Tetra community tank ideas

Hey everyone! I have finally started my tetra community tank off this week with 15 neon tetras. I am super excited.

My vision for this tank is to have vibrant color and a really happening community of JUST different tetra fish. I imagine lots of different schools interacting and swimming about. It is a 55 gallon tank with lots of filtration (two Aquaclear 70s and a large sponge filter) so I’d like to fill it up nicely.

My question is…what tetra would you choose? Surprisingly the internet is pretty vague about which tetra can go with the neon tetra, usually just saying not to get fish that are aggressive or could bully or eat the smaller fish. Would fish like Colombian tetra and skirt tetra be compatible? What other suggestions? I will be adding black neons next week.

thank you in advance!!!

 

I'd do a maximum of 3-4 species.

Additionally to the neons:
Blackskirts are ok, Colombians are too big and boisterous. Black neons are also ok.
Do 8-12 blackskirts and 10-15 black neons.

Additionally you could add pencilfish or hatchetfish (both also characins like tetras) to the top.Decide for one of these.

I'd probably complete this with 10-15 of a smaller Corydoras species. Instead a species of dwarf cichlid would also be ok. But not both!

Post a picture of the tank, please. Tetras like it dark and shady with lots of cover from above.

 

I'd do a maximum of 3-4 species.

Additionally to the neons:
Blackskirts are ok, Colombians are too big and boisterous. Black neons are also ok.
Do 8-12 blackskirts and 10-15 black neons.

Additionally you could add pencilfish or hatchetfish (both also characins like tetras) to the top.Decide for one of these.

I'd probably complete this with 10-15 of a smaller Corydoras species. Instead a species of dwarf cichlid would also be ok. But not both!

Post a picture of the tank, please. Tetras like it dark and shady with lots of cover from above.

Thanks for the advise! below is the tank. It is all artificially planted but I did try and create lots of hiding spots.

 

You can get the rocks out. The type of hiding place you build is suitable for catfish and cichlids but useless for tetras. Floating plants, twigs and branches hanging into the water from the top, driftwood reaching up to the surface. And dim the light. The tank has to be relatively dark.
And the substrate is rather... Tetras won't eat what falls to the ground. You will get lots of accumulation of the type of mulm you don't want.
Oh, and you can remove the airstone. No need for that either.

If you want to do it right: Replace the substrate with sand (much easier to keep clean) and the plastic plants with easy real plants (hornwort, pennywort, waterweeds, floaters). Also replace the rocks with driftwood. Then you're getting into real tetra habitat territory.

 

You might have a problem with Corys and that substrate, too.

But I would definitely add Rummynose Tetras.

 

You might have a problem with Corys and that substrate, too.

But I would definitely add Rummynose Tetras.

Thanks for the advise on the substrate. Rummy nose are some pretty neat fellas, that is a good choice.

You can get the rocks out. The type of hiding place you build is suitable for catfish and cichlids but useless for tetras. Floating plants, twigs and branches hanging into the water from the top, driftwood reaching up to the surface. And dim the light. The tank has to be relatively dark.
And the substrate is rather... Tetras won't eat what falls to the ground. You will get lots of accumulation of the type of mulm you don't want.
Oh, and you can remove the airstone. No need for that either.

If you want to do it right: Replace the substrate with sand (much easier to keep clean) and the plastic plants with easy real plants (hornwort, pennywort, waterweeds, floaters). Also replace the rocks with driftwood. Then you're getting into real tetra habitat territory.

Thanks for all the advise here. I love all of the expertise that gets shared on this forum. This tank will definitely be evolving over time as my finances and time allow and I would love to incorporate these suggestions.