Got 55 gallon tank!!!YIPPI

[MNfishy]

So i got a 55 gallon tank with delux hood and stand with a 150W ebo jagger heater and an undergravel filter. I have a Penguin Bio Wheel 330 on its way from HERE. Im very excited this is the biggest tank ive ever had!! I want to get some dwarf gouramis (dont know how many yet, suggestions helpful), some serpae tetra (maybe 10 or so), and I want some more fish. I want fish about the same size as the dwarf gouramis and some the same size as the tetras. I have a cardinal and neon tetras is another tank so i dont want any of those. I really need some suggestions, its going to be a planted tank with gravel so.... For the plants im thinking of getting THIS but im not sure yet. I wanted to get a pleco for some time but then thought it wasnt worth the work to only see him once in a while. I want a peaceful yet somewhat active tank. I like to watch the fish swin around. Oh and if i went with these fish would i want mostly bogwood or slate rocks?

Thank
- Joe

**EDIT** ill get pics of the tank ASAP

 

[MXPX4318]

I like my gold barbs, not nippy like other barbs, I've got five and they only chase each other around (don't even mess with my blue ram), there's another idea, A set of rams, they're very pretty fish and will give you some nice fish for the middle/lower area. Cories also are a good addition (6 or so).

 

[MNfishy]

Ya i like the looks of blue rams but they look a little to hard to take care of for a begginer like me, but wouldbolivian rams be good?

 

[MXPX4318]

I forgot to ask is this 55g cycled? I mean blue rams aren't hard to keep as long as you stay on your water changes (1 or 2 times a week 25%) and your water parameters remain constant, so like after it's cycled you could add them probably a couple months after watching and making sure your water stays constant, but yes bolivian rams would be nice too, they're a bit hardier, a bit bigger, and a bit more aggresive from what I understand, but they should work fine too. As far as dwarf gouramis you could probably get away with 2 or 3 males, or 1 male and 2 or 3 females. Just if you get more then 1 male watch out for fighting as they are territorial towards each other so make sure there's hiding places (floating plants, tall plants).

 

[MNfishy]

ok thanks for the help, i have 5 zebra danios in the 55g right now to get it cycled and i have a power filter in there that has all the benificial bacteria and im checking the water every day, i would like to get 2 regular dwarf males, 2 fire dwarfs, and maybe like 1-2 female dwarfs would that work? Then get a pair of bolivian rams and some tetras. And ya I have floating plants, but im not sure if I should get drift wood or if i should get a bunch of slate rockes to make caves and such...

 

[sylvia]

Don't get fewer female than male dwarfs. What will you do with the five zebra danios after it cycles? I would suggest keeping them in cause they're pretty and active fish and add a few more. I also think cories would be nice and I like black phantom tetras and harlequin rasboras shoal nicely I think a pleco could still make a useful addition to your tank but get a bristlenose - they look unusual, come out more (IME) and don't grow as large as other plecos. What is the pH of your water at the moment? All these fish preffer a slightly acidic and soft water. Bogwood will usualy provide this and, as such, is probably your best choice. However, any inert rocks can also be included.

 

[MNfishy]

I took the danios out of one of my 10 gallon tanks, after the 55g is cycled they are going back in the 10 gallon tank. And ya i was thinking some black phantom tetras would be cool. Thanks for the help

 

[MXPX4318]

your black phantoms school? they are the same species as the white skirt tetra right, because my white skirt tetras don't school AT ALL in my 29g they swim around so loosley like not together, no order, they're so spread apart, that's why I didn't recommend them, as I was disappointed that they didn't school together.