aquarist48

Swiftzer your tank looks "great".

Blub

Hello

I just read through the whole thread... Yikes! It looks like y our in a pretty sticky situation. I will agree the Balas will get too big, and need to be returned, but I will also agree they are YOUR fish and it is ultimately YOUR decsicion. Big cichlids aren't my area (I'm more of a planted tank full of small schooling fish/a few bigger fish person), but I think if you really love Balas, then get something similar. I see you have already gone for a Rainbow shark - a good choice IMO. If you are into larger, shiny fish then look at Silver dollars. They will eat plants, but you could just not get plants in that case. They are however lovely big fish (about 6") that will do well in a 55gal tank. Also, I bet you would love Angelfish. They are a largeish cichlid (6") that properly deserve their reputation as 'Queen of the Aquarium'. Also, have you looked into kribensis cichlids? They are hardy, well mannered cichlids (until they start breeding!) that do well in communitys, and should get on with barbs. Check out those fish online, and maybe a few others you find on the way that you like and we'll see what can happen.

Swifterz

yeah i have looked into the kribs. however i kind of decided that i like the rams and keyholes little more. and i have heard that the kribs are a little more aggressive than the the others.

i absolutely love my bala sharks. i mean they are just my favorites. i love watching them! as you can probably gather from this thread, i have a hard time making a decision and being happy with it. no matter what i always think about other possibilities, and what i could have, or should have bought instead, even if i am 100% happy with what i have.

this isn't just with fish either. there's a million possibilities with how to set up a tank... sand or gravel? rocks, driftwood, plants (fake or live)... even right down to where to place each individual piece of slate. i know it's crazy. there is just so much to choose from.

what i really want is to have species that are different. they don't neccessarily have to be very colorful or anything. i just want each type of fish to look different from the others. obviously i have this going on between the bala sharks, rainbow shark, tiger barbs and gouramis.

but i'm always thinking about adding more. i have really good filtration so i think i can keep a lot of fish. but then at the same time i sometimes wish i just had fewer fish but some that were larger. then i'll turn right around and cherry barbs will catch my eye and i'll be thinking about a school of them. they are beautiful, peaceful fish that would look great in a school.

i don't really like angelfish. they have just never really caught my attention. right now i'm thinking about maybe putting the cichlid idea to rest. i mean what for? why risk event he possibility of creating issues in my now peaceful tank. if i get rams or keyholes the barbs might terrorize them. if i get firemouths they might kill the barbs (or other fish). but i might change my mind 5 minutes from now when i see a picture of a beautiful cichlid.

i guess if i had it to do 100% over again with my stocking i might would just do a cichlid tank with the tiger barbs. yesterday i saw some african cichlids that were just beautiful. i had no idea how awesome they looked. one in particular caught my eye. it was a victorian hap.



(looked like that) but of course that is not even a remote possiblity in my tank right now unless i got rid of everything.

someone mentioned earlier that you should just do one cichlid species only in a tank unless you are doing africans. if i were stocking today i might would go with some of those guys and some other africans they had. they had some large haps, almost full grown, like the ones pictured about for only $5.

Swifterz

i just have to choose something, be happy with it, enjoy it and stop thinking about other fish, because there are literally thousands to choose from and i can't have everything. regardless, i'm going to have a pretty nice setup with a lot of very cool fish.

i think i will give away the kissing gouramis, as they will eventually get very large and could become bullies. this would also free up some space for other fish.

if i stick with my current stocking (minis the kissers), and want to add another species, i think the best idea would be to go with a relatively small, schooling fish like cherry barbs. they will add a lot of color to my tank and not bother anything, and my other fish won't bother them.

and i feel like i should get a bottom lurker, something like yoyo loaches. this might make it seem a bit overstocked, but like i said i have really good filtration. if i do that i would have a wide variety of fish that are colorful, active, and all get along great. and none of them will ever outgrow the tank.

abc123d30

Lol, looks like you could have a possible case of MTS.

gmen4life

yeah i still wouldnt put barbs with cichlids imo i have mbuna as juvies you may get away with it but as breeding adults the barbs would get hammerd on cichlids are awesome thats my living room tank so i can keep them close lol

Swifterz

i truly don't have the desire for a 2nd tank.

i have thought about a 10 gallon long with cardinal tetras and some plants, but i've been saying that for a long time and have not done it. it would just seem ordinary to me compared to my big tank.

Swifterz

i think getting some plants in there will encourage me to get some other smaller fish besides tiger barbs.

i love the look of cherry barbs



those are beautiful fish that are small and peaceful. then for some bottom dwellers maybe some yoyo loaches.

how would this be as far as stocking?

3 Bala Sharks
1 Rainbow Shark
8 Cherry Barbs
10 Tiger Barbs
3 YoYo Loaches

a nice variety of fish and the entire community would be peaceful.

Blub

Well you know what I'm going to say about Balas - find a new home for them before getting more fish... Once their gone though... That sounds like an awesome stock list. I love YoYos and I wish I had some space for them! Cherrys are cool fish as well. I have a small school myself and I have done for about a year.

Swifterz

are the cherrys very active fish?

kimb

Hi Swiferz...I feel for you, I really do! You seem to be fighting against yourself and what you want vs what you know you have space for. I'm not going to comment on the Balas, been there done that. I think plants, or some other interesting decor may go a long way in the tank being the way you want it. My 55g has a gorgeous long piece of driftwood that runs the length of the tank creating caves and neat places for my corys to hide. With this as my centerpiece, I used ALOT of artificial plants, coming from under the log, behind beside etc. I added some really unusual rocks, large and small, redid the bottom with sand, added a different background. Because my fish are large, I could only have a small number, but the set up really made a difference. The tank looks amazing even without fish. Maybe give it a try, it didn't cost much since I live on the river and could gather rocks for free, maybe some shale struturesBe creative! Once you have made a final decision, stop looking for a while LOL. Its kind of like seeing the perfect christmas gift...you buy it....the sure as heck, you will either see something you like better or see it on sale. I truly hope you find what you want, and are happy with it. Best of luck to you

Blub

Oh yes! They aren't hyper speed or anything, fairly placid but consantly swimming in the day. Great little fish! They don't tend to school much, they often go alone but often swim with another Cherry.

And, along the lines of what Kimb said... As an interesting cave idea, what about a coconut cave 'village' for your YoYos and Rainbow. Here's a link: http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects...oration/87.asp I have one and I have never stopped loving it (My betta however, has a slightly different opinion!)

Swifterz

well i went to 3 pet stores, got an AWESOME piece of driftwood. i'm about to put it in and i will take pictures. i looked at both cherry barbs and yoyo loaches but didn't pull the trigger. like it's been said i just want to be 100% certain i get something i will be happy with this time. i would have definitely got the yoyo's but they were $8 each and i didn't want to spend $24 for 3 of them. for the cherrys, a m/f pair was $3.50.

i really appreciate all the info/advice that has been given here. i realize i'm very stubborn, but you all have been so helpful and friendly. i know you all are just wanting what's best for the fish. i've been keeping fish for years, but i've never had a tank this size or been so serious about it. i am addicted. thanks for keeping your patience with me!

Swifterz

switched to sand and added some more driftwood. here's a few short video clips...

whole tank shot showing off the sand and new driftwood


tiger barbs hanging out near the brand new driftwood


my 3" rainbow shark


one of the bala sharks
DtypKs

ignore my 3 year old talking in the background, haha.

gmen4life

looks like a rts to me and how many barbs did you get they give some action to the tank for sure i had balas from the start also and wanted to mix and match what didnt work im addicted also aka ,mts kicked in i had to so i could have what i want and now well i want more lol it never ends i wanted to mix mbuna with all kinds of things and theres tons to learn from fishlore your tank deco looks awesome by the way good job!!! when i get rocks for my set ups i get them from the river its free that way just have to boil them keep up the good work!!!!

Swifterz

thank you. there are 10 tiger barbs.

gmen4life

sweet i do like them just dont have the tank for them the rts can hold his or her own could teach the barbs a lesson if need be

kimb

Looks really good!!!