55 Gal Community Tank.

[dramaguy11]

Hello,

I recently had a 55 gal tank gifted to me. The person who gave it to me lost interest after less than a month. The fish are all still very small and this is what he had in the tank:

2 Platies
1 Peppered Cory
1 Gold Ram
1 Rainbow Shark
1 common pleco (big 6")
3 Tiger Barbs
2 Green Tiger Barbs
2 serpae tetras
1 Black Skirt tetra

I was wondering if 0ne, this is an ok mix?
and two if I should get more of the same or other fish.

tank has two large over the back canister type filters, heater, two air stones, black medium gravel, terra cotta pots, various sandstone rocks a fake stump/plant and a couple fake plants. Thanks!

 

[ApistoNut]

prepare for the tiger barbs to start nipping all the rest seems fine

 

[dramaguy11]

prepare for the tiger barbs to start nipping all the rest seems fine

Thanks. Is there room for more in the 55gal?

Regards.

 

[fluttermoth]

It's not the worst stocking I've ever seen, but it's not that great either.

The common plec will outgrow a 55g, so you'll probably have to look at rehoming that if possible.

The serpae and black widow tetras should be in shoals of at least six of each, as should the peppered cory.

The tiger barbs can be very aggressive towards some fish, and a lot of people have had problems keeping cories with them.

The gold ram is quite a delicate little fish that needs very clean, warm water (around 28°C/82°F, which is too warm for your other fish) to stand any chance of living for more than a couple of months.

The most important things, if you didn't know already, is to make sure you temperature match and dechlorinate any new water you add to the tank, and to never, ever clean any of the filter media in tap water, or replace it (even if it looks filthy and past it to you), as that's where all the beneficial bacteria that help keep your tank healthy live

Sorry I can't sound more positive for your first post, but to the forum anyway!

 

[matt_storey]

Hello,

I recently had a 55 gal tank gifted to me. The person who gave it to me lost interest after less than a month. The fish are all still very small and this is what he had in the tank:

2 Platies
1 Peppered Cory
1 Gold Ram
1 Rainbow Shark
1 common pleco (big 6")
3 Tiger Barbs
2 Green Tiger Barbs
2 serpae tetras
1 Black Skirt tetra

I was wondering if 0ne, this is an ok mix?
and two if I should get more of the same or other fish.

tank has two large over the back canister type filters, heater, two air stones, black medium gravel, terra cotta pots, various sandstone rocks a fake stump/plant and a couple fake plants. Thanks!

Hi,

Firstly nice size tank to work with but a few concerns....

The tiger barbs, tetras and cory all like to be in a group of 6+
The pleco will grow at least twice in size
The tiger barbs will also end up munching on your tetras (id personally keep them in a species only tank)

If it was me, id rehome the barbs, platies and pleco, up the tetra and cory numbers, and add a few more rams.

 

[dramaguy11]

Thanks for the advice. I have a 70gal show tank in my garage that i am going to set up as well. I will cycle it, then put some of these fish in it. With the fish I have what would be the best to move to the 70gal?

 

[thereverendturtle]

I would move the shark and the tiger barbs and maybe bring their numbers up to 15 or so. Doesn't matter the color, they're all the same fish. As for other fish a school of danios would occupy the upper third of the tank. Plant heavily with cryptocryne and java ferns and do a southeast Asian biotope.

 

[ApistoNut]

you can get quite a few fish in a 55 gal as the peeps above said many on your fish need shoals and your better off trading you common for maybe some bn plecs or something. i would remove the barbs add some tetra and some more peppered corys and some more dwarf cichlids and keep a eye on the shark

 

[fluttermoth]

Oh, that's a tricky one!

I want to say put all the more aggressive or large fish (so; the plec, the serpae/black widows, tigers and shark) in the big tank, but that would leave the peppered cory (who likes cool water) and the ram (that wants it warm) in the same tank

Is your local water hard or soft? That might helps us advise you which fish to keep and which to look at rehoming.

 

[dramaguy11]

Oh, that's a tricky one!

I want to say put all the more aggressive or large fish (so; the plec, the serpae/black widows, tigers and shark) in the big tank, but that would leave the peppered cory (who likes cool water) and the ram (that wants it warm) in the same tank

Is your local water hard or soft? That might helps us advise you which fish to keep and which to look at rehoming.

Local Water is soft. Thanks. On another note, does anyone know where you can get flow control valves for a Cascade 500 Cannister?

 

[thereverendturtle]

Is that the penn-plax cascade? If it is you might have to contact them directly.