55 gallon stocking

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JuiceBox52

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I currently have a 55g tank. I've had it about 3 yrs. I currently have 6 rummynose tetras, 4 neon tetras and 7 otocinclus catfish. I am planning on getting another couple rummys and Oto cats. I have kept neons for 5 years and the school has died off. I am not going to buy more even though this is not ideal, I'll just let them go as they die. I want to get some fish to add that are no bigger than 3 inches. Suggestions?
 
What is your GH and pH? What is the temperature?
 
Ember tetras are a nice small fish, I have a shoal of them in my 55 gallon tank , I also have a shoal of glowlight tetras which look nice. They all get along well with my neon tetra.
 
We need to know the water parameters, being GH (general hardness) and pH for the purpose of suggesting fish.

While waiting for that, I agree on increasing the rummynose, this species will bee much better (healthier, and more colourful) with 12-20 and you have the space. I had 21 in my larger tanks for years and they are a lovely sight as they remain in a shoal more than most other freshwater shoaling fish.
 
I'm not sure what the gh is. Ph is 7. I do know that my guppies and mollies don't last long in my water but any tetras and catfish do
 
I'm not sure what the gh is. Ph is 7. I do know that my guppies and mollies don't last long in my water but any tetras and catfish do

This would strongly suggest the GH is on the soft side. Livebearers must have moderately hard or harder water, with in some cases (mollies) a more basic (= above 7) pH. It would be a good idea to track down the GH from your municipal water authority, it may be on their website, or you can call them. You/we need the number and their unit of measurement.
 
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This would strongly suggest the GH is on the soft side. Livebearers must have moderately hard or harder water, with in some cases (mollies) a more basic (= above 7) pH. It would be a good idea to track down the GH from your municipal water authority, it may be on their website, or you can call them. You/we need the number and their unit of measurement.
I looked at the water quality report and it had the pH (7.3) and a bunch of other thing but no GH... there also was no number to call other than for leaks and spills
 
Are you in the UK? Water quality reports in the UK do not include hardness, it is in a separate section. My water company gives it in the section called 'in your area'.

UK water companies often give hardness in unusual units of measurement, eg mg/l calcium oxide. This is why we ask for the unit as well as the number.
 
Are you in the UK? Water quality reports in the UK do not include hardness, it is in a separate section. My water company gives it in the section called 'in your area'.

UK water companies often give hardness in unusual units of measurement, eg mg/l calcium oxide. This is why we ask for the unit as well as the number.
No I'm in washington state. I looked all around the website and couldn't find anything
 
No I'm in washington state. I looked all around the website and couldn't find anything

I am up in the Vancouver, BC, area, and our water here is near-identical to the water in western Washington state, west of the Cascades. East, I believe someone told me it might be different, but I'm not sure. But western Washington, western Oregon and SW BC all have very soft (basically zero GH) water which comes from mountain reservoirs and is also quite acidic though most water authorities add something (soda ash is one additive) to raise the pH temporarily and prevent corrosion. It dissipates out rapidly.

If you don't mind providing me with a link to the water authority, I will take a look.
 
Thanks for all of your help :)

You're very welcome. OK, there was nothing on hardness, but they do advise that soda ash is added to raise the pH and prevent corrosion, which is exactly what I expected. The water is therefore very soft. And checking the map for Spada Lake which is their/your reservoir, it is west so again soft water.

So, back to your initial question on suitable fish...almost any fish from South America and SE Asia will be fine in your water. This includes the characins (tetras, pencilfish, hatchetfish), most catfish (Corydoras, plecos, etc), SA dwarf cichlids, rasboras, danios, barbs, loaches, gourami. Lots to look at. Of course, after we have the water parameters settled, you then need to decide if you want an active or sedate community; the two do not mix. Fish that are active swimmers which includes pretty much all of the danios and barbs do not make good tankmates for sedate fish like gourami, dwarf cichlids, to be obvious. Rasboras are generally quiet fish, more cruising than active swimming, and the characins have quite a variety.

Just to pin this down further, all the fish you list in post #1 are on the sedate side, so if that is what you like, you should find other species with similar habits. And there are many.
 
Awesome! Thanks for all of the great advice. If I choose to move my current fish into my slightly smaller tank is there any cool larger species you would recommend?
 

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