55 Gallon Planted SA Tank

Hello folks, long time since I've been on here. As some of you know, I had several tanks running in my classroom at my school (I'm a teacher). Recently I've downsized my operation from from 3 tanks to 1 as the maintenance over the holidays was too much to keep going. As a result I gave away both my 20 gallon Clownfish tank and my fish from my 55G African tank. Now I have switched all my contents from my 29G tank into my 55g.

Current stock list:
6 - Black Neons
2 - Apisto Panduros (pair)
Plants = Java Moss, 1- Anubis, and 1- Sword

Obviously extremely under stocked and under planted currently, I'm looking to up my school of black neons to 15-20, add another dwarf cichlid pair, at a bristlenose to clear up my algae problem, and add a larger show fish school.

What I'm thinking is:

15 - Black Neons
2 - Apisto Panduro
3 - (1M:2F) Gold Rams (remove the 2nd female once they pair)

Either
Pair of Angels
OR
5 Discus

I've heard mixed reviews on Angels and neons so so maybe its best to stick with the 6 and let nature take its course with them. I'm also a little concerned about discus as some people say they are extremely needy fish and there will be times where I'm away from the tank for a week at a time.

Any help would be awesome!



I know the algae on the back in gross, that's why I need a pleco team of snails

 

I don't think having a pair of apistos and a harem of GBRs will work together. I'd pick one or the other, otherwise you'll run into territorial issues and they might fight.

Both discus and angels require warmer water than neons (and they'll eat them), so I'd stay away from both of them. What about pearl gouramis? They're peaceful, big, and beautiful, and you can keep a large group of them (1 M/ 2-4 F) in a 55 gal.

 

I don't think having a pair of apistos and a harem of GBRs will work together. I'd pick one or the other, otherwise you'll run into territorial issues and they might fight.

Both discus and angels require warmer water than neons (and they'll eat them), so I'd stay away from both of them. What about pearl gouramis? They're peaceful, big, and beautiful, and you can keep a large group of them (1 M/ 2-4 F) in a 55 gal.

Neons are the natural prey of Angels and Discus in the wild so I'm not sure how the temperatures are different, the predation is the only worry I have and that's basically a decision of letting nature take its course or hoping finding a new shore fish. Everywhere I look says 2-3 pairs of dwarf cichlids can be kept in a 55G as long as they have set territories and I think I have enough driftwood and rocks to provide that and more plants will be coming in.

I want to stay South American so I'd prefer not to go with gouramis

 

Neons are the natural prey of Angels and Discus in the wild so I'm not sure how the temperatures are different, the predation is the only worry I have and that's basically a decision of letting nature take its course or hoping finding a new shore fish. Everywhere I look says 2-3 pairs of dwarf cichlids can be kept in a 55G as long as they have set territories and I think I have enough driftwood and rocks to provide that and more plants will be coming in.

I want to stay South American so I'd prefer not to go with gouramis

Neons are often collected from higher altitudes and thrive in cooler water.

I'd find new schooling fish. It'd be shame to buy fish and have them be eaten.

Also watch out for discus and plecos together. Plecos can suck the slime coat of discus.

I'd go with angels. It's easier to find tank mates for angels than discus because of the high temps preferred by the discus.

 

Neons are often collected from higher altitudes and thrive in cooler water.

I'd find new schooling fish. It'd be shame to buy fish and have them be eaten.

Also watch out for discus and plecos together. Plecos can suck the slime coat of discus.

I'd go with angels. It's easier to find tank mates for angels than discus because of the high temps preferred by the discus.

Angels were my first choice so that's good to know!

 

If I've read it right the Op is talking about black neons, not normal neon tetras.
I have black neons with my angels & they take no notice of them.

 

My mistake, I missed that!

 

If I've read it right the Op is talking about black neons, not normal neon tetras.
I have black neons with my angels & they take no notice of them.

That's good news as I would never be able to catch them in the 55G anyways lol. I was just going to leave the 6 in there and see what happened, but if they will be ok then maybe I'll up to the school to 15-20.

I've heard sexing angels is basically impossible for is it better to start of with a group of 5 juvies and wait for a pair to form? Will two, regardless of sex, be fine in a 55?

So as a stock?

15-20 Black neons
2 Angels
2 Apisto Panduro
1 BNP

 

That's good news as I would never be able to catch them in the 55G anyways lol. I was just going to leave the 6 in there and see what happened, but if they will be ok then maybe I'll up to the school to 15-20.

I've heard sexing angels is basically impossible for is it better to start of with a group of 5 juvies and wait for a pair to form? Will two, regardless of sex, be fine in a 55?

So as a stock?

15-20 Black neons
2 Angels
2 Apisto Panduro
1 BNP

I think increasing the neons is a great idea. You'll see much more natural behaviors in larger schools.

If you want a pair, I would do as you suggested, and start with 5-6 juvies and wait for a pair. Two angels may not get along in a 55 gal (males may fight, females may not get along, a pair may not form), but you can try! I have two in mine now, an adult male and an unsexed juvie. I closely monitor them for aggression, and none so far.

 

Just wanted to update on this tank, just added 4 Peruvian Altum Angel (I know they are acutally scalare) Juvies (about 2" each), hoping to get a pair out of those, and purchased a BNP (barely 1.5"). Havnt been able to up my school of black neons yet, I may wait a week and see in my angels take a run at the 6 I currently have before introducing more to the tank. My sand needs a good vacuum before I'm willing to put photos up lol.

 

As of this morning it appears my largest angel who is about 3" maybe 3.5" may be hunting my black neons, I count all 6 still in the tank however one does attempt to nip at them if they come to close.