New 55 Gallon

[DazedNCoNfUsEd]

OK soon I'm getting a new 55 gallon tank and trying to make my mind up on what exactly to put in it. I wanted an Oscar real bad at first but research tells me that would be a no-no, and I don't have room for anything bigger than a 55. So heres what I was thinking, just want some suggestions on what might work better...

1 Gold Severum (definite on this one)
2 Bristlenose Plecs (also definite)
A school of Tiger Barbs - open to suggestions on possible other types of schooling fish of similar size.
Some type of Gouramis, maybe Gold or Blue - Not sure what kind or how many.
Clown loaches, Pictus Cats, or a school of some type of Cories. Or another type of bottom feeder?

If anyone sees some type of conflict please let me know.... also any other suggestion are more than welcome. Thanks

 

[smmetz]

The clown loach will eventually outgrow a 55 gallon tank, I didn't notice anything else with your suggested setup, but I am still a noob. I'm sure others will chime in soon.

 

[Die_Grinder]

personally i would not put tiger barbs in with gouramis, as all the ones i hae had loved to nip the gouramis elongated fins. , tho i suppose if you got loads of them they should not be a prob. lol, i call barbs a marmite fish coz you either love em, or hate em

 

[ringham]

The clown loach will eventually outgrow a 55 gallon tank, I didn't notice anything else with your suggested setup, but I am still a noob. I'm sure others will chime in soon.

This is true, although Clown loaches are extremely slow growers in my experiance. I have 55 UK gal tank and keep 5 clown loaches in it (although I do have bigger tank should it ever be necessary). In my opion I don't think that there will be a problem with size for a LONG time. I agree about the gouramis and the barbs though.

 

[phlawed]

The clown loach will eventually outgrow a 55 gallon tank, I didn't notice anything else with your suggested setup, but I am still a noob. I'm sure others will chime in soon.

This is true, although Clown loaches are extremely slow growers in my experiance. I have 55 UK gal tank and keep 5 clown loaches in it (although I do have bigger tank should it ever be necessary). In my opion I don't think that there will be a problem with size for a LONG time. I agree about the gouramis and the barbs though.

i know most sites say 6 barbs, but if you put gouramis in with 6 there will be some nipping. I have found that nipping usually goes away with 8+ barbs in a school. That makes it where they can play with each other and never get bored. Its when they get bored and not playing with each other they go looking for a fish to harass. Hope this helps clear some up on the on that note. With plenty of plants and hiding spots for the gourami's it will not be a problem if you have 8+ barbs. During the first few weeks though, keep an eye on the barbs and how they react to the gourami's. In my days of keeping barbs, there is usually only one or two that go out causing some problems with nipping.

also on a quick note, a black shark (red fin or red tail) would be a good addition to barbs, they keep them in check throughout the day on whose boss.

 

[DazedNCoNfUsEd]

Well with the Severum I can't have live plants because they'll get eaten. I'd rather have Gouramis in there than Tiger Barbs so maybe I'll exchange them for a group or tetras or something. Any ideas on a another type a schooling fish that'll work?

 

[Tasty Wheat]

Any ideas on a another type a schooling fish that'll work?

How about Serpae tetras, they school well, nice colour too...

 

[derekg0]

Gotta say, I love my tiger barbs, they are always chasing each other around. They always seem like they are having so much fun! I gotta get some pictures up here of them. They are fast, and occasionally they do pick on my other fish, but thats not very often. I've got 8 right now and i'm planning on getting a few more shortly.

enjoy your new fish!

Derek

 

[blackguppy]

I used Tiger Barbs as dither fish for a cichlid tank once, and they were wonderful. After 9 years, the last of the cichlids had died off, and I left the tiger barb school in there alone, and they bred constantly. Trully a wonderful schooling fish that I wouldn't hesitate to start with, and choose their tankmates around them.

 

[DazedNCoNfUsEd]

Hmmm, Maybe I will consider the Tigers and not the Gouramis... thanks for the ideas. Also without live plants what are some other good ways to decorate the tank? I haven't really seen any fake plants that I really care for, but then again I haven't looked too terribly hard.

 

[JArtiles305]

Hmmm, Maybe I will consider the Tigers and not the Gouramis... thanks for the ideas. Also without live plants what are some other good ways to decorate the tank? I haven't really seen any fake plants that I really care for, but then again I haven't looked too terribly hard.

You could try Silk Plants. Most people prefer natural plants though for their benefits, and superior looks. Although, I'm sure with some high quality silk plants you can get a good looking tank. Another options would be rocks, but I'm sure the barbs would look better with plants. Hope this was of some help.

 

[DazedNCoNfUsEd]

Good idea, I'll look into some silk plants.

OK how about a bottom feeder, Pictus cats or Clown Loaches? I can't make up my mind, anyone have any opinions?

 

[Iron Man]

All the bottom feeders you mentioned have their good points. My favorites out those is definately the pictus, though. Just note that I have seen pictus get very predatory in tanks and what was a cute little cat with long whiskers turns into a night hunting SHARK. They're fine with anything they can't eat....will never hurt another fish....but they WILL try to swallow something they think they can....and they make excellent judgement. Accept for the time I saw one swim around with a fishtail sticking out of his mouth for a couple days until it digested in his stomach and he could swallow it.

Tiger barbs are eventually doing to be fair game with them.

Next are the clown loaches. They do get huge but yes they are very slow growers. In the year that I had mine in my 55 gallon, they didn't grow a great deal. Also, putting clowns with tiger barbs is really funny. As if they're not clowns enough, they will get confused sometimes and think they're tiger barbs.....schooling with them. They also make a clicking noise when excited.

Cories are great but they are opposite from pictus in that they can easily become victims in a less than peaceful tank. Pictus and clowns fair very well with tiger barbs and clowns with even much more aggressive fish, but I don't know about cories. They are a lot of fun to watch though, and they make squeaking noises sometimes.

Also another point....tiger barbs ARE wonderful and really great looking schooling fish....when put with something more aggressive than them, say like african cichlids....but that's the only way I'd ever have them. Serpae tetras are also nippers, I would stay away from using those with any gourami.

As far as plants....live plants sure are great for the benefit of the fish and water but they require stronger than average lighting and I would never plant them in just plain gravel. They really need sand/soil for their delicate roots to grab hold of and not be injured.

My experience is high quality plastic plants are way more versatile as you don't have to choose your fish around them and have any kind of tank environment you want. They will grow algae but so will live plants, and that is what plecos are for.

 

[Torrean]

also on a quick note, a black shark (red fin or red tail) would be a good addition to barbs, they keep them in check throughout the day on whose boss.


Just a quick note...I have kept rainbow sharks with gouramis and have not had good experience. I originally bought four rainbow sharks (i know I know...now) and three trichogaster (threespot) gourami. The sharks got split into seperate tanks because I learned more about them. The one that stayed with the gourami's terrorized them constantly. He chased the gouramis all the time and ripped up there sides. I added more plants and more ornaments...didn't help. Eventually I had to move him out. I was taking him back to a fish store. When I got there I realized it was sunday and the fish store was closed. I put him in my sisters 55 gallon with a small black convict and a whole bunch of convict babies. He's there now. He swims around happily. He get's chased a little bit but he's much faster than the convict. If he starts getting in trouble my sister will take him to the pet store. Well I guess that wasn't such a quick note. Moral of the story is rainbow sharks and gourami's is an iffy mix.

 

[DazedNCoNfUsEd]

Thanks for replies, I think I'm gonna go with the Clown Loaches. One concern I had with them is their susceptibility to that ick disease. Is there anything I can do to help prevent that?