New 55 gallon tank

[keane]

Hiya folks,

I have ordered my new 55 gallon for my office and I have a vision of how it will look and some of what i want to keep. It is a "BLACK AND WHITE" theme with some plants to break it up a little.

Here are my fish thoughts so far: -

1 x Black Ghost Knife
2 x Black Angels
6-8 x Glass Catfish
6-8 - Panda Cories (If I can find them)

The substrate will be a mixture of fine black and white gravel.

My questions are: -

Will the BGK be ok with the others? Is my 55 gallon big enough for the BGK??

Are there any "black and white" loaches I could add to dwell the bottom echilons(hoping to get 3 or so)

Can you think of any other compatable fish for the middle/upper levels that would meet with my theme?

thanks in advance for your help.

steve

 

[simonbrown403]

i think a chain loach or pakistan loach would fit

empor tetras
marble hachet fish

 

[MegTheFish]

This site:
http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile66.html
says they get up to 20", which I think is pretty big, and a standard 55 gallon is quite skinny, so I think he would have a hard time turning around. Whats the width of your tank?

Edit: the width of a 55 gallon is 13", right? Thats what I think, at least (I was searching on google) so the Black Ghost Knife wouldn't be able to turn around.

 

[Sky042]

A botia kubotai(angelicus) is black and yellow dots sometimes you can find ones where the yellow is very very pale they could possibly work in your scenario.

 

[Tolak]

If you can't find the pandas, look for some pygmys. They have black & whitish horizontal stripes.

Tolak

 

[keane]

cheers guys.

the tank is 15" wide but i guess it will still be pushing it with a BGK.

Any other thoughts then on a black and white fish thats grows large enough to be a centrepiece fish but not too large for the 55??

*now feels gutted 'cos really wanted a BGK *

steve

 

[Cheese Specialist]

A couple of black angels would fit that need. My black angel was massive and the centrepiece over the other fis in my 70UK.

A black and white plec would be cool. Like a queen arabesque or king tiger.

 

[keane]

A couple of black angels would fit that need. My black angel was massive and the centrepiece over the other fis in my 70UK.

A black and white plec would be cool. Like a queen arabesque or king tiger.

Thanks Cheese Specialist.

they were already in my "wishlist" (see my first post above) but not as the main attraction .

Guess if I can't have the BGK I will have to have a re-jig, make the angels the centrepiece and add some more small/medium fish than those already listed.

thanks for the tip on the plecs too but they're a little too messy for my liking .

steve

 

[Cheese Specialist]

A couple of black angels would fit that need. My black angel was massive and the centrepiece over the other fis in my 70UK.

A black and white plec would be cool. Like a queen arabesque or king tiger.

Thanks Cheese Specialist.

they were already in my "wishlist" (see my first post above) but not as the main attraction

I know, that's why I said them.

I think they would be your cetrepiece without you meaning them to be. My black angel was very big and took over my 70UK so 2 in a 55gallon would do the same.

Also BGK are nocturnal, are they not, and might not come out in office hours anyway.

 

[Ben]

i would skip the BGK IMO and IME
b&w communitys are better, and as CS said, you wont see the BGK most of the time anyway.

What about a school of Black and White Skirt/Widow Tetras?
and Black neons

DD

 

[keane]

Also BGK are nocturnal, are they not, and might not come out in office hours anyway.

Good point!! Didn't think of that ) .

Black Angels it is then as the centrepiece with Glass Cats and Panda Corys so far.

Needs more though....keep your ideas coming folks!

steve

 

[keane]

i would skip the BGK IMO and IME
b&w communitys are better, and as CS said, you wont see the BGK most of the time anyway.

What about a school of Black and White Skirt/Widow Tetras?
and Black neons

DD

Well DD...I though about the BW tetras but are they not pain in the ass fin nippers that will give my Angels a hard time??

Didn't know you could get black neons though. Would they not get munched by the Black Angels??

steve

 

[Cheese Specialist]

i would skip the BGK IMO and IME
b&w communitys are better, and as CS said, you wont see the BGK most of the time anyway.

What about a school of Black and White Skirt/Widow Tetras?
and Black neons

DD

Well DD...I though about the BW tetras but are they not pain in the ass fin nippers that will give my Angels a hard time??

Didn't know you could get black neons though. Would they not get munched by the Black Angels??

steve

lol. Maybe (maybe not if there's lots) and yes.

 

[keane]

i would skip the BGK IMO and IME
b&w communitys are better, and as CS said, you wont see the BGK most of the time anyway.

What about a school of Black and White Skirt/Widow Tetras?
and Black neons

DD

Well DD...I though about the BW tetras but are they not pain in the ass fin nippers that will give my Angels a hard time??

Didn't know you could get black neons though. Would they not get munched by the Black Angels??

steve

lol. Maybe (maybe not if there's lots) and yes.

Thought so .

steve

 

[Ben]

Black Neons are genrelly larger then normal neons.
They're not even related to the normal neons (besides the Characin family part) they just look like them and are black.
They should work but dont quote me with that
Also, what about X-Ray tetras and Black Phantom Tetras?

DD