New 55 gallon tank WOOHOO!!

[snwhawk]

Ok went out tonight and bought a 55 gallon fish tank but very undecided about what to put in it so I need lots of suggestions! still new to the whole fish thing but getting more addicted by the minute! I am undecided as to do a community type tank or a cichlid type tank. I am very intrigued by the cichlids but no nothing about them! I want the tank to be fairly busy and full looking. Also do you have to have backdrops?? I have my tank dividing my living room and dining room and would like to see it from all angles. Also can you put rocks or wood that you may find outside somewhere - or should it be something that is bought at the lfs? I have plenty of time to decide what to put in it because of course it needs to cycle first - but definitely need suggestions! My fiance would like to have at least one type of schooling fish in the tank - but i think that would limit us to a community type tank right? if i do a community i think i would like to do some cardinals and harlequin rasboras, and clown loaches, and maybe some other types - but I am really leaning towards going with cichlids.

 

[StarOrbs]

Your choices also depend on whether you are doing a planted tank or not. I'm not doing one and I just have fake plants. Firemouths are good, I've heard severums are too and I'm planning on get one. Clown Loaches are the best bottom dweller in my opinion. You can have them in a 55 gallon but you just got to figure out what you are going to do once they outgrow it. I believe it takes about 5 years for them to outgrow it or so I'm not 100% sure on that. I'm sure some other people know better about tetras and stuff, I'm still pretty new to this.

 

[snwhawk]

ya - I think I am definitely going with the fake plants.
How big do clown loaches get?

 

[StarOrbs]

They get to around 9-12" but it takes a 5-10 years to get there.. As I said not sure exactly.

 

[fufanu360]

cichlids allll the way dude, they are fun.... are you into having just one fish? think about an oscar if that is so? if not do a cichlid community, with sevs, firemouths convicts and wut not

 

[Vip]

the plants wont last long with cichlids in them but dont worry some of the best tanks ive seen have no plants in them. As for Fish & Cichlids why not get 1 Blue Acara, 2 Cons, 1 Sev a school of tiger barbs as dithers and a couple of clown loaches. Alot of people here might think its over stocked but with the right filters its easy, and IMO that would make one hell of a tank.

 

[fufanu360]

the plants wont last long with cichlids in them but dont worry some of the best tanks ive seen have no plants in them. As for Fish & Cichlids why not get 1 Blue Acara, 2 Cons, 1 Sev a school of tiger barbs as dithers and a couple of clown loaches. Alot of people here might think its over stocked but with the right filters its easy, and IMO that would make one hell of a tank.

yes! very good selection, i dont think thats overstocked sounds like a sweet set-up tho, i can never think up good setups for some reason lol, need some sort of small plec too, but they are poop distributors

 

[bluestem]

With it being viewable from both sides, you might consider a large piece of african root or several pieces with little caves. It gives the fish a place to seek some solitude at times (especially those clowns) and it's fun watching them swim through and peeking around.

I like the idea of the oscars! Oscars would definitely enjoy this kind of setup where they'd get to see more action around them. Place some large, smooth stones in the middle for interest with smaller stones and lots of gravel for them to shift around and play with. It'd be a changing and new landscape every day.

Decorative rock and wood from your lfs will be fully sanitized and guaranteed not to pollute your tank. Also, if you go with wood, soak it in a bucket of water until the water stops turning brown before adding it to your tank.

How exciting!!! All these ideas are getting me itching to set up another tank!

 

[snwhawk]

Love your ideas Vip - looked up some info on the net about the fish you recommended and 1 question - everything I have read so far says that the convicts are aggressive - where as the blue acara and the severum are good in a community of their size - the tiger barbs get to be only about 2" wouldnt that be to small to be in a community with the others? what about firemouths? and how big of a school of tiger barbs should it be? I am getting so excited!! cant wait for the tank to be cylced so I can stock it! Also what do you guys know about biospira? does it really work?


also - the tank came with a aqua-tech power filter - I know you mentioned good filtration - not sure what to go with - since it will be viewable from all sides I would like to find something that will not obstruct the view of the tank at all - what does everyone think of box filters?


Oh yeah - i wanted to give the dimensions of the tank as well - it is 48"L x 13"W x 20"H

 

[bigfish]

Go for a school of 6 that way they will amuse themselves and not with someone else!!!!

Never kept tiger barbs as i've heard they can be quite nippy but i don't have any simpley becoz i have guppies and plumetail platies

 

[parker313]

Love your ideas Vip - looked up some info on the net about the fish you recommended and 1 question - everything I have read so far says that the convicts are aggressive - where as the blue acara and the severum are good in a community of their size - the tiger barbs get to be only about 2" wouldnt that be to small to be in a community with the others? what about firemouths? and how big of a school of tiger barbs should it be? I am getting so excited!! cant wait for the tank to be cylced so I can stock it! Also what do you guys know about biospira? does it really work?


also - the tank came with a aqua-tech power filter - I know you mentioned good filtration - not sure what to go with - since it will be viewable from all sides I would like to find something that will not obstruct the view of the tank at all - what does everyone think of box filters?


Oh yeah - i wanted to give the dimensions of the tank as well - it is 48"L x 13"W x 20"H

Yeah, the cons can be aggressive but mainly only if you get a male and female and they start breeding. Even still, the fish that vip listed can definitely handle themselves against the cons. The acara and sev will get a good deal bigger than the cons and the tiger barbs are nasty nippy fish that will be a great splash of color in there.

If I had a 55g, I'd definitely do what he just suggested!

You can use the filter that came with it and then get an Aqua Clear or some other filter also rated for the same size tank. That way you'll have double filtration and a backup in case one goes out.

As for cycling, check out the pinned topics here and at the top of the beginner's forum. You can cycle without fish, using ammonia. It will take longer, but is nice b/c you save the fish the stress of cycling. If you want to do fish in cycling, tiger barbs will be a good choice.

Is BioSpira the stuff that says it will give you an instantly cycled tank? If it is, it's junk. There are products you can buy to aid with cycling, but nothing can instantly cycle your tank short of adding a filter from an established tank.

 

[steelhealr]

Also can you put rocks or wood that you may find outside somewhere - or should it be something that is bought at the lfs?

Be careful about that part.....you won't know what you are dragging in from outside. Good luck...I have a 46 gallon for a few months and Im addicted too. I have a community tank and I love the congo tetras. SH

 

[jflowers]

VIP's mix is fantastic, would go with that IMO. Cons are agressive in the extreme, but the others VIP said can handle themselves. I would suggest, three clowns as they prefer a few more, four-six if you can rehome later. Keep the barbs in a school of 8+ to keep mischife in hand.

Jon

 

[snwhawk]

ok guys- went to the lfs today to get ammonia and what not to start cycling - got a couple of large box filters to add to the power filter that came with the tank so I should have great filtration. He does not carry any of the fish (except for barbs, clown loaches and plecs) that Vip suggested - soooooooooo he has talked me into african cichlids. I have taken the filter media out of my established tank to set in the power filter of my new tank to start an instant cycle. I purchased 3 africans today but have no clue what they are other than african cichlids. One of them is orange and black marbeled also having spots on all fins, one is black and orange striped, and one of them is a very very pale blue - sometimes even looking white under the right lighting, he has kinda like a black outline on his fins and 2 or 3 white dots on his tail fin. they are sooooooo active it is great and my cats are having a blast watching the tank and their heads move side to side in sync as they watch the fish swim around.....lol ok so what do you think of my choices - and if someone might help me identify them i would be more than grateful!