Stocking Question

[OrbWeaver]

Hello everyone,
I have a 55 gallon, cycled and empty tank that I am getting ready to begin adding fishes to. I am a newbie to fish keeping. I would like a community tank. I went to the LFS to look at some of the fishes and I got a book on the different types of tropical fishes.

I think if have decided which kinds of fish I would like to have. I would like to eventually stock my tank with: 3-4 guppies, 2 Mollies (One dalmation on black) Maybe one or two Platies and I would love a small "handful" of tetras. Maybe 5 if that wouldn't be too many.. Would this many fish be overstocking my tank? I am not planning on getting all these fishes at once. Just one or two at a time over a period of a couple months.

Thank you so much for your help. I just want to make sure I don't overstock my tank.

 

[Mom of MnE]

a good website for you to try is ##151###.com. it will give you a good estimation on what would be a good amount of fish in that tank.

 

[Juggler75]

Hello everyone,
I have a 55 gallon,

I think if have decided which kinds of fish I would like to have. I would like to eventually stock my tank with: 3-4 guppies, 2 Mollies (One dalmation on black) Maybe one or two Platies and I would love a small "handful" of tetras. Maybe 5 if that wouldn't be too many.

I would like to think this stocking would be quite minimalistic in a 55 gallon, I've seen more in a 20g.
Tetras are a shoaling fish and therefore are healthier and in some cases better behaved in a large shoal (most advice is at least 6 to see more natural behaviour and less fin nipping in those species of shoaling fish that have a reputation for nipping fins).

The website suggested aboove was aq advisor (alternativly try think fish community creator) I believe, I have just been told to take the advice from these sites with a large pinch of salt but I do find them useful to plan a stocklist to see best temp, ph and they do highlight any glaring possible issues e.g. Angels and neons together.

PS how did you cycle your tank? If you fishless cycled then you could put all your stock in together. Further info on cycling is in beginners resource section

Have fun with your planning and ask again with updated stock plan if you do alter it, I'm sure I'm not the only one who likes to see proposed stock plans (it sparks ideas in my head).

 

[OrbWeaver]

PS how did you cycle your tank? If you fishless cycled then you could put all your stock in together. Further info on cycling is in beginners resource section

Have fun with your planning and ask again with updated stock plan if you do alter it, I'm sure I'm not the only one who likes to see proposed stock plans (it sparks ideas in my head).

Thanx so much for the reply. i cycled my tank using mature media from a goldfish tank. I am planning on going to my LFS on Monday to have them test my water. If I get the OK, think I am going to pick up a couple Guppies. I am so excited! Can't wait to see them swimming around in my tank.

 

[minnnt]

13 fish in 55 gallon? Really?

I would be thinking more along the lines of a shoal of probably 20+ of the smaller Tetra's such as Cardinals or Glowlights rather than 5.

 

[OrbWeaver]

Thanx for the reply, do you think that with the other fishes I would like to add, would upping the amount of tetra be overstocking my tank? I would love to be able to have a larger quantity of tetra if it is safe for them in my tank? I am having trouble figuring out how many smaller fishes are safe in my tank.
I also don't want to add too many fish to my tank in case I would like to try some different kinds later on after I get some fishkeeping experience...

 

[soybean]

With all those Livebearers you'll have plenty more soon enough...!

You could easily have a shoal of small tetras numbering around 15. As you say, better to understock and have room to add more in the future. It'd be nice to see a tank that isn't at capacity for a change.

 

[pablothebetta]

Yeah, I'd definitely up the tetras - the larger the better Maybe some corys (small bottom-dwellers) would interest you too, I'm sure you'd be able to fit some in - I'm sure somebody could advise you about this, I'm afraid I don't know a huge deal about cories

 

[minnnt]

I would look into stocking 2 shoals of opposite colours...

15 Rummynose Tetra
15 Cardinal Tetra
10 Corydoras
2 Albino Bristlenoses
2 Bolivian Rams

Live bearers aren't really my thing anymore so would probably only go with 3 Platies (1m 2f)

What will it be filtered with? Obviously the stocking will have to be built up over time so that your filter can adjust itself to cope with the bio load it will be supporting.

 

[OrbWeaver]

Whisper 60.
I could also get another Whisper 60 and run them both at the same time.



Thanx again for the help. Going to the store Monday... ;0)

 

[minnnt]

Old skool!!!

With 2 filters running you would have no worries at all

 

[cynic]

My 60g has 24 fish in it,

18 Harlequin Rasbora
6 Panda Cories

They get on great, the HR's shoal up nice every once in a while but tend to spit into 2 groups then re group again. Fasinating esp when they go bright red before spawning. The cories buzz around the bottom like nutters, they do like to hide out in the scenery though.

I will be increacing the number of HR, the cories may go up a couple but they will be over 2inches long as adults and that may be a bit much on the bottom. The base of my tank is only 15 inch across.

I have had rams suggested which is possible, plecs too but i just don't like how they look. i also love the fact the fish have room to move naturally.