JWalker

Hi Everyone,

I am busy planning my tank that i setup 1 week ago, some suggestions on stocking would be apprecited.

Ive got 2 pearl gouramis in already.

Im thinking, 1x tri color shark, 2x silver dollars, 1x clown loach or simliar and about 4-5 barbs or the likes to make it colorfull.

Suggestions ?

Mike19

before adding anymore fish, do you understand the nitrogen cycle, i doubt that your tank cycled in a week. so it may be a good idea to get a liquid test kit if you don't already own one and test your water parameters ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates.

• How did you cycle it
• what are your current water parameters.

JWalker

Not sure about cycling.

Tanks been running for a month now.

Put pearl gouramis in last week.

Pet shop dude tested my water and checked the pH only, it was 7.9.
He gave me some powder stuff to add to the water before adding in the fish.

Amanda

The tank is not cycled then. And I wouldn't recommend adding anything for pH, most fish can adapt to any pH you put them in. Additives just create an unstable pH, which is stressful for the fish.

Amanda

Oh, and a clown loach needs a group, and they would get much too large for a 55 gal.

FL CommunityFans

Just to add to that, a group of 6 clowns would be the minimum you'd want to stock and even then it'd be good to have more of them. Expect them to reach 4" in the first year so you're looking at 24-32" of 'fish per inch rule' tank space in the first year.

You definitely need to get a liquid master test kit to test the pH, Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates of your tank.

The only acceptable conditions for the tank are readings of 0 ammonia, 0 nitrates, and 5-15nitrates(generally speaking)

Mike19

Hi,

Check out this link it has crucial information for ensuring that your fish live a happy and long life. http://www.fishlore.com/Beginners.htm

Feel free to ask any questions if theres anything you don't understand

Mike

Amanda

To help you undeerstand cycling:

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

JWalker

Wow, i had a sneaky feeling the guys at the pet shop didnt know too much

Thanks for all the info guys i will definitely read up more and get the required equipment.

Quick Q, i havent bought a heater yet as it is summer in SA, what specification heater would i need for a 55 gallon tank ?

Mike19

For a 55 gallon tank you will probably need a 200 W heater they usually cover tank sizes between 26Gal and 66Gal, consult your LFS before purchasing there are a few different types of heaters i would recommend a fully submersible one, some also stop heating once the desired temp has been reached.

JWalker

Would a 5 in 1 API test kit be sufficient to test my water ?

FL CommunityFans

5 in 1 = test strips? if so then no you don't want that. You want the API liquid master test kit. It's as accurate as you can get while the test strips will often , and I mean very often, give slightly off or just flat out wrong info.

AlyeskaGirl

I see that you are interested in a Clown Loach but they need to be in groups. Also they get much too big for a 55 gal. There are other smaller loaches that you can look into. Like the Yoyo loach. Groups of 3 or more. About 5-6 inches full grown. Loaches are also scaless fish and cant have any salt or meds in the water, it will irritate them. Good luck on gettin your tank cycled before you add anymore fish!

JWalker

Hey everyone,

Thanks for all the help, another quick Q, What do you guys think about paradise fish ?

Gouramis and Paradise fish is that okay ?

AlyeskaGirl

Here go through the links below, it might help you decide and it gives profiles on each fish or species! Word of wisdom, stay away from Barbs unless its Cherry Barbs.


http://www.elmersaquarium.com/c106community1.htm

http://www.elmersaquarium.com/c106community2.htm

http://www.elmersaquarium.com/c106co...livebearer.htm