their angel fish but I will tomorrow!

[MissMTS]

I would try to stay away from Petco and other chain stores for fish. They often carry sick fish that will die soon after purchasing them. They definetly won't have any platinum angels, but you can find them on Aquabid Good luck finding your fishies!

[Dark_Rider2k3]

yeah I wasn't going to buy from them (unless it was a last resort..)

Elmer's though is great.. I recommend them to everyone as they are not a chain, and there tanks are very clean.. i go there a lot and have yet to see a dead fish, or sick fish, in any tank.. (they have a room for hospital tanks from what I've been told..)

I'll def. check out Aquabid though.. I didn't think of that and I'm glad you said it..

Thanks!

edit:

checked them out, and i'll be buying from aquabid.. I saw a bunch, and some breeders.. so i'm going to see what I can do to get one when the time comes..

edit2:

I was just thinking.. (and if i have to change my stocking list I might).. are there any nocturnal fish that would work well in the tank? I am sadly giving away my upside-down catfish (I was trying to think of any possible way of keeping him but he's going to grow too big for me to keep him and I have to give him away ), and I really would like to have a nocturnal fish.. sometimes i'll stay on the computer real late (like right now LOL), and it's fun to watch the night fish swim around.. I'm watching my upisde down cat I named Master Lee right now and he's just too dang cool..

[Barbrella]

I just had two Dwarf Gouramis, like the blue one you linked, die within two weeks of what I'm sure was iridovirus.

I know they're irresistably beautiful, but I really suggest you don't get one.

[Dark_Rider2k3]

Yeah I decided on the Angel. I read about the iridovirus earlier today, and man... I feel for everyone on here who's lost a fish to the disease, and I really hope that this doesn't start affecting wild fish...