What Should I stock in a 55 gallon?

[Astronomiii]

Hello everybody,


I am stocking a 55 gallon tank for my school, and while I do have stocking ideas in my mind, what are your opinions on stocking ideas, I want to incoroporate something with the rainbow shark, however I am willing to take and considerate all ideas.


Thanks

 

[Byron]

Knowing the water parameters you will be working with (i.e., those of the tap water) will allow us to suggest options. GH (general or total hardness) and pH are primary, and KH (Alkalinity or carbonate hardness) is worth knowing.

 

[enricosonic]

I don’t see a location on my phone version of TFF, but on my desktop the OP’s location reads Bothell, which is a suburb of Seattle. So likely very soft water and a pH of low 7s to low 8s.

 

[FishBR]

Rainbowfish. And then a few other rainbowfish...

 

[WhistlingBadger]

55 gallon is one of my favorite tank sizes. Big enough to give you lots of possibilities but small enough to be manageable.

I agree that knowing about your hardness and pH would help with suggestions. Also, what kind of decor and overall look are you into? Real plants or fake stuff? High tech or low tech?

If you're committed to having a rainbow shark, that will somewhat limit your options. They can get territorial and aggressive as they get older, so you'll need to choose your fish accordingly. Seriously Fish has some good info on acceptable tank mates, so check that out.

Epalzeorhynchos frenatum – Rainbow Shark (Labeo frenatus, Epalzeorhynchus frenatus) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

 

[30galBarbs]

Rainbowfish. And then a few other rainbowfish...

Sounds like your a rainbow fish fan haha

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Rainbowfish are great; bosemanis are one of my all-time favorite fish. They do better in hard water, and most species really do better in a bigger tank than a 55g.

 

[FishBR]

Rainbowfish are great; bosemanis are one of my all-time favorite fish. They do better in hard water, and most species really do better in a bigger tank than a 55g.

Boesemanis are indeed amazing. Here is a video of my two males sparring:

2 male Boesemani facing off again

There are a significant number of rainbows of the Melanotaenia genus that are smaller, not growing more than 3 inches:

M. Boesemani “Kromsa”
M. Catherinae
M. Exquisita
M. Garylangei
M. Kamaka
M. Lakamora
M. Maccullochi
M. Mairasi
M. Nigrans
M. Ogilbyi
M. Papuae
M. Pierucciae
M. Praecox
M. Pygmaea
M. Rubrovittata
M. Sahulensis
M. Sexlineata
M. Sp. Malanda “Williams Creek”
M. Sp. Malanda “Wallace Road”
M. Sp. Tawa
M. Sp Iwur
M. Splendida Tatei
M. Synergos
M. Utcheensis
M. Wilsoni

And most in the chilatherina genus also do not grow large.

 

[Astronomiii]

Rainbowfish. And then a few other rainbowfish...

I was actually thinking about rainbowfish, I just asked my teacher and my teacher said it looked like a little kids version of a drawing of a fish haha.

 

[Astronomiii]

55 gallon is one of my favorite tank sizes. Big enough to give you lots of possibilities but small enough to be manageable.

I agree that knowing about your hardness and pH would help with suggestions. Also, what kind of decor and overall look are you into? Real plants or fake stuff? High tech or low tech?

If you're committed to having a rainbow shark, that will somewhat limit your options. They can get territorial and aggressive as they get older, so you'll need to choose your fish accordingly. Seriously Fish has some good info on acceptable tank mates, so check that out.

Epalzeorhynchos frenatum – Rainbow Shark (Labeo frenatus, Epalzeorhynchus frenatus) — Seriously Fish

www.seriouslyfish.com

Low tech, Java fern, Java moss, Anubias

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Boesemanis are indeed amazing. Here is a video of my two males sparring:

2 male Boesemani facing off again

There are a significant number of rainbows of the Melanotaenia genus that are smaller, not growing more than 3 inches:

M. Boesemani “Kromsa”
M. Catherinae
M. Exquisita
M. Garylangei
M. Kamaka
M. Lakamora
M. Maccullochi
M. Mairasi
M. Nigrans
M. Ogilbyi
M. Papuae
M. Pierucciae
M. Praecox
M. Pygmaea
M. Rubrovittata
M. Sahulensis
M. Sexlineata
M. Sp. Malanda “Williams Creek”
M. Sp. Malanda “Wallace Road”
M. Sp. Tawa
M. Sp Iwur
M. Splendida Tatei
M. Synergos
M. Utcheensis
M. Wilsoni

And most in the chilatherina genus also do not grow large.

That's interesting. I looked up Wilsoni (my last name is Wilson, so it caught my eye), and it says they naturally live in soft, neutral-to-acidic water. Soft-water rainbowfish! News to me.