Theoretically, What Would You Do With A 50-55 Gal Tank?

[Mikey1]

"Theoretically, What Would You Do With A 50-55 Gal Tank?"

 
hhhmmm....i would probably fill it with water and put fish in it

 

[KrystaK]

Mikey1:

 You silly! 
 
As far as me thinking about it, despite my not quite great water conditions (If my pH were even 7.8 I would be happy, it's the fact that it's broken 8 that makes me a bit sad) I, like PrarieSunflower like tanks that are so busy you could look at them for ever. So a few larger fish - maybe Bolivian rams? and then a few shoals of schooling fish of various colors.
 
If I had a wall I could cut a hole in I would
 
As it is I don't have a stand for it, I don't know how much it weights but I bet the stand I have for my 30G won't hold it (As it's already bowed under the weight of the 30 g)
 
I'm still looking at the stock I have now and wondering Who I can rehome and who I want to move to the 55 G (I finally measured it and got it's exact size, 55.4 US Gal) 
 
On the bright side it's not like I'm on a time limit so I can think on it as much as I want

 

[Questions?]

bolivain rams still wont be good at 8, but if the tank is lower at maybe 7 or 7.2, every water change, with 8.0 water should be fine

 

[9murphy9]

i'd be stuck beetwen a Malawi biotope or a english biotope

 

[balajake]

Mbuna all the way. This is my next project in a 125g, going for a biotope as close as I can get it. Unless I balls it up of course an add something I shouldn't lol

i'd be stuck beetwen a Malawi biotope or a english biotope

English biotope ??

Like this ? lol

 

[JenJ]

English biotope ??

Like this ?

lol

Ha ha ha!

 

[mike455555]

i love the idea of an english biotope, id like to see a journal on that 

 

[KrystaK]

When I see an 'English Biotope' I picture a top hat and a monocle on that fish  
 
I googled '55 gal Lake Malawi tank' and got a thread from another forum with someone attempting one, their suggestions were; 
Electric Yellow lab (Labidochromis caeruleus)
Among others, I'm cross referencing from the list with what my local lfs sells and so far the Lab is the only commonality. 
 
Some others that the LFS lists but the forum I found are;
Jewel Cichlids
Kenyi Cichlids 
Bumblebee Cichlid ect
 
(I don't recall seeing said fish at the store, but apparently they get them sometimes ) My local LFS doesn't stock very much  
 
I have no idea what a good stock would be if I went the Lake Malawi route, as no matter how lovely the list is, it all depends on if I can get said fish, but any suggestions that I should keep an eye out for and do research on?

 

[bullit]

Your best try posting in the african section. I cant remember the names but theres a few tanks with dwalf mbuna. Im pretty sure the kenyi and the jewel arent what you want either. Id start a thread in there and if you have to order by post, id go that route. Cheers

 

[9murphy9]

HA my next biotope will be english as it's not usally done you'd have to have stuff like perch and minnows, i'd also try and make the water green

 

[bullit]

Wont let me edit for some reason. Its saulosi that are the smaller mbuna. Cheers

 

[leighton_87]

You'd need a giant tank to do an English biotope

How else would you fit a shopping trolley in there?

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Make the tank out of a trolley..

 

[PlumbersMerchant]

dont have any yet but i would love a big piece of bogwood, some nice real plants (thoses long ones ) few mixed rock caves. for the fish i would personally go for those blue rams that are literally flourescent, a schoal of tetra's (cardinal prefered but neons are ok too) and to stay true to my first fishes some harlequins.
Watch out for my journal if i ever get round to getting a bigger tank

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Rams require higher temps than neons can really handle for extended periods, cardinals on the other hand can take it.  Same goes for harlequins... they aren't really 'ok' at the higher temps for extended periods.