Hmmm What To Stock In A 55

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So Gryphyn my O got caught red handed with my blue acaras tail in his mouth, they've now been separated and I'm looking for a new home for Gryphyn as i don't have room for yet another tank to keep the two separate.

Because of this, I'm now looking for something new to add to the 55g, it's a standard four foot and it's only occupant a 2 inch blue acara must stay. He's definitely a male and is growing soooo slow, I'm pretty sure he'll end up on the smaller side of things, either that or he's gonna take 5+ years to make it to the 8 inches that is listed as a blue acaras full size, but since he's definitely not a pure true blue acara it don't really matter LOL.

So I only want a fairly light stocking, the tank's filtration is all over the place at the mo, but once I get some Christmas money I'll be investing in either an Aqua Clear 500 or a good canister, though the Aqua Clear is probably the best quality I can get for my price range.

So what would work best, NO CICHLIDS I've had my fill of them and have definitely decided there not for me, the acara's only staying because he's my Mum's wet pet and she'd murder me if I sold him. I was thinking of something like a small school of bottom dwellers (would cories/kuhlis work?) and then maybe a school of barbs or bigger tetras? Any suggestions welcome

Emma

 

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Anyone?

 

[shroob]

You could do an amazon theme, say with 6 corys on the bottom, and a school of larger tetras with the blue acara as the centre piece. Lots of bogwood and some amazon swords and it would look good.

Though you have been put off cichlids, presumably by the oscar trying to scoff the acara, there are plenty of other peaceful, smaller cichlids that could work with the blue acara, if you wanted to put more fish into what I have suggested, you could have possibly some rams or apisots. That is if you're not completely put off by cichlids.

 

[PRW1988]

I agree, Kribs, rams and apisots are very nice You could try a nice, heavily planted tank with neon dwarf rainbows, cory catfish, angelfish, and some sort of tetra?

 

[Squid]

I would go down the rainbow route too, but would suggest bosmani rainbows. They seem to keep gaining more colour as they mature, they are very active fish and are active from the top to the bottom of the tank. HERE is some info on them. (see bloo's great pic - second down)

If you like the rainbows and you are considering the neon ones suggested, take a look at THIS THREAD for some good pics of what they are like.

One thing though.. i know nothing about blue acara, and so could not comment on compatability.

Let us know what you decide on

Cheers
Squid

 

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It's not just the O thats put me off cichlids, they always just seem to aggresive, even my Angelfish will try to attack through the glass. Never really liked the rams, plus the only size I can buy them in is an inch long and they'd be acara food pretty quickly.

Would cories work? I was just kinda worried they might be the perfect size for acara food... but if I got em big it might work.

The actual tank once the Oscars gone will have a really fine gravel in it which is a mixture of browns reds and blacks, it's less then a mm across but not fine enough to be sand. Then some driftwood and caves and some fake green (acara loves killing plants).

What sort of tetras would work? as they'd need to be a larger variety... I'd like something that'd sort of match the acara colourwise, or be a bit duller so he still stands out.

 

[shroob]

Congo tetras should be quite safe, they grow pretty big for a tetra. Though they are from africa, so if you are wanting a theme tank its somethign to think of.

 

[cuticom]

Well looks like my O's found a new home, trying to sell him was near impossible, but someone offered to swap him for a good quality powerhead so there we go. The O should be picked up sometime this weekend.

Then I can finally start redoing my tank, Mum's promised to take me up to a really good pet store next Saturday so will be buying the new stock then.

So far on my list all I have is a baby bristlenose, they do wonderful jobs on algae and once they get past 4 inches and stop eating algae they go into my semi tropical goldie tank where they do a good job on left over food.

So for the 55g my lists so far is
1 x blue acara hybrid thing
1 x baby bristlenose


Not sure what else to add, I haven't seen any tetras that have really caught my eye. Hmmm would gouramis go with the blue acara? or am I just asking for trouble? a trio of pearls might be nice... though a tad big. What about a male dwarf and two females?

LOl I dunno I'm just throwing out ideas, it's a pity I can't keep bettas with the acara a group of females would look fantastic.

 

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Hmmm Mum wants to know if Killifish would suit, I have a feeling they aren't compatible but may as well ask.

The other one, also Mum's idea is Angelfish, she wants to know if we can stick 6 angels in there, at a guess my gut feeling would be know since as soon as a pair forms there gonna beat the rest up... but Mum insisted on asking LOL

 

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Well oscars gone and the tanks been broken down and redone, it's gone from a barebottom bare essentials stuffed with filters 4 foot to this-

I know white backgrounds aren't a favourite, but theres no lighting in this corner, and the tank doesn't ahve a light and it just went really dark and gloomy with a black background.

And this is Morgan

So I'd like something that would sort of fit into the tank...

 

[SJ2K]

Nice would look great if you got yourself a luminare and planted it out

 

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Can't plant it, Morgan loves tearing plants up, even java ferns

 

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So spent some time working out possibilities, and was wondering if any of these would be good?

Idea One
1 x blue acara
1 x angelfish
1 x bristlenose
1 x gold/blue panchax
3 x male dwarf gourami
6 x bronze corydoras

Idea Two
1 x blue acara
1 x angelfish
1 x bristlenose
3 x male dwarf gourami
6 x bronze corydoras
6 x albino corydoras

Idea Three
1 x blue acara
1 x angelfish
1 x bristlenose
1 x male three spot gourami
3 x female three spot gourami
10 x albino/bronze corydoras

Idea four
1 x blue acara
1 x angelfish
1 x bristlenose
4 x silver dollars

Idea Five
1 x blue acara
1 x angelfish
1 x bristlenose
3 x male dwarf gourami
2 x blue/bolivian/gold ram

 

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Spent some time thinking and I think this is what I'd like to do...

1 x blue acara
1 x bristlenose
5 x silver dollars
and possibly an angel fish

Would that work? or too overstocked? the acara is pretty mixed up and she's growing sooo slowly it'll be a good two years before she even reaches 6 inches let alone the eight they supposedly grow to, I doubt she'll get over 6, so that's virtually 6 6 inch fish and a 5 inch fish... Too much? the silver dollars seem big but then again their completely flat... Most websites I've read have quoted 30-40g for a school of silver dollars...

 

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Okay so I've got it down to two options either
1 x blue acara
1 x bristlenose
1 x angelfish (maybe)
5 x silver dollar

OR
1 x blue acara
1 x bristlenose
2-5 x dwarf gourami (apparently keeping them in larger numbers reduces aggression? if not change that to 2)
2 x blue/bolivian/gold ram
1 x angelfish (? not sure, would like something that shimmers like the other fish, but can't think of anything... I also don't want anything orange)

Both options cost the same and are both nice and would look good so I have no idea LOL