Ready to Stock New 55 Gallon and Looking for Ideas

[Benskoln]

Hey Everyone,

Having completed the cycle, Im ready to stock my new 55-gallon tank (my first). Picture is attached. It's a sparsely planted tank, and I'm envisioning some small colorful schooling fish with maybe a slightly larger few, to whatever degree I can do that without them eating the little ones. Would love any suggestions for new stock within these parameters. Also, would love suggestions the pacing of the stocking and on water-change and any other upkeep procedure once I have it stocked.

Thanks!
Ben

 

[ProudPapa]

Here's one option. I don't know what your water parameters are, but all of these have done well for me in my 8.2 pH hard water.

1. Start with six or so lemon tetras or pristella tetras (also known as X-ray tetras). Wait two weeks and add six or eight more of the same species.
2. Two weeks after that, add eight Lake Kutubu rainbow fish (you could split this up into two groups of four, spaced at least a week apart, if you want to be extra cautious).
3. Finally, add a pair of Bolivian rams.