New 55g Tank, New To The Hobby, Help Me Populate!

Hello Everyone!

I've been lurking for a few weeks now, gathering as much info as I can. I recently purchased a 55 gallon tank, and have had it operational for about a week now. I'm ready to start adding fish this weekend, but I simply can't narrow down to the fish I want, so, I'm going to let you all decide for me!

Here's my criteria:

-I'm trying to have as much variety as possible, with as little conflict as possible
-I would like to cover as many strata as possible

With those thoughts in mind:

Bottom: I'm looking at Kuhli, Dojo loaches, Bristle nose pleco. (I currently have 1 clown pleco that I inherited).

Mid-Bottom: Bolivian Ram, Cherry Barb, Cardinal Tetra

Mid: Black Ruby Barb, Tiger Barb, Glass Fish, Silver Tipped Tetra, Rummy Nose Tetra

Mid-Upper: BoesmanI Rainbow, Dwarf Gourami, Pearl Gourami, Swordtails?

Honorable mention: Pearl Danio

These are the fish I'm interested in, and obviously I can't get all of them in a 55 gallon tank, so I'm taking suggestions on which ones you all think will make a better community, as well as numbers of each I should shoot for?

As an aside: I'm planning on adding 5 fish every couple of weeks until complete.

Aaaaaannnndddd.......GO!

 

Welcome to Fishlore. One week is simply not long enough to fully and correcty cycle the tank (unless using cycled media). Will the Clown Pleco be in the tank?

 

What are you tank dimensions? What are you aiming for a community, semI aggressive, semI aggressive community or plain out aggressive tank?

 

katie: Thanks for the reminder...I had read up on the nitrogen cycle beforehand, and in the time between then and getting the tank set up had simply forgotten.

Kenny: It's 48" x 13 x 20 (I think, not at home at the moment to confirm. Definitely 48"). I'm aiming for a non-aggressive community, so no sharks or cichlids.

 

With stocking, if the Clown Pleco will be in the tank, it needs to be stocked around that as a number of your choices aren't temperature compatible.

 

Wait about four more weeks! Check water perimeters weekly to find when you are able to add fish.

 

I believe you tank is a 54inch IMO but I'm not totally sure....

 

I believe you tank is a 54inch IMO but I'm not totally sure....

I don't think so, a 55 gallon standard is 48in long. Unless it's custom of course

 

I'd like to say that there are a number of nonaggressive/peaceful cichlids. Bolivian Rams, which you mentioned, are actually a species of dwarf cichlids.

 

If you want to go non aggressive community I would take out the tiger barbs they can be nippy. Instead of dwarf do honey Gouramis they are way more peaceful than dwarfs.

I don't think so, a 55 gallon standard is 48in long. Unless it's custom of course

A common 55 gallon is 48L×13D×21H

 

A common 55 gallon is 48L×13D×21H

lol ya The D and H can vary a teeny bit depending on whos making it/whos measuring, but it comes out to 55g

 

lol ya The D and H can vary a teeny bit depending on whos making it/whos measuring, but it comes out to 55g

Oh okay now I understand thanks for the measuring lesson

 

katie: All the research I've done has told me that strict temperature guidelines aren't as important as consistency. I've done a bit of research on every one of those fish and have found that they should be all compatible in terms of water quality and chemistry. Unless of course what I'm reading is wrong. It would help if you would cite the examples of fish that wouldn't work.

Kenny: I've heard that about the Tiger barbs. I actually today added the Black Ruby barbs to my list for that very reason.

Finally: The clown pleco is definitely already in the tank. I didn't have much of an option unfortunately, as I said, he was inherited. Choices were to put him in an un-cycled tank, or leave him in a Ziploc bag...he seems ok for the moment.

 

Fish definitely need certain temperatures, even if the temperature is stable they shouldn't be kept too warm or too cool

This stock would be temperature compatible with the clown pleco
15 kuhlI loaches
2 German blue rams
12 Cardinal tetras or rummynose tetras
8 BoesmanI rainbows
2 Pearl gouramis
1 Clown pleco
Keep the temperature around 80f

Or you could do this
3 dojo loaches
1 BN pleco
2 Bolivian rams
10 Odessa barbs
12 Neon tetras or 15 Celestial pearl danios
1 Dwarf gourami
3 Male sword tails or 3 female swordtails
Keep the temperature around 72f

 

An example would be that Bolivian Rams ideal temp is 75-76 while Dwarf Gouramis ideal is 78-80. Clown Plecos also like around 78-80 with BN Plecos being around 74 or so.

 

Fish definitely need certain temperatures, even if the temperature is stable they shouldn't be kept too warm or too cool

This stock would be temperature compatible with the clown pleco
15 kuhlI loaches
2 German blue rams
12 Cardinal tetras or rummynose tetras
8 BoesmanI rainbows
2 Pearl gouramis
1 Clown pleco
Keep the temperature around 80f

Or you could do this
3 dojo loaches
1 BN pleco
2 Bolivian rams
10 Odessa barbs
12 Neon tetras or 15 Celestial pearl danios
1 Dwarf gourami
3 Male sword tails or 3 female swordtails
Keep the temperature around 72f

BottomDweller: So your second option would have me ditching the pre-existing clown pleco, right? If I were to go that route...do you have any suggestions on how I could get the temperature down? My temp hovers around 74 without my heater, but I've never seen how to cool a tank?

Also, you came up with this grouping very quickly...is there some sort of temperature chart that you use, or do you just really know your fish? lol

 

So your second option would have me ditching the pre-existing clown pleco, right? If I were to go that route...do you have any suggestions on how I could get the temperature down? My temp hovers around 74 without my heater, but I've never seen how to cool a tank?

Yeah a clown pleco needs warmer water.
You can buy a chiller but they are expensive to run. Or you can get a couple of fans and blow them across the surface. Keep it like that for a few days and check how much it lowers the temperature.

Also, you came up with this grouping very quickly...is there some sort of temperature chart that you use, or do you just really know your fish? lol

Well over the years I've researched fish on different websites (seriously fish is a good one) and read up on them in books. I didn't just go and search them up before writing up those lists though, I just sort of remember