Poll: Best Bottom Dwellers To Compliment Rainbows

[Canadian Fish]

Hi, my 55 gallon tank is currently home to 6 Red Irian and 4 Lake Kutubu Rainbowfish, as well as some Platies and Zebra Danios.

Eventually I plan to move the danios and some if not all of the platies into my 20 gallon tank, and then I plan to add some bottom feeders.

These are what I am considering:

Zebra, Polka Dot, or Yo Yo loaches. Leaning toward Polka Dot loaches at the moment, probably a group of 5.

OR

Black Red Tailed Shark. Yes, they're territorial, but can anyone deny they look cool patrolling the bottom of a tank? Right now the bottom of my tank is practically empty. The Rainbows and Danios hardly ever go down there, and there are lots of hiding places (fake log, natural caves made from driftwood, fake plants) so maybe it could work? I realize it's hit or miss with RTS and some are just ornery regardless of these conditions.

OR

Bristlenose Pleco. Kind of boring compared to a fun school of loaches or a cool Red Tailed Shark.

Basically, the mid to top of my tank is busy now, but the bottom of my tank needs some action (preferably not all nocturnal action). Opinions? Thanks everyone!

 

[Inytom89]

I've got a Goldan cloud pleco which are really pretty

 

[Gilli]

I'd go for a group of corys - the choice in them is endless and they are such lovely fish

 

[TomShootsPhoto]

I'd go for a group of corys - the choice in them is endless and they are such lovely fish

+1

Me too, they are perfect fish.

 

[snazy]

I am not answering your initial question either, sorry...
+1 Get corys!!!

 

[Cazgar]

Corys, panda or albinos, nice & active & fun to watch

 

[Canadian Fish]

I am not answering your initial question either, sorry...
+1 Get corys!!!

Wow, I really should have specified that I already have False Julii Corys in my 20 gallon tank, so I'm looking for something different for the 55. I love the corys, one of mine swims loops like a hot wheels track across the front of the tank all day. Only one of them is shy and plays dead when I approach.

Someone else mentioned Dwarf Cichlids. I thought Cichlids were all semi aggressive and had different water requirements than Rainbowfish so I never looked into them. There are some really cool looking species.

 

[snazy]

What are your current water stats?

Edit: And temperature

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Go for the biotope option, either a couple of pairs of Empire Gudgeon or Purple Spotted Gudgeon.

 

[Canadian Fish]

What are your current water stats?

Edit: And temperature

My ammonia and nitrites are 0, nitrates 10. PH is 6.8 it was higher a couple of weeks ago but I added some driftwood. I have no idea what my water hardness is. I know platies, corys and rainbows seem to do well with my water source.

My temperature is 24-25 degrees Celsius.

Go for the biotope option, either a couple of pairs of Empire Gudgeon or Purple Spotted Gudgeon.

I am unfamiliar with these fish. Thanks for the info, I'll have a look into them.
EDIT: That Empire Gudgeon is one cool looking fish! According to (Site Name Removed Due to Xenophobia)they need brackish water. I don't know how accurate that is.

 

[snazy]

In regards to water stats, the cockatoo dwarf cichlids should be fine.
But from what I was told, unlike what most websites say, no more than a pair in a community tank is the best if you don't want fights and deaths.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

What are your current water stats?

Edit: And temperature

My ammonia and nitrites are 0, nitrates 10. PH is 6.8 it was higher a couple of weeks ago but I added some driftwood. I have no idea what my water hardness is. I know platies, corys and rainbows seem to do well with my water source.

My temperature is 24-25 degrees Celsius.

Go for the biotope option, either a couple of pairs of Empire Gudgeon or Purple Spotted Gudgeon.

I am unfamiliar with these fish. Thanks for the info, I'll have a look into them.
EDIT: That Empire Gudgeon is one cool looking fish! According to (Site Name Removed Due to Xenophobia)they need brackish water. I don't know how accurate that is.

Empire Gudgeon teenagers/adults need hard alkaline water, just like your Rainbowfish. Brackish water is only needed for any chance of successful breeding, as the tiny fry are washed down river into the estuaries.

They are indeed beautiful fish, males in breeding mode are so vibrantly coloured.