I have two new 55 gallon set ups available to me. I am not ready to put fish in yet. Don't even have the stands, etc together yet.

I was reading the post of what everyone would NOT put in their tanks. What is your favorite fishes for this size tank and why? I have three small children that are fascinated with our aquariums. I do not want oscars (did that before) or piranha or the like.

You could house African Cihclids in a tank that size and they are very colorful and have great personalities.

There's too many to list but pearl gouramies are my favourite fish and would work in that size tank very nicely. Then there's the badis I want but still can't have ...

I also like other gouramies (and related fish such as ctenopomas), boesmani and turqoise rainbowfish, harlequin rasboras (and several others), danios (don't like the giant much though), black phantom tetras (and various others ), RTBS/flying fox/siamese algae eaters (and other small-ish sharks), tiegr barbs (with semi-aggressive fish), various oddballs, all sorts of catfish, mbuna cichlids, as well as some tanganyikans, and keyholes... There's an endless list of fish I'd like for a 55 gallon .

I think choosing your stock should be entirely up to you though. Find something you like the look of and work around it. Otherwise you'll regret it. Obviously make sure you research it carefuly first and choose a suitable set-up and tankmates.

I want colorful. Definitely colorful!

I grew up with mollies, platys, guppies, etc. They are nice, but I don't want the tanks to be overrun with fry so quickly.

I've had convicts. Will all types of cichlids get along and be colorful?

I would have to go for Africans cichlids (malawi). They are great fun to watch and stunning colors.