55 Gallon Tank Stocking Thoughts

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yooperfish

Aquarium Advice Newbie
Joined
Oct 10, 2021
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We are running a 55 gallon tank through its cycle and are wondering if this list of fish would over stock it. We have a Aqueon 300 canister filter.

6 Rainbow Fish
5 Clown Loach
1 Plecostomus (8 inches)
9 Danios
3 Angelfish
5 GloFish Sharks
 
There is a lot of things wrong with this stocklist.

Firstly. Once everything is adult size, your tank is nowhere near big enough. You will need a tank at least 3 or 4 times bigger than what you have. Are you planning a major upgrade down the line? If so i would just get the larger aquarium now.

The clown loaches alone will need 150 gallons. They will get to about 12 inches.

There are different sizes of pleco. Some will stay at the size yours is now, some will get much, much bigger. A common pleco will grow upto 2 feet and need the 150 gallon tank. Do you know what type of pleco you have, or is the one you have fully grown yet?

There are different types of danio ranging from 1 inch upto possibly 6 inches. Smaller danios could become snacks.

3 angelfish will cause issues. 2 will likely pair up and the 3rd might suffer. In a big tank there is room for the spare one to get out of the way, but 55g doesnt provide this territory.

Glofish sharks are GM rainbow sharks. These are extremely aggressive and territorial fish. 55g doesnt give them enough room to live in such large numbers.

Total rethink needed. Either stock fish suitable for your size of tank or get a much, much, bigger tank if this is what you want to keep, lets say 200 gallons.
 
As a suggestion.

Stick with 2 angelfish.
6 Rainbow fish. OK.
Get a small pleco like a bristlenose or clown pleco.
9 Zebra Danios.
Get 5 smaller loaches. Khuli loaches.
Skip the sharks.

Still a heavy stock, but with a good water change schedule, managable.
 
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