55 GALLON STOCKING???

[smurray7]

Hello. I just recently finished cycling my 55 gallon freshwater tank (pic attached). I have some ideas about the fish I want, but I'm stuck making the decision Lol
My thoughts:
1 ANGELFISH
5-6 RAINBOWFISH
6 OF SOME KIND OF SMALLER SCHOOLING FISH ??
5 CORY'S

OR:

ELECTRIC BLUE ACARA
RAINBOWFISH OR GOURAMI
SCHOOL OF SMALLER SCHOOLING FISH
CORY'S

I am open to all opinions! I'm sure it will help

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

Water hardness?

 

[Rocky998]

Welcome to the forum!

We need to know what your water hardness is before we can recommend anything...

Also, I see you used plastic plants... Plastics can injure fish when they try to hide in them. If you want to use fake plants than use silk ones as they do not hurt fish...

How long has the tank been set up? All tanks need to go through a nitrogen cycle which can be explained how to do here: https://www.fishforums.net/threads/cycle-your-tank-a-complete-guide-for-beginners.475055/

 

[smurray7]

Welcome to the forum!

We need to know what your water hardness is before we can recommend anything...

Also, I see you used plastic plants... Plastics can injure fish when they try to hide in them. If you want to use fake plants than use silk ones as they do not hurt fish...

How long has the tank been set up? All tanks need to go through a nitrogen cycle which can be explained how to do here: https://www.fishforums.net/threads/cycle-your-tank-a-complete-guide-for-beginners.475055/

My tank has been up for almost 2 months and has completely cycled. I didn't originally buy the water hardness test, and it didn't come in my API master kit. So, I ordered one that should be delivered today or tomorrow.

 

[smurray7]

Water hardness?

I don't know that yet. I just ordered a test kit for that since it didn't come in my API master kit. My tank PH tends to run high like a little below or above 8. I have well water, and my PH out of the tap is very close to that in the tank.

 

[Rocky998]

My tank has been up for almost 2 months and has completely cycled. I didn't originally buy the water hardness test, and it didn't come in my API master kit. So, I ordered one that should be delivered today or tomorrow.

That is great! When you get the results, just show us and we can help you with stocking...

 

[smurray7]

That is great! When you get the results, just show us and we can help you with stocking...

Wow I just measured my water hardness. My KH is 120 ppm-ish and my GH is 180 ppm-ish....I measured with an API test strip. I didn't realize my water was so hard. My PH pretty much ranges 7.8 to 8.2

 

[Essjay]

The API strips only measure up to 180 ppm. If your water is harder than that it will still read as 180 pm. Does your water provider's website give your hardness?


If it really is 180 ppm, that's 10 dH, which is not really hard. It's too soft for a lot of hard water fish, for example.

 

[smurray7]

The API strips only measure up to 180 ppm. If your water is harder than that it will still read as 180 pm. Does your water provider's website give your hardness?


If it really is 180 ppm, that's 10 dH, which is not really hard. It's too soft for a lot of hard water fish, for example.

I have well water

 

[smurray7]

I'm considering Rainbows and Cory's and maybe a couple schools of smaller fish...I'm not sure yet. I'm going PetSmart tomorrow

 

[Essjay]

Do you have your well water tested?

The majority of rainbows are hard water fish, though there are a few soft water species. Cories are soft water fish. But it would be helpful to pin down your hardness before buying any fish. If it is 180 ppm, cories should be OK but it could be too soft for many rainbows. But if it's higher than 180 ppm it may be too hard for cories.

 

[smurray7]

I have well water

No I don't have my well water tested. Here's my thoughts:
Considering 2 different combinations.
1) about 5 rainbowfish, 5 cory's, 5 bloodfin tetra, 4 sunburst platies, and 2 or 3 snails
OR
2) about 5 rainbowfish, 3 oto's, 5 cherry barbs, 3 or 4 guppies, 2 sunburst platies, and a snail or 2

If I go with either of these, which fish do I add first to a newly cycled 55 gallon tank?

 

[Naughts]

Oto's don't thrive in new tanks - they are wild caught and need heavily planted mature (6-12+months) tanks with soft water.
From your list I think cherry barbs or platies are toughest, but we still don't know if your water is right for these species - can you buy the API GH test kit?

 

[smurray7]

Oto's don't thrive in new tanks - they are wild caught and need heavily planted mature (6-12+months) tanks with soft water.
From your list I think cherry barbs or platies are toughest, but we still don't know if your water is right for these species - can you buy the API GH test kit?

I used the API test strip for water hardness last night. My KH was 120-ish and my GH was 180-ish

 

[Naughts]

You need the liquid test which has a bigger range. You add/count drops until you get a colour change. This will show if it is indeed 180GH or somewhere (much?) higher.