Dream Community Tank Advice

[tracynagel]

Hey guys!
 
I'm planning my first community tank cause I caught the fish keeping bug.  =D  Almost totally new at this - had a betta in a filtered 3 gallon before but I read up lots about fish keeping - so I would love some advice.  
 
I have a big fascination with bettas and would love to have a male betta in a community tank.  I know it doesn't always work though depending on the betta's personality so I'm completely prepared to fish him out and put him in his own tank if it looks like it's not working out.   Maybe replace him with a gourami or two.  
 
 
Here's my initial selection - 
 
Environment - Tropical freshwater
Tank size:  55 gallon / 4 ft length  (EDITED: Oops I said 6 ft by accident.  N00b.)
Current:  Low
Optimum temperature: 24 C
Optimum alkalinity: 7.0 pH
Optimum hardness: < 2 dH
Substrate: Smooth, small gravel
Plants: Well plants, driftwood, hiding spots
 
Happy cute fishies!
Top level:  8 Zebra Danio or 12 Endlers Livebearers
Top / Middle level:  8 Cardinal Tetra
Bottom level:  5 Kuhli Loaches and 2 - 3 ghost shrimp
Any level:  1 male betta and 2 African Dwarf Frogs
 
 
Okay so my specific questions are - 
 
1)  Most importantly:  Am I overstocked?  I calculated for 1 inch per gallon and I'm currently at 50 - 55 inches of fish.  But I want to double check.  
 
2)  I picked species that would work for the temperate / alkalinity / hardness I'm striving for, but if I made any mistake please tell me.  
 
3)  This might be a silly question but if I have two kinds of schooling fish (zebra danios and cardinal tetras) will they school together or separately?  What I have in mind is to have the fast playful zebra danios zipping around the top level, occasionally intersecting with the slower moving cardinal tetras for some interesting interplay.. not even sure if it'll work that way lol..   Please tell me if you think it would look better to just get a bigger school of one schooling fish?
 
4)  I really like zebra danios and I really like bettas.  But I've heard the danios can get nippy... but others have said that in a big enough tank this won't be much of an issue?  55 gallons should be big enough right?  I'm confused.  Any advice?  
 
Thoughts, comments, feedback, suggestions for alternate choices much appreciated!   Please keep in mind I am a beginner at this, and if I made any mistake with my calculations / research.. I am trying to learn and correct this, which is why I am here, so please be kind!!  
 
Last but not least, BIG THANK YOUS AND HUGS!  >--(

)--<

 

[the_lock_man]

1) No I don't think so.
 
2) You made a mistake. Well, sort of. Zebra Danios like their water considerably cooler than the other species you like. They will tolerate the warmer water, sort of, but you might well find that their lifespan is shortened somewhat.
 
3) I always say that there are no silly questions, except the ones that don't get asked. Seems I was wrong.....

Just teasing. No they won't shoal together.
 
4) When I was just a wee boy fishkeeper, and didn't know any better, I too kept zebra danios and a siamese fighter in the same tank. I never noticed any nipping at all. I have read on several occasions that fighters can be freaked out by the zippy zebras, since fighters are about as slow a fish as you can find. Again, I didn't really notice that either, but then I had the biggest soppiest doofus of a fighter that ever lived.
 
Not sure about the frogs as well, I would do a LOT of research on them before you get them.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Your stocking sounds a bit problematic. From all I've read, I think it's a bad idea to keep a betta in a community tank, particularly with the fast-moving fish you've listed. 
 
And I think the frog would make short work of the shrimp. But I could be wrong. 
 
It's wonderful you've done your research. So many who join our group start off the conversation with a huge problem. Good for you! 
 
I'd do even more research about the frogs and the betta living together in a 55g, and wait for responses here from more experienced folks.

 

[Livewire88]

Welcome to the wonderfull world of fish keeping.
 
Are you sure your tank is 6ft and only holds 55 gallon? seems like a small volume of water for a 6ft tank?

 

[tracynagel]

Thanks for responses guys!!  
 
Oops.. I meant 4 ft.. that was totally a typo.  =/  Edited!  
 
Sounds like I should skip the zebra danios since they're too fast moving for the betta and prefer cooler temperatures than the other fishies.. I like them so much but maybe next time.   The Endlers will work right?   
 
I've read mixed results on the ADF with bettas.. some people have their betta with an ADF or two in a small 5 gallon who get along fine, others have the ADF attack the betta or the other way round.. I don't know what to think!  I might just skip the ADF.  One semi aggressive fish is probably more than enough for a community tank.  
 
Yeah I know it's tricky getting a betta to work for a community tank.. which is why I'm trying to figure out the appropriate tankmates to maximize the chances of it happening.  If it doesn't work out, he'll move into his own 5 gallon and be my desktop buddy.  =D  

 

[the_lock_man]

In that case, deffo skip the zebras.
 
It's not just the betta being aggressive to its tank mates, the bettas fins are very tempting to a number of other species as well.

 

[MBOU]

I agree, skip the danios and go for Endlers, you could fit a few more in if you stick to just males They are tiny and look great as a big group and should shoal (though not very well) higher up in the tank than the cardinals
 
I would skip the frog, will definitely eat the shrimp and certainly eat the endlers if they get the chance. Would eat the cardinals if you introduced small ones too...

 

[tracynagel]

Okay, I'm gonna go for the Endlers and skipping the ADFs.  Without the ADFs I have room for a little more fish depending on size.  
 
Would like something a little bigger and more distinctive, since I'll have a bunch of shoaling fish and one betta..  Would provide more interest and variety. But I can't think of any fish like that that would work with a betta.  ='(   
 
Was thinking maybe bristlenose/bushynose pleco, should be fine since they are bottom dwellers and peaceful, but read that some people have had them attack other fish?!   Don't know if I wanna chance it.  
 
If nothing else works, I guess I'll just go for one or two more kuhli loaches to help them feel safe and encourage them to come out more.     They're so pretty!!