Hi Newbie - 7 Fishers here. I'm new to the site my self. I have a 55 gallon tank and for two years have been trying to decide my path. Well it was decided for me by a Blood Red Cichlids. I was told they couldn't be mixed with community fish but nothing goes the way it's supposed to in this house lol. I have three north American Cichlids, 3 Powder Blue Gouramies, 1 red tailed shark, about 7 small schooling fish, 2 of the coolest shaped jaguar spotted guys (about 1"), the strangest looking catfish with beautiful stripped flowing fins, and this black and yellow striped long skinny algae eater who doesn't seem to know he can stop cleaning for a break. Oddly, everyone seems to rock around during the night except the three Cichlids and when the sun goes down they disappear and the Cichlids come out to play. So....there it is. My water was out of wack for three days and I had lost two fish. Thanks to the advice of a few experts everyone is breathing happily. I've rambled... Welcome!
Question to all... With such a bizarre assortment of guys how would I properly arrange/plant my tank so everyone feels at home????