50 Gallon Subtropical Community Tank

[Motley]

So, what began as an earnest attempt to upgrade my sister's goldfish from his little 10 gallon tank has resulted in me being given (!) a 50 gallon tank. I don't have it yet but I'm told it is 3ft long, 2 ft high and 13 inches deep. I'm not sure what sort of lighting and filtration is coming with it but considering the tank is free I don't mind spending a bit to upgrade those if necessary. I have never had such a large tank before and am overwhelmed. It needs to be kept cool because the goldfish is going in there and I also want to have live plants (I don't mind if they get eaten) but I need help on what other fish I can put in there. So far I'm thinking a school of pearl danios (6? 12?) and I really want one of the reticulated hillstream loaches I saw at the LFS today but beyond that I am lost. Help please.

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Hill stream loaches are best for species tanks. They need fast moving water.