New tank 30g-55g havnt decided

Okay I'm getting a new tank still unsure of the size, and on top of that trying to decide on fish!
I've written down all of the freshwater tropical fish that I would possibly want and grouped them together to make some possible tank ideas.
Some of the things I know that I want no matter what fish I get are.
Otto cats atleast 5
Sand for substrate
And a strong filter (I like to overfilter ex: my last tank was a 30 gallon with a penguin 350 biowheel)

So some of the fish that I would possibly want are
Sailfin mollies (just regular sf not the giant sf that I've read up on)
HI fin platy
Swordtails
(Obv. Right there with some Ottos is a good setup however I've had livebearers before)
Angelfish
Ram cichlids
SA cichlids (smaller ones like convicts)
Red tail shark
Tiger barbs
Red minor tetra
rummynose tetra.

One of the tank ideas I'm most fond of is a planted tank with 1 angel 5 ottos 1 German blue ram/Bavarian ram (or similar size/temperament cichlid) red tail shark (not sure if the ram and the rts or the rts and the ottos would cause a problem.)

Another one is a rts with a large school of tiger barbs and red minor tetras or cherry barbs with ottos (if ottos don't work with rts maybe a bristlenose?)

10 rummy nose tetras 5 ottos 5 corydas 3 sailfin mollies and 6 cherry barbs

 

I am not a stocking expert, so I will not comment on that part of it. HOWEVER, I feel very strongly that you should get the biggest tank you can fit and biggest tank you can afford. It gives you so many more options and you will surely regret it if you go smaller. Get a 55! Or even bigger if you can. A 75 is the same length as a 55, so it wouldn't take up any more space.

 

Good to know. I'll go with a 75 (I'll prob get it on the Black Friday sale all tanks half off!) that being said I could put either bigger fish like larger cichlids or more fish..
I really do like angels but don't want breeding with a 75 gallon I could put 2 females and with a larger tank is it better getting a common pleco or a small school of ottos.
I'm still wondering on if rts are okay with ottos and rams

 

Bump

 

I recently made this decision and decided on a 29 gallon instead of the 55. I can move a 29 with rocks by myself, and once fish, decor, stand, filtration are added up, the 55 costs twice as much and takes more space. I personally like the extra height of the 60 compared to the 55.

I can always upgrade to a 55 but chances are I will still have use for the 29. When I'm ready to upgrade I will probably get a 75 but that's too much right now.

 

ChrisX I've had all sizes from my first tank being a sad tiny betta tank to a 10g, and 30 gallon saltwater. I think I'm ready to go all out and if I get the tank on Black Friday it'll be half off!

 

How do you know it will be half off? Are all tanks half price on BF?

 

ChrisX yea at petsmart all tanks (just the tank nothing included) is 50% off all day on Black Friday.

 

A few days ago when I got my 29 gallon starter kit, they had the 55 gallon starter kit on sale for $139, and another $20 off.. so $120 for their 55 starter kit.

If I had space for it, I would have gotten it instead, but the 29 gallon starter kit ended up being only $70.

 

I would definitely get the 55. I currently have two twenty nine gallon tanks and while they are certainly big enough, I always find myself eyeballing the big tanks when I go to the pet stores. I suppose that no matter how big your tank is, you'll always lust for more.

 

Dollar per gallon sale is on at Petco through Friday, that's a better deal than half off!

 

vikingkirken does that apply to all tanks?

 

Well it goes up to 55 gallon 55 bucks that's a steal. I won't be able to get this time around but I'll catch it next time they have it

 

They have them on frequently. PetSmart does too, but I'm not sure they go up to 55 gallon like Petco.

 

oh dear, I wish I didn't look at this thread. my 110 gallon isn't even cycled yet but a new 55 gallon tank for a nursery... $55 is pocket change. it's a good thing my wife likes fish

 

I thinking I'm leaning towards doing a one of 3 different tanks: 1 rts with 10 red serpae tetras and 10 tiger barbs
the other, 2 angels 1 zebra or clown pleco, 10 cherry barbs and 1 cockatoo cichlid
the last one I'm unsure but if I can find tank mates I wouldn't mind getting a puffer that's suitable for a 55 gallon like a dwarf puffer.

 

Wont the cherry barbs nip the angel to death?

 

Wont the cherry barbs nip the angel to death?

Apparently cherry barbs aren't nippy like most barbs.

 

okay so I'm not sure why nobody has mentioned this, so I will. RTS may be suited to a community when it's younger, but as it grows older, more established, and works out its territory, it becomes quite dominant and aggressive. they also get way larger than most realise, so it is not suited to a 29G community aquarium. they're still sharks, after all.

 

Trust me from experience and currently you will wish you had a bigger tank

 

BravetheBetta my rts I plan on putting in a 55 gallon I never stated I was getting a 29g

 

And yes cherry barbs aren't like tigers and as long as I keep them in a large school they will not bother my angels