Setting Up A New 55 Gallon Tank, Stocking Help?

[lefty07603]

hi guys, i have a 55 gallon tank filled! i am scaping it now but i need help with stocking. i want it to be very peaceful because i have many guppies i want to add to the tank eventually! my water is moderate to very hard and i have a ph of 8. i would like to add zebra danios, harlequin rasboras and mollies. i also like emerald catfish! i would like to add a centerpiece or two! any other fishes you guys think will look nice!? 
ANY IDEAS ARE APRECIATED AND WELCOME 

 

[RCA]

Check out the Rasboras Espei, love them, they school well, are very bright and not as deep in body as the harlequin rasboras.  Hard to get hold of mind you, I waited 3 months for mine!  I also like my Corydoras adolfoi, but they can be pricey, although probably in the same price bracket at the Cory you are considering.  I have some Zebra Danios and I have seen them nip at my female fighters from time to time - so take care with them.  Mollies prefer brackish water, so may wish to consider something else.

 

[lefty07603]

okay so i guess mollies are a no-go anyone have ideas for centerpieces? i was thinking of putting in like 3 rainbowfishes

 

[frapadoodle]

Perhaps gourami? Several varieties to choose from.
Never had rainbow fish, but they are nice.

 

[lefty07603]

so maybe like...
10 zebra danios
9 harlequin rasboras
3 rainbowfishes
6 emerald cories
2 platy
1 gourami
 
is this suitable/good?

 

[Ruskull]

Depends on the Gourami but the list looks good.  A female Three Spot variety should work well.

 

[Mervin]

How about 1 Dwarf blue Gourami. Tetras are nice to look at too. I'm a big fan of khuli loaches also!

 

[lefty07603]

well i love the ideas! but how is my stocking with the current list? is it understocked still? i like khuli loaches too but idk if a shoal would fit, same as a school of tetras, and i am gonna have some guppies in there as well. so i like all the fish its just idk if my list is already full. what do you guys think?

 

[Mervin]

It depends on the size of the fish you are having, how many guppies you plan on adding and where abouts in the water column the fish occupy. For example, the dwarf gourami will remain at the top and khuli loaches would always be on the bottom. Would you mind posting a link/image of the type of rainbow fish you want.
 
I think the emerald cories in that list get the largest? Even with those I would imagine you could get a small shoal of 6 tetras, certainly ember tetras (they are tiny!). (As well as the gourami and a couple loaches, but it does depend on how many guppies you plan on having).

 

[lefty07603]

 theyre boesemani rainbow fish!  and the corys gets about 3 to 3.5 inches. i was only going to put in a couple guppies from my smaller tank into the 55 gallon. heres a refined list
8 zebra danios
8 harlequin rasboras
6 emerald corys
3 boesemani rainbiw fish (on the fence if i shouod keep them in)
2-4 guppies
3 platy or swordtails
1 gourami
 
is this overstocked/understocked or good!? i love mollies but i hear they need brackish... has anyone kept mollies in freshwater and they did well? thanks 

 

[eaglesaquarium]

so maybe like...
10 zebra danios
9 harlequin rasboras
3 rainbowfishes
6 emerald cories
2 platy
1 gourami
 
is this suitable/good?

 
I'd make a few changes:
 
"Emerald cories" are generally a much larger cory than you would probably want, especially as you are trying to really fill this tank.  The fish usually sold as "Emerald cories" are actually Brochis splendens, and can grow to nearly 4 inches. I'd stick to a much smaller cory variety, just so that you could increase their numbers to 8-10 - a smaller specie like 3-line cories or bronze cories would probably suit your needs and be able to keep a few extras.
 
Rainbowfish generally grow to very large sizes and are fairly active swimmers needing very long tanks to truly be able to show their true nature, and they are shoalers, requiring 6+ to be "happy".  If you are going to go with a rainbowfish, I'd suggest 6 dwarf neon rainbowfish, which only grow to about 2 inches or so and are a bit more laid back.

 

[lefty07603]

what if i were to omit the rainbowswould that be better? so heres a new list haha
8 zebra danios
8 harlequin rasboras
6 of a small cory species to be later determined
2-4 guppies
2-3 platy or swordtail
1 or2 mollies
1 gourami
 
hows this sound? is this overstocked? and i read into it and mollies can do very well in freshwater as long as the ph is high (mines around 8.5) and the water is hard (mines incredibly hard). if the bioload is too much i might just switch to cherry shrimp or bamboo shrim as my bottom feeders

 

[Mervin]

I don't think that's overstocked yet but I would make some further changes. As far as I'm aware the danios, rasboras, guppies, mollies and platys you've chosen are all mid-level swimmers but I could be wrong. Personally I would replace the molly with 1 gourami as he's more or less guaranteed to stay near the top using less space for the middle dwellers. I would definitely get a small group of bottom dwellers and say 10 shrimps and see how you go.

 

[Ruskull]

I agree with Eaglesaquarium, a smaller Cory type would be good.  Also let me add that Dwarf Rainbowfish have nearly the same coloration as their larger cousins but you can fit more and in larger numbers they are happier and that will add to the overall vibe of the tank.  Full grown Bosemani Rainbows are best kept in a 6 foot tank with a bit more space from the wall than the 13 inches you get in a 55 gallon.  They are beautiful fish but you have to think long term in this hobby.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

what if i were to omit the rainbowswould that be better? so heres a new list haha
8 zebra danios
8 harlequin rasboras
6 of a small cory species to be later determined
2-4 guppies
2-3 platy or swordtail
1 or2 mollies
1 gourami
 
hows this sound? is this overstocked? and i read into it and mollies can do very well in freshwater as long as the ph is high (mines around 8.5) and the water is hard (mines incredibly hard). if the bioload is too much i might just switch to cherry shrimp or bamboo shrim as my bottom feeders

 
Incredibly hard water....  that leads one to consider African cichlids more closely.  Many of these fish thrive in SOFT, acidic water.  Cories, rasboras, and even the danios actually are best in acidic and soft water conditions.  If your water is too hard, you may find it far too difficult to keep the fish you have on your list, with the exception of the livebearers.