Need help on a new community (planned) tank!?

I'm starting a new tank (community tank) and I'm having problems with kind different types or species of fish in my 55 gallon tank (4ft and a couple inches long). I have plan out my idea: densely planted, flourite substrate, and I'm still planning, here are the fishes I'm also think of putting in my 55 gallon: 5 Gouramis, 6 White Cloud Mountain Minnows, 6 Zebra Danios, 5 Black Skirt tetra, 3 sword tails and platties, 4 Cherry Barbs, 6 black phantom tetra, and 3 common pleco. I'm looking for good suggestions on any changes to my (planned) tank, thank you.

My tank is already cycled, just to let you guys know. Sorry to the 3 or 4 replier, but I use the aquarium calculator and found out I have a 75 or 79 gallon tank, I'm very sorry.

 

I could be wrong but I think common plecos get to be over a foot long. I would not include those & get about 6 cories instead.

 

thank you, I will make sure to sell my pleco and get 6 Cory cats instead.

 

A common pleco would be inappropriate in a planted tank, Ancistrus sp, or any of the smaller hypancistrus should work. Check out planet catfish for recommendations for small plecos for a planted tank. You, could do a pair of ancistrus sp, and still have 6 of the smaller Corydorus species. Planet catfish would be a could place to research them as well.

 

As far as Gourami's, there are many different types. I'm not very familiar with them but I believe the only one you could keep in those numbers in a 55 gallon would be honey gouramis. If you're interested in them as a centerpiece fish there are a couple larger ones that can work in communities but I'll leave that to more experienced gourami keepers.

I would definitely recommend no common plecos either.

WCMM tend to prefer cooler waters than the rest of your selections but could work. All the tetras and barbs are schoolers so do much better with 6+ of their own species more the better, for them to be comfortable as well as curb aggression. If you fill out your schools your stock would look something like this:

Some type of gourami
8 Zebra danios
8 black skirt tetra
8 black phantom tetra
8 cherry barbs
possibly cories and a pleco

You're getting pretty full up at this point so once someone can help you out with a gourami suggestion you may well need to shave the list down more or perhaps include less variety and more individuals of a species.

 

Thank you, I was planning on have Pearl Gouramis: 2 male to 3 females or 1 male to 2 females. I'll make sure to contact a gouramis specialist and will make some changes.

 

The WCMM will work, just turn the temps down a little bit and all the mentioned tetras will be ok. I do agree that with the stocking it is getting a bit full but heavily planted and a slow stocking process and things should go smoothly for you. I would think that the gourami could work but I'm not a big fan of them personally so I have not done a lot of research into them.

 

Thank you, I was planning on have Pearl Gouramis: 2 male to 3 females or 1 male to 2 females. I'll make sure to contact a gouramis specialist and will make some changes.

Pearl gouramis are a good choice for a 55 gallon. They are a group oriented fish, so you've got the right idea with them. With others of that genus, a group like that would not be a good idea. I would get 1 male and 3 females. I would not keep them with zebra danios though. They are just too maniacal for the pearls. The pearls like a more relaxed tank and the constant activity in their space will stress them. I would go with dwarf neon rainbows instead. Active, but not overly so.

And I agree that you have too many species on your initial list. I wouldn't get more than 3 schools of fish - 3 larger schools will look better than 5 small schools, and they fish will be more entertaining to watch that way. At least to me that's the case. Too many fish like that looks like a mess, IMO.

 

I would agree that larger schools are more fun to watch. A while back I did a group order for my club and brought in 48 C sterbai. I had and empty 75 gallon waiting on a stand sitting out on my back porch. I was half filled with rainwater when the fish arrived. I filled it the rest of the way with aged water and put the Corries in that tank to wait for the folks to come pick up their fish.
That tank was place where I could see it from the living room, Watching those corries for the week I had them convinced me that schooling fish really should be kept in larger schools.

 

OK, so I've read the replies and I'm planning on getting: 4 pearl gouramis, 6 black skirt tetra, 4 cherry barbs, 6 black phantom tetra, and 6 Cory cats. Here are the plants that I'm needing to the 75 gallon tank: Jungle Val, Dwarf Sag, Duck weed(maybe), plant bulbs, anubius, and java moss(maybe). I'm also thinking of putting in CaribSea Aquarium Substrates or flourite substrate.

any suggestions?

 

OK, so I've read the replies and I'm planning on getting: 4 pearl gouramis, 6 black skirt tetra, 4 cherry barbs, 6 black phantom tetra, and 6 Cory cats. Here are the plants that I'm needing to the 75 gallon tank: Jungle Val, Dwarf Sag, Duck weed(maybe), plant bulbs, anubius, and java moss(maybe). I'm also thinking of putting in CaribSea Aquarium Substrates or flourite substrate.

any suggestions?

Ditch the Duck weed and get water sprite

 

Or Riccia as a floater. Easier to control.

 

OK, I'll ditch the duck weed and choose either water sprite or Riccia, and you all for the replies thank you so much.

 

Where do you think I could get some Dwarf Neon Rainbows if they (I don't know for some) sell them in my local pet store?

 

If you live near me, I know a place that carries them.

You could try mail ordering if you cannot find them locally. You could try liveaquaria The link will take you right to the Praecox Rainbow (otherwise known as Dwarf Neon Rainbows) Page:


or you could try aquabid

There is also a Buy/Trade/Sell forum on this site, but I think you need 50 posts before you can acess it.