Starting 55 Gallon Over

[BrookeLea]

Hey guys. Due to my community coming down with a disease and not having power for over a week because of hurricane Rita, I lost all the fish in my 55 gallon. After scrubbing the tank down with hot, salty water, I'm in the process or re-cycling my tank. Three days in now and still no nitrite spike (I know it's early on, but geez! I miss my fish and I need some new ones, so can't it just hurry up already?!? haha)

Anyway, the point of my post is that I want some suggestions as to how to restock my tank. There are just so many choices...

As for what I like and what I'm looking for: I LOVE catfish, plecs and loaches. They've got to be my favorites.
I don't want something that will get too big so that I can't put as many fish in my tank. The more fish that can live in there safely, the better.

I'm going to put in 6 cories, that's certain. And I'm thinking of some Khuli loaches (which I've never had) and some Spotted and Striped Raphaels (because I miss the ones that I just lost). I'd also LOVE to have a Green Phantom Plec, but I don't think I'll find one anywhere around here.

So, 6 cories, 3 Khuli Loaches, 2 Spotted Raphael's, 2 Striped Raphaels, and a Green Phantom Plec (if I can find one) puts me at about 52 inches, give or take a couple, in a 55 gallon. That's got me stocked. How does that sound to you?

Also, I'd like to know what others have in their 55 gallons so that I can get some different ideas and maybe see something that I'd like better.

Thanks! (Sorry for the long post!)

 

[jkrekord]

it sounds good but most your fish are bottom dwellers you could probably get a pair of dwarf gouramis or something
also remember to provide plenty of hiding places an what substrate are going to have

 

[BrookeLea]

I've got sand and some large river rocks. I've planted some live plants and I'm waiting for them to grow. I'm also going to buy some more potted live plants. I'm planning on getting some of those clear catfish hidey-hole things so that when they're hiding, I can still see them. (Seems mean, doesn't it?) Lots of hiding places.

 

[Chuck & Veronica]

I'm going to put in 6 cories, that's certain. And I'm thinking of some Khuli loaches (which I've never had) and some Spotted and Striped Raphaels (because I miss the ones that I just lost). I'd also LOVE to have a Green Phantom Plec, but I don't think I'll find one anywhere around here.

So, 6 cories, 3 Khuli Loaches, 2 Spotted Raphael's, 2 Striped Raphaels, and a Green Phantom Plec (if I can find one) puts me at about 52 inches, give or take a couple, in a 55 gallon. That's got me stocked. How does that sound to you?

Khuli loaches are really neat little fish. They like to hide in the substrate, or under rocks. Be careful when vacuuming your rocky areas so that you don't press down too hard. I killed one once by accident because he was hiding under some rocks I was vacuuming.

Weather loaches (http/www.loaches.com/species_pages/wloach.html) are really neat too, in my opinion. They are supposed to react when a weather change is coming (hence their common name), so it might be a fit fish to have in view of your problems with Hurrican Rita.

Chuck

 

[BrookeLea]

Thanks Chuck! I'll be very careful when cleaning the tank. I'd be so upset if I killed a fish! The weather loaches sound cool, too.

 

[NDIrish7]

sorry to hear about your fish that died cause of rita....its a shame.

 

[BrookeLea]

sorry to hear about your fish that died cause of rita....its a shame.

Thanks. It is a shame. I know lots of people lost fish because of the hurricane.

 

[rdd1952]

Since most of what you have are bottom dwellers, you might want to get a couple angels (if the tank is tall enough).

 

[BrookeLea]

Since most of what you have are bottom dwellers, you might want to get a couple angels (if the tank is tall enough).

Yeah, I've been thinking about that too. I may cancel out a couple of those cats and go for some cichlids instead. I've recently discovered rams, and I'm in love!

 

[trevo878]

If you got rid of 2 of the raphaels, you could probably throw in 2 or 3 discus

Thats what I would do
Trevo