Restocking a 55gl

[courtnee]

After my wipe out in my tank, in order to keep my sanity I want to start to plan stocking.

No dead fish in over 24hrs so I may be on the uphill now. FINALLY! It will be about a month before I get any new fish. I want to get everything healthy and back to good order. I was going to get a 75gl very soon but will hold that off until this summer since I lost most of my fish.

A 55gl to use now, a 75gl in a few months so I want to somewhat plan for both. The 75gl though for sure will house my 2 fourline pictus and my common pleco if they make it through this with me.

My 55gl has two HOB filters rated for 30-60GL, I run with 80F temp usually and a PH of 7. Gravel and unplanted. My 75gl will be sand and unplanted with a xp3 filter and plan to do 80F again and ph of 7 as well.

I am willing to go another direction... so give me some ideas. I do like the idea of a rainbow shark or a red fin shark, or a few of them. If they are able to live with my fourlines and my pleco in a 75gl.

I will tell you what I had and what I have left. I had my 55gl planned around spotted and fourline pictus. I adore these fish but I am not sure I want more spotted pictus. Many say they are hardy but I have found they are very touchy. They get sick and go fast and meds take them out to easy.

Also not to sure I want to go the Clown Loach path again either right now. I am heart broken I lost my 5.

If the serpae tetra are okay with the other white skirts and glow light tetra I wont get more tetra. If they would be better off with more of the serpae back in there I can get more serpae. I know they use to stay in their group.

I HAD

2 Four line pictus - 5-6"
4 spotted pictus - 3-4"
5 clown loaches - 2"
8 serpae tetra
8 white skirt tetra
3 bleeding heart tetra
1 glass tetra
3 glow light tetra
1 apple snail - quarter size a lil bigger
1 common pleco - 4" or so

I have now

2 four line pictus - 5-6"
7 white skirt tetra
2 serpae tetra
3 glow light tetra
1 apple snail
1 common pleco

 

[Michael]

Hi Courtnee, I read your post about how you got to this point and I am sorry this happened.

I have a few suggestions for your tank for restocking for you to consider.

First, keeping the Pictus in the tank means keeping fish that are not to small.

I would suggest Denisons, a group of 6 - 8. Also called Redline Torpedo Barbs. Very expensive but worth every penny.

Here is a link to my 180, you can't miss the Redlines
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=98180&highlight=

Next I would consider a smaller Loach, a group of YoYo's or Kabotias would look great, I have Kabotias in my 180 as well as my 300 and they get along with every type of fish.

I would consider a dwarf Cichlid like a trio of Bolivian Ram's or a pair of Kribs.

For Tetras, if you have a need to add you should consider a small group of Congo Tetras.

And in my opinion no tank is complete without Rainbows. Praecox Rainbows (dwarf Neon Rainbows) are peaceful, active and adds a nice vibrant Blue to your tank.

Good luck and I hope this gives you some ideas.

 

[patryuji]

Don't do more than one of either the rainbow shark or red-tail shark and avoid fish of similar physical appearance. They get along fine with most fish but their "semi-aggressive" nature will turn into a very aggressive nature if they see any fish that resemble themselves.

 

[courtnee]

The Redlines are beautiful! I bet they look amazing swimming around. Thanks for that suggestion! I love your ideas and gives me a good start. Only bad one for me is the yoyos they sell them here so SMALL my pictus would eat them in a heartbeat why I got the clown loaches instead of the yoyos I may be able to do it once I get the 75gl and use the 55gl as a grow out for the yoyos. They are cute!

My sister wants to give me her two redfins, they have been together for over a year fine. Do I dare go this route? Most say only one or more then 3 if you try. Do they get more aggressive with age I am assuming? I could only take one....