Fresh Meat - Setting Up 50g Cube

[Suzy9mm]

Alright, so I'm setting up a new 50G (Cube, so probably 49G actually) tank and before I actually get the ball rolling I wanted to research a broad range of community and peaceful fish to see what could be housed in there. I've compiled a small list and was researching through the fish.

List (so far of possible ideas and choices): This will probably get bigger and flux in size and content . . .These are all the fish that have caught my eye so far, not what I plan on adding to the tank, a big part of my research will be to make sure everyone gets along appropriately, wont be eating or beating on each-other and will all be able to live in similar parameters.
I feel like it's more of a favorite fish list / dream list . . .

-Brichardi
These fish sound like they're very active reproduction-artists and I was wondering if keeping only males was possible? I do like this cichlid, but I don't really want to breed them, so. . . I was just wondering if this would be an okay choice.
I read on aqua-fish.net's aquarium list that these guys are pretty social, peaceful and actually shoal. Is this true? I've read too that they are very territorial, so perhaps they are not as peaceful as I've thought previously and then I feel like a 50G tank would be too small, as the dimensions are 2'x2'x18".

-Forktail Rainbow Fish : Pseudomugil Furcatuis
-Fenestratus - Protomelas Fenestratus
- Aequideus Patricki
- Banded Dwarf Cichlid: Apistogramma Bitaeniata
- Apistogramma Resticulosa
- Butterfly Barb - Barbus Hulstaerti
- Masked Juliu : Julidochromis Transcriptus
- Coral Red Dwarf Pencil : Nannostromus Mortenthaleri
- Blue GoldTip Cichlid : Ophthalmotilapia Ventralis
-Gold Ram

This is the tentative list so far, I was thinking of getting some Oto's too though. I'm still researching this guys and other ones but for those of you who are interested or have any advice about these fish, I'm open to suggestions and comments.

 

[waterdrop]

Hi Suzy and welcome to TFF.

There are plenty of experienced fishkeepers here on TFF that will be along at some point, see your post, and probably respond. For some of the more detailed questions they may even send you down into one of the cichlid forums.

Since you've posted into the "New to the Hobby" forum and are a newcomer, I'll ask a few things we usually end up asking... (apologies if you are an experienced aquarist and already are familiar with all this stuff!)

A typical sequence of guided startup usually ends up going along the following rough timeline:
week 1 or so -- find out about filters and media to determine if you are starting with the right filter media and understand how filters work.
week 1-2 or so -- gather freshwater test kit, syringes, household ammonia of the proper type and any other supplies you didn't know you needed
week 2-3 or so -- begin Fishless Cycling!
Fishless Cycling - This averages 4-6 weeks and prepares your biofilter so that it can handle fish. Its during this period that you have plenty of time to ask the detailed stocking questions like your thread has started out with. You are off to a good start with that - listing species you are interested in so you can begin to get feedback on which ones might fit your tank size, which ones are compatible with which others and then what size groupings will be minimums for a given species and will work with your aquascape.
End of Fishless Cycling - This is when you throw out all the bacteria growing water and replace with fresh conditioned water and introduce fish. It happens after the filter is able to drop 5ppm of ammonia and nitrite down to zero parts per million within 12 hours. This is also when regular maintenance (weekly water changes, gravel cleanings, monthly filter cleanings etc.) begins.

Good luck with your fish questions and with your time here at TFF!
~~waterdrop~~