Opinions on stocking a 55 gal tank

[scott1000]

I'm going to start cycling my new 55 gallon tank here in a week or so, here's what I was thinking about stocking it with in the long run:

Clown Killifish x3
Angelicus Botia Loach x3
Black Ghost Knifefish x1
Angelfish x2
Boesemani Rainbow x3
Marble Hatchet x5

I know that this is slightly overstocked when everybody gets to be an adult, but it's only by about 5" (going by the 1" rule, when they're adult). I will have an eheim 2215 filter (made for a 92 gallon tank) and do weekly water changes, so it'll be ultra clean. What do you think? Is it just too much?

Any opinions on compatibility? According to what I've read all of them seem to be peaceful, my only worry is the Angelfish?

What order do you think the fish should be added?

Thanks for all of y'alls help!!!!

 

[scott1000]

Any thoughts?

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Seeing as how some of those fish will get way beyond 5" (which is when the 1" rule doesn't work, though it never works, IMO) those calculations would be far off.

I don't have any expert advice for these types of fish, but I would say that the tank should have a tight-fitting hood to prevent the hatchets from jumping.

 

[drobbins27]

Dont clown knifes get huge...

Why not go with some NW Cichlids, they are really neat

 

[vantgE]

you would have to drop a lot of knife fish i think the blackghost need a minimum tank of 75 gallons

 

[Cheese Specialist]

Dont clown knifes get huge...

Why not go with some NW Cichlids, they are really neat

A clown knife wasn't even mentioned!! It was a BGK and they get to about 8". Clown knives can get to 24".

*geez*

 

[scott1000]

Dont clown knifes get huge...

Why not go with some NW Cichlids, they are really neat

Didn't list any clown knives?

I've heard that the black ghost knife gets to be about a foot. And if he got that big I would either find him a new home or take him back to the lfs where he can be housed properly.

Besides the BGK none of them get over 5", except the angels which get right about 5".

I know the 1" rule doesn't always work, but just trying to keep about there. Considering the extra heavy duty filteration and the fact that I will be doing frequent water changes and it'll be very heavily planted (didn't mention that before), I thought I could get it fairly well stocked.

I would be adding them somewhat slowly. Any suggestions on the order of adding them? I will definitly be getting a BGK, the others are still up in the air (but I REALLY like the angelicus loach).

EDIT: NOTE: Clown killifish is not the same thing as a clown knifefish

THANKS!

 

[mhoward1999]

I am not an expert, but I think that Angelfish need to be in schools, so a minimum of 5 is best, and I would think that they would pick on the other fish in your list. Aren't they classified as aggressive to semi-agressive fish? I was always taught that if you had angelfish, you had to have only them, but that may be untrue.

I also thought that all knifefish got big. I will have to research that, cause I wanted one, but tossed the idea because I was told they all got big. Just goes to show...take everything with a grain of salt!

 

[scott1000]

I am not an expert, but I think that Angelfish need to be in schools, so a minimum of 5 is best

I've never heard this before, is that true? Anybody wanna confirm? (no offense Howard, not that I don't trust you)

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Not sure. However, they can be kept in pairs during breeding and they pair off and stick together in groups of two if they are of opposite genders.

If you want to try breeding them, you could get six and let them pair off. Then you'd have 95+% chance of having a pair. Then you could return the others if you get your lfs to let you (do this in advance).

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I have kept both 2 and 4 angel fish without a problem, admittadley the 2 were young but they are bigger now and with 2 adults. No problems.

 

[scott1000]

and I would think that they would pick on the other fish in your list.

I was also worried about that, but I wasn't sure. Any opinions on how angelfish would do with these other fish?

I was also thinking about getting a few dwarf gouramies (4-5), or pearl gouramies (2-3) instead of the angelfish. Would this be better? I was really worried about them ripping up my plants though.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

The hatchets are surface dwellers, as are gouramis. The gouramis prefer calm waters and are territorial. It might not be a good combination.

 

[Cheese Specialist]

I don't see why it would be a problem. Are you buying young angel fish? Usually if angels are young when introduced they won't bother most tank mates.

None of those fish seem that small as to be bothered by the angels. Maybe the hatchets.

 

[scott1000]

Not sure. However, they can be kept in pairs during breeding and they pair off and stick together in groups of two if they are of opposite genders.

If you want to try breeding them, you could get six and let them pair off. Then you'd have 95+% chance of having a pair. Then you could return the others if you get your lfs to let you (do this in advance).

I was planning on doing this or just making sure the ones I buy are a pair that has already matched up. I wouldn't necessarily be trying to breed them, because if they did have kids they would just become a donation to my lfs. I would try to get a pair to try and avoid fighting.