Substrate For 55

[fishymann]

alright, i'm going to be getting a 55 gallon in the next few days. I have two other tanks setup one with gravel and one with sand, i want to go with pea sized gravel for this tank, its going to house angels, bella sharks, and a pleco. I want an inch of gravel and i'm not sure what the equation is to find out how many pounds if any one could help me?

Next question, i want angels but not sure how many or what the m:f ratio is. I'm not so interested in breeding them (if that helps), and i was also thinking 3 bella sharks (i hear they do well in groups of 3), and a pleco, would al lthis work? would it be over stock? Im hoping once i'm all done ill have rocks and fake plants along with the tank.

 

[piper]

Go here and click on Aquarium Analyzer will tell you all you need to know, cant help on angel question tho

 

[onemisterchristian]

Are you talking about getting bala sharks? If so then you would be severely overstocked. These sharks grow up to fourteen inches and really do best in larger groups. Not to mention they are awfully fast swimmers.

 

[Durbkat]

No you can't get bala sharks because they need a 125g minimum with at least 3 of them. As for the angels just get 4 small angels as you can't sex the angels unless they are spawning (which happens when they get older) then once 2 of the angels form a pair (become boyfriend and girlfriend) return the other 2 because the pair won't tolerate other angels. As for the pleco it really depends on what kind you want, you can't get a common pleco because they get to big and need a 120g if I'm not mistaken. But you could get bristlenost plecos, bulldog plecos, or candystripped plecos for the tank. As for other tankmates you could get some kind of tetras as long as they aren't neon tetras, I'd suggest 6-8 black widow tetras or 6-8 of a tetra of your choice (except neon tetras).

 

[fishymann]

Thanks, that worked perfectly, turns out i'm gonna need about 35lbs. Now i wanna add rock at one point (probably in the begining?), my lfs has rock that are in tanks by the fish, is this not for freshwater? becaus than by where they have the gravel they have rocks in boxes (you hand pick it). also how many pounds and what kind would be good for this? sorry but i haven't ever really used rock in my tanks before.

woah , just as i posted this two people replied. so no ballas? hmm my sci teacher told me thad be fine, oh well. Could i get barbs, or loaches?

 

[Durbkat]

You can't get barbs with angels as barbs are to nippy. As for the loaches you can get kulli loaches but not clown loaches because they need a 90g.

 

[fishymann]

okay, well than what would be another good fish (other than tetras) to pair with the angels.

 

[Durbkat]

I'm not sure, but fish that get bigger than neons and that aren't nippy or agressive.

 

[fishymann]

hmm, i'm wondering if maybe i should go with something other than Angel fish(i want a tank with a few different types of fish). anyone have any ideas? Maybe a species tank? (like african cichlids?)

 

[onemisterchristian]

If you want to do angels then do it. Each different fish is the same, in that there are going to be plenty of fish that are and aren't compatible for whatever reason. Angels have long fins, so most aggressive fin-nipping species won't do well in there. And no matter what fish are in there, angels or otherwise clown loaches are a no. Max size: 12 in. Same with the pleco, if it is a common then they also get too big. Not to mention they are big waste producers. Look at this link for angels HERE
This is a pretty good general compatability chart
HERE

 

[OohFeeshy]

I'd suggest 6-8 black widow tetras or 6-8 of a tetra of your choice (except neon tetras).

Umm... What if they wanted a tetra smaller than a neon? That would defy the point... If you want tetras, just judge whats going to be too big to fit in an adult angel's mouth. And if you're going for a small schooling fish in a 55g, you might as well make it a decent sized group... Up to and over 20 depending on the other fish...

You can't get barbs with angels as barbs are to nippy.

Again with the barb generalisation... Tiger barbs are generally the only nippy ones, and only generally if they're not kept in a large enough group...

 

[Ginge]

Why don't you give afrcian cichlids a go thell do fine in that tank com on over to the section and well asnwer all your questions.

 

[fishymann]

yea the whole barb controversy i know is a big one, my friend has a 45G with 2 angels and 3 barbs (not sure what kind of barbs) which he all got from the same place id get mine and they get along great. anyone know about the rock?

 

[Ginge]

yea the whole barb controversy i know is a big one, my friend has a 45G with 2 angels and 3 barbs (not sure what kind of barbs) which he all got from the same place id get mine and they get along great. anyone know about the rock?

What rock is this???

 

[fishymann]

my lfs has rock that are in tanks by the fish, is this not for freshwater? becaus than by where they have the gravel they have rocks in boxes (you hand pick it). also how many pounds and what kind would be good for this? sorry but i haven't ever really used rock in my tanks before. I'm not sure as to waht kinds of rock they are. I think i may decide to go w african cichlids, so ill come over to that section adn find out more