New Scape of my 55 Gallon...Need Input

[masoud100]

Ok as some of you know I have had a 55 gallon tank with barbs, red tail black shark, etc and kind of didnt like it. What I did was completely rescaped my tank because I feel the most important thing is the aquascaping of a tank.


I currently have 2 huge Amazon Swords, 2 Ludwiga, and 2 pots of Micro Sword. I have some questions so bare with me. The Amazon Sword are very big and one of them is even out of the water. Is that okay? Or does the whole leaf have to be under water. I am thinking of keeping only one of them and returning the other what are your thoughts.

The Micro Sword I got was in like a black plastic pot and the store person told me to just take it out of the pot but keep the thing holding it and plant it. But I also read that I should cut it or something and place them apart? Any info on this will be appreciated.

I have a Nutrafin C02 system (small rated for a 20 gallon), and T5HO bulbs with 108 watts. What other plants should I put as I would like to finish my planting by saturday.

Lastly I want to kind of make my stocking a community type based with tetras, rasboras, pleco, shrimp, catfishes, etc. Is this possible and if so can anyone give me some input of a stocking list?

[charlie]

Ok as some of you know I have had a 55 gallon tank with barbs, red tail black shark, etc and kind of didnt like it. What I did was completely rescaped my tank because I feel the most important thing is the aquascaping of a tank.


I currently have 2 huge Amazon Swords, 2 Ludwiga, and 2 pots of Micro Sword. I have some questions so bare with me. The Amazon Sword are very big and one of them is even out of the water. Is that okay? Or does the whole leaf have to be under water. I am thinking of keeping only one of them and returning the other what are your thoughts.

The Micro Sword I got was in like a black plastic pot and the store person told me to just take it out of the pot but keep the thing holding it and plant it. But I also read that I should cut it or something and place them apart? Any info on this will be appreciated.

I have a Nutrafin C02 system (small rated for a 20 gallon), and T5HO bulbs with 108 watts. What other plants should I put as I would like to finish my planting by saturday.

Lastly I want to kind of make my stocking a community type based with tetras, rasboras, pleco, shrimp, catfishes, etc. Is this possible and if so can anyone give me some input of a stocking list?

Swords can get very big & their root system is also massive & will in time take over the tank probably leading to issues with other plants, given the fact your tank is a 55 my suggestion is to only have one, they are also huge root feeders meaning they uptake their nutrients via the root system so placing a root tab under it every 3 months or so certainly helps, also make sure you have a good depth of substrate ( 3-4 inches) where the sword is.

The advice you received from the store about planting the micro swords is incorrect, unwrap the material holding the clump together & individually plant each plant about an 1 inch apart.

Your nutrifin co 2 system is insufficient for a 55 gallon, do some research 0n the DIY co2( same as the Nutrifin) but use 2 x 2L pop bottles as you generator, at a minimum refresh 1 bottle every week.
Regards

[masoud100]

Ya I just returned one of the Amazon Swords. But what about the issue of the leaves going above water level? Should I cut the plant (leaf part) and will it then grow back?
Also the Micro Sword I took out of the substrate and while it was still kept in the material holding it I divided each part into 3 part by cutting using scissors. Then I saw your message and maybe I did it wrong (the cutting or not) not sure.

What about fish ideas. Can someone give me a list of fish/etc I can put in like shrimp, plecos, tetras, rasboras, catfish, etc. Currently I have 3 or 4 Zebra Thorn Snails and thats it. I also want to add them slowly say either shrimp, or catfish, tetra first etc.

[daworldisblack]

I'd let the tank cycle first and ensure that its safe to add livestock then. You measure your Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite levels. http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php could help. You could do a fish or fishless cycling - if doing a cycle with fish, i've had success with zebra danios. Also a used filter media thats pre-seeded with good bacteria goes a looong long way.

Once cycled, the stocking option is your call so long as they are community fishes. Big Al's has their labeled with green stickers - yellow and reds are nonos as they are either semi agressive or non community fish. Run of the mill stocking options include:

- A school of tetras (neons are hardy, rummy nose school well, cardinals are nice but more sensitive, much more types of tetras available in different sizes)

- Livebearers are another option ( Guppies, endlers, platies , swordtails etc.)

- Bushy nose plecos are awesome and they help take care of some types of algae

- Oto Cats; they look awesome and again help to take care of some types of algae. They are sensitive when first introduced so only get 'em after the tank has been established for a little while

- Shrimps - depending on the other fishes you have, Amanos are pretty big and the other easily accesible ones are cherries and they are pretty easy to keep

[masoud100]

My tank is cycled atleast should be as its been running for months now with fish. I just 2 days ago removed all the fish except for my snails and have 2 filters that were used with my other fish for months. I will wait a couple days to slowly add fish first. And make sure my paramaters are good. But again what do you think is safe with shrimp especially the cherry (as I like them more). How much should I get of each fish/shrimp for my 55 gallon. I want tetras, rasboras, catfish, plecos, shrimp and snails if they all can coexist. What about bigger tetras such as Boesman Rainbow or Congo Tetras? would they eat the shrimp.

I'd let the tank cycle first and ensure that its safe to add livestock then. You measure your Ammonia, Nitrate and Nitrite levels. http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php could help. You could do a fish or fishless cycling - if doing a cycle with fish, i've had success with zebra danios. Also a used filter media thats pre-seeded with good bacteria goes a looong long way.

Once cycled, the stocking option is your call so long as they are community fishes. Big Al's has their labeled with green stickers - yellow and reds are nonos as they are either semi agressive or non community fish. Run of the mill stocking options include:

- A school of tetras (neons are hardy, rummy nose school well, cardinals are nice but more sensitive, much more types of tetras available in different sizes)

- Livebearers are another option ( Guppies, endlers, platies , swordtails etc.)

- Bushy nose plecos are awesome and they help take care of some types of algae

- Oto Cats; they look awesome and again help to take care of some types of algae. They are sensitive when first introduced so only get 'em after the tank has been established for a little while

- Shrimps - depending on the other fishes you have, Amanos are pretty big and the other easily accesible ones are cherries and they are pretty easy to keep

[charlie]

Masoud , a friendly tip, -- slow down, it`s a bit pointless to ask for advice & go out & act before you read the advice given.
Regards

[masoud100]

Charlie I saw on youtube a guy pnating very little everywhere just didnt see how he cut it. But they look good so far. Also if shrimps dont work out in my tank its okay, so any suggestions, of which tetra, catfish, etc to get. Maybe thinking of some sort of Gourami such as the blue small one or Peral Gouramis. Dotn worry Charlie when it comes to fish I will not be buying them right away before I have planned out my whole fish stocking will look like. So give me some stocking input if u dont mind. I have lots of wood and will have plants.

[charlie]

Charlie I saw on youtube a guy pnating very little everywhere just didnt see how he cut it. But they look good so far. Also if shrimps dont work out in my tank its okay, so any suggestions, of which tetra, catfish, etc to get. Maybe thinking of some sort of Gourami such as the blue small one or Peral Gouramis. Dotn worry Charlie when it comes to fish I will not be buying them right away before I have planned out my whole fish stocking will look like. So give me some stocking input if u dont mind. I have lots of wood and will have plants.

I`m not quite understanding the cutting part, all  grass like plants comes in bunches made up of individual plants, so when you remove the basket & material wrapped around the plant you separate the individual plants & plant them .
If you are intending to keep cherry shrimp, it would be wise to select the smaller tetras & Rasboras Bushy nose pleco, any of the cories all the above mentioned fish with the exception of the Pleco should be kept in groups.
Keep in mind any fish will eat what fits in their mouth, but the shrimp chances are better with the smaller species of fish & lots of plant cover for the shrimplets to hide.
The choice is yours but my favs are Cardinals, Rummynose ,Harlequins, Glow light tetras, all of which i have & still successfully keep with cherry shrimp & lots of plant cover.
Regards

[masoud100]

So Charlie can you give me a stocking list of one with cherry shrimp and one with gourami instead( the blue one or pearl)? I like all the tetras and rasbora you mentioned.

[Stussi613]

So Charlie can you give me a stocking list of one with cherry shrimp and one with gourami instead( the blue one or pearl)? I like all the tetras and rasbora you mentioned.

If you want to go with the gourami pretty much everything but the red cherry shrimp can go in, just make sure they are big enough that the gourami can't eat them.

I love the look of Cardinals and rummynose together, especially when you have at least a dozen of each...I had allot of these in my discus tank and could watch them schooling for hours.  I would say you could plan to have these in either type of setup.  If you decide to go non-shrimp then you could add some sterbai Cory's and one bristlenose pleco into the tank for bottom feeders and you'll have a very nice setup.

I don't want to steer you away from the shrimp, but based on the fish you've mentioned liking you might be better off going slowly with a non-shrimp tank.  As your cycle builds out add a few gourami (I like the pearl ones) then add the cardinals and rummynose.  Watch thing carefully after this point, rummies are called the canaries of fish tanks. If they don't have bright red heads and they start to die your parameters are off. If everything progresses well add the sterbais and one bristlenose pleco and then enjoy it for a few months and see how you like it. 

If you take it nice and easy, test often and do your water changes diligently you'll have a very nice tank in no time!

[masoud100]

So your saying I should add the gourami's first? Will they be compatable with my tetras. How is a stocking list of:

Rummynose Tetras
Cardinal Tetras
Glowlight Tetras
Bloodfin Tetras
Gouramis (Pearl?)
Snails
Plecos
Rams (German or Bolivian or Apistogramma?)

If these are all compatable how much of each should I have in my 55 gallon and which ones should I put in first?

[Peekay]

I would personally prefer only one or two of those tetras.  They look better in bigger schools!
I'd do maybe 15-18 each if two or 30ish if you choose just one.

Does your tank have a lid?  I lost all bloodfins I had to jumping in my topless tank.

[masoud100]

I have a stocking list in mind and currently have 2 filters running and with live plants so not sure if its too much fish or not...

2 Bristlenose Plecos
10 Cardinal Tetras
10 Rummynose Tetras
10 Harlequin Rasboras
2 Pearl Gouramis
7 Albino Cory Catfish (if I can find them if not then another type of small catfish)
6 Cherry Barb

What are your thoughts on this stocking and compatability? Also anyone know where to get an Albino BN Pleco?

[masoud100]

Actually instead of the Cardinal maybe I will get Neons

[charlie]

Actually instead of the Cardinal maybe I will get Neons

Personally i would go with about 50 Harlequins for that 55 & forget the other tetras or 60 neons/cardinals.Stick to one type of shoaling fish for more impact.

[masoud100]

Harlequins are my favourite of them all as they dont die as often as the cardinals. So your saying have 50 rasboras, plecos, gouramis, catfish and my cherry barbs and just get rid of my tetras. Wouldn't that be overstocking? Would it look good if I think split the tetra/rasbora into 2 big groups? Like 20 Rasboras and 20 Rummynose/Cardinal? While keeping 4 to 6 cherry barbs?

[charlie]

In my opinion it would not be, Harlequins & smaller tetras has a very small bio load, i would not include any cherry barbs but that`s just me , ultimately the decision is yours to make, i just find a large group of one type of shoaling fish makes a better impact.
Regards

[masoud100]

Aftrr visualizing how.my tank will look like 50 rasboras would look awesome. If i remove all tetra including the barbs. Can i keep bolivian, german or apistos with the rasboras, catfish, plecos and pearl gouramis?

[charlie]

This video will give you a better idea of a group of Harlequins.
Yea  to Otto Cats,BN pleco, Amano shrimp,cherry shrimp, cories, trio of rams, or cichlids or a pair of Pearls.
As mentioned the bigger fish will pick off some of the Cherry shrimp babies but as evident in this video, given a lot of hiding space they will do well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA0hAId8UGg
Regards

[Stussi613]

trio of rams, or cichlids or a pair of Pearls.

Charlie is giving you good advice based on your last question, pick one type of these and the 50 harlequins plus ottos, Cory's and pleco and your tank will look stunning.