55gal help

[StarOrbs]

I would appreciate some help in deciding which fish to choose because there are quite a bit more options with a 55gallon vs a 30 gallon hex, heh..

If its possible I'd like one group of schooling fish, some type of bottom dweller, I'm not really sure what else there is. Are there any other fish about the size of pearl gouramis that would work? Any ideas? Thanks.

The list I've been constructing is something like this...
4 pearl gouramis
8 Glo-Lite tetras
I'm not really sure what to pick because the last time I visited the pet store I had a mindset for the other tank.

 

[lwbroome]

Hiya, If you do decide to get Pearl gourami I would advise just getting a couple instead of four. Glow-light look great along with Neon Tetra. I'm guessing you going for a mixed community tank?, maybe a trio of swordtails and a few corydoras catfish.. If you can go for reall plants they are so much better than fake although require lighting to flourish..

HTH
Lawrence

 

[StarOrbs]

Yah cories were next on my list, I got a while till I add fish anyway.

 

[sylvia]

I think you should go for all 4 gouramies actualy Pearls are absolutely wonderful fish (my favourite) and they aren't as aggressive as other trichogaster species can be. Do try to get just one male though even if you do end up with 2 males and 2 females you shouldn't have problems.

If you go for cories, the gouramies and the glowlight tetras, I'd think a nice addition would be a bristlenose plec. They grow to about the size of a pearl gourami and would help with algae too and would make a nice bottom feeder.

Angelfish would work (with the gouramies and also cories or bristlenose) but you might encounter problems with the tetras. I'd suggest black phantom tetras instead of glowlights if you go for angels as they are less likely to be eaten. Harlequin rasboras would also work instead of the tetras and are the very best schooling fish.

You could also get moonlight gouramies, thick-lipped gouramies, indian/banded/striped gouramies, dwarf gouramies or honey gouramies.

 

[StarOrbs]

If I go for angelfish how's this list..
4 Pearls
1 Brist. Plec or 5-6 cories
6-7 Black Phantom tetras or 6-7 Rasboras
Angelfish (Not sure on the Number of Any idea how many??)

If I don't get angelfish..
4 Pearls
1 Bris. Plec or 5-6 cories
6-7 Glo-Lites or 6-7 Rasboras or 6-7 Black Phantoms
Since I wouldn't get angels in this list any suggestions?? I was thinking maybe 5-7 Honey Gouramis or something like that.

If anyone has any more suggestions please tell me.. I'm almost done with the lists now finally..
Oh yah once my tank is fully cycled would it be best to put in the gouramis or the tetras first just to make sure my tank is stable.

 

[sylvia]

Those lists look fine to me.

I'd say 5 angels at most. 3-4 would be my prefference in case you want to add something else later (which you probably will at some point ). You could keep 1 alone just as easily though - it's up to you realy.

Honey gouramies sound good.

You could try a few blue/gold rams as well (if you don't get angels as you'd be over-crowded otherwise).

Now what you add first is up to you realy but... if you go with black phantoms/rasboras, put those in first. If you go with glowlights I'd actualy add the cories first. I know people say cories can be quite fragile but they produce very little waste so would be good (as your tank would be cycled already anyway) to make sure everything is stable as they would be unlikely to cause any serious ammonia spikes and IME are more hardy than glowlights (I know other disagree though).

 

[StarOrbs]

I think I will probally go with angelfish because I've always wanted them but who knows I may go for rams instead as they do look cool. The only thing that confuses me is in the store they have small angelfish and large angelfish, thats actually on the tank. I would assume that they are different and it doesn't involve the age of the fish.