Leni

I've come up with a list of fish I find neat that I want to stock my 55g with. Ffor those that were following my DIY bucket filter and stand, you'll be disappointed to find out I'm not going to stock it with mbuna after all - the tank has to stay when I leave for college next year and I don't want to leave my sister with something as volatile as a Malawi cichlid tank on her plate, she has trouble taking care of her betta and goldfish without my help as it is. . Anyway, this is what I've come up with so far.

1 Pleco
5-8 Silver Dollars
2 clown loachs
3-6 dwarf gouramis

Are there any other fish that would work well with that setup, or am I out of room?

I'd also like to put a few live plants in it, preferably low-light and doesn't need a lot of CO2 - the filtration is a bucket trickle, no sense in wasting time or money when the CO2 is going to get stripped out anyway. I don't know much about live plants, but I'd like at least 2 clump-type plants.

BTW, this is a neat tool I found for checking compatability. http://www.tropicalfishandaquariums....ameResults.php My only complaint is that you can't narrow it to see if more than 2 species at once will go together.

AlyeskaGirl

I love your stocking idea but the Clown Loaches isn't a good idea.....they get too big for that size tank. Plus they need to be in a group of 3 or more to be happy. Maybe look into getting a smaller Loach. Like the YoYo. You have to think about how big these fish are going to get. Is there going to be enough space for when they are full grown. I think 8 Dollars is too many.....3-5 is better for that size tank. They grow up to approx. 6". It's best to only go with a single Dwarf Gourmai. They are tempermental with their own kind....fighting among males. As for the Pleco...as longs as it's not the Common/Sailfin that gets huge....up to 18".

ATKINSON

Good advice there!! How about khuli loaches instead of clown loaches. Very easy to take care of and very active. They like to be in schools of 4+ and they are small as adults.

aquarist48

Good morning Leni. I agree with AlyeskaGirl. The Clown Loaches can grow to 13" and way too big for the 55g. Silver dollars I would consider 3 to 5 as well, Gourami's 1, and 1 perhaps Bristle Nose Pleco. How about adding some Cory Cats? They like to be kept with a few of their own kind as well.
Keep us posted and let us know what you decide. Hope you can share some pictures along the way. Best of luck.
Ken

Leni

Based on your suggestions, I've come up with a new list.

5 silver dollars
4 kuhli loaches
1 bristlenose pleco
1-3 flame dwarf gouramis (2 females, one male for possible spawning and to keep scuffles to a minimum - I'd be fine with just one though).

That is about 45" worth of fish, so I have room for a few more. Any other suggestions that would go well with these?

AlyeskaGirl

That looks great to me!

Maybe add a school of smaller peaceful fish.

http://www.elmersaquarium.com/c106community5barbs.htm

peacemaker92

Nice stocking list! Sorry I don't have any suggestions because I'm stuck with my own 55g and not sure of my own stocking list either.