Watashiwasakana

would a list like this work for a 55 gallon Amazonian tank?

1 bolivian ram
6 black skirt tetras
1 clown pleco
a sizeable school of marbled hatchets(7-8)
an angel fish

Watashiwasakana

anyone?

Lucy

It sounds good to me, but don't take my word on the compatibilty of these fish.
Other members know more about angels and rams.

Amanda

Sounds like it would work to me.

Watashiwasakana

i got a $5 off for a $20+ purchase coupon to my LFS(a very good one btw)
what should i get first? ram, pleco and tetra are already there.
so, hatchets or angel first

Amanda

The ram needs to be in a very established tank. The angel is sensitive also. Maybe hatchets?

Watashiwasakana

sure.
the tank has been running for quite a long time, actually.
its been running since january

Amanda

That's not considered a well established tank actually. Well established has usually been running 6 months. But if you can keep the ram alive, more power to you. Just remember that both Rams & Angels need pristine water quality.

Watashiwasakana

ok. hatchets first.
Don't they need a filter guard or something?
my aquaclear 70 has spaces a hatchet could get sucked into.
its been cycled since Jan, and ive had the ram since last month.
he/she is doing quite well besides for an identity mix up.
the ram thinks he or she is a tetra and schools with them.

Amanda

Hatchets will leap out of the tank. If there's any space where any fish can get sucked up, cover it with a nylon stocking.

Watashiwasakana

oh, would one of those orange bag mesh thingies work?
i have a black version(why my grocery store has a separate section for black bagged oranges and orange bagged oranges even thought they are the same in brand, price, and quality, i don't know)

Amanda

To cover the open spots of the tank? Yeah.
I'm not sure about covering the filter intake though.

Watashiwasakana

well, my filter intake is pretty deep down(within 1 inch of my substrate, within 2 in of my pleco's hunk of wood and his poop pile), would that still suck them up?

agabr123

i'm a little late but the stocking list sounds good to me

i'd go ahead and cover everything, you'd be SO surprised what hatchets can get themselves into again, make sure that you have the entire top of the tank very well covered, they will leap out in a heartbeat and any crack that they could possibly fit through, they will fit through!