Need Help Setting up a new 55 Gallon tank

[masoud100]

Hi everyone I have a 55 gallon tank that is empty. I have Lights that are for planted tanks I think the company is called Glo or something. I have used Fluval Substrate for Plants. Heaters, Filters, etc. I have rocks that were used for African Cichlids and also driftwood lying around. I also probably have a C02 kit that was purchased from Big Als.

I don't know what I want to do though. I don't like African Cichlids. I love Angelfish, tetra, south American Cichlids especially Kribs, Convicts and Rams.

Can someone tell me what I should do. Should I use my used substarte Fluval? Or should I get something else. What about stocking. I am not a beginner by the way I just need ideas.

Thanks in Advance

[Mike L]

 Just curious. Why don't you like African cichlids. The reason I ask is because the same things you don't like about them might apply to the others you mentioned as well. Kribs as a example are African cichlids
Mike

[masoud100]

I kept them for couple months but they were very dirty. If I didn't do water change in 1 week the tank would look dirty. Also my light system was really not suited for African cichlids and would cause the glass to be filled with algae. And they were not my favourite fish. By keeping freshwater fish I can have more diversification. Different fish interacting with each other. And my favourite fish are the ones I mentioned above. Kribs I love because of their look, behaviour. But if they wont be compatabile its okay. My main preference is stocking ideas for convicts, angelfish or bigger tetras, etc. With plants as well

[Stussi613]

Massoud,

I'm going to try to be as helpful as possible without sounding like I'm talking down to you, or making you get discouraged....

But.

I took a few minutes to look back over your numerous posts asking for advice on how to setup this tank, how to stock it, how to tear it apart and put new stock in it, what lights to use, what chemicals to put in, how to change fish again, why the plants aren't growing, how to change to cichlids, how to get rid of cichlids...

I think this would be the best kind of setup for you below. 



Some rocks, some fake plants, white gravel and some angels.  Turn the lights on for a few hours at night, then turn them off when you go to bed.  You'll never get algae, you'll never lose any plants.  You will learn how to take care of a tank by doing water changes and cleaning the glass and maybe one day you can try a tank with live plants in it again.  I would suggest you put the tank together and wait at least 6 months before you rip it apart and start building it with some other kind of fish in it once you get bored of the Angel Fish.

[masoud100]

I agree with you Stussi613 at first long time ago I was new, etc and tried to do what others couldn't do. But eventually my planted tank blossomed I had rasboras, bolivians rams, plecos, shrimp, etc with everything getting babies. Only reason I got Africans is because I went on a 3 month vacation and when I came back my dad the day earlier decided to take out the fish and clean the tank completely with detergent, etc thus killing all good bacteria from the substrate and having now chemicals in it. Inserted the fish and all more than 40 fish died. I then started an African setup because my cousin gave me sand and rocks for Africans.

[exv152]

...Inserted the fish and all more than 40 fish died. I then started an African setup because my cousin gave me sand and rocks for Africans.

What happened to the Africans?

[masoud100]

My cousin was setting up an african tank so I sold.some to him and sold the others. I said since I didn't feel the same with them now was my chance. No african died on my watch and all were males one of every kind. I just want to get back to freshwater wit above mentioned idea

[Stussi613]

My cousin was setting up an african tank so I sold.some to him and sold the others. I said since I didn't feel the same with them now was my chance. No african died on my watch and all were males one of every kind. I just want to get back to freshwater wit above mentioned idea

The African Cichlids were freshwater fish.

If you had the planted setup going well I would suggest you do the same thing you had done before.  The water parameters for Angels is similar to that of the micro fish you were keeping before, but remember that you can't keep anything that the Angels can fit in their mouths because they will eat just about anything they can find.

Start off with the substrate you have and some driftwood.  Add some water and live plants to the setup and let it run for a few weeks to a month.  You may have to adjust your lighting schedule if you start getting algae.  Once you have the settings right for the plants you can introduce some ammonia to the tank to do a fishless cycle, or add some hardy fish like Danio's.  Because the plants will be established you can add hardy fish slowly and the plants should take up the waste until the bacterial filtration starts.  Once the tank has been running with some smaller fish for a few weeks take the danio's out and go with some cardinal tetra's and some rummynose tetras and then add in your Angel's.

And then enjoy the tank for a while before you rip it apart again 

[masoud100]

The African Cichlids were freshwater fish.

If you had the planted setup going well I would suggest you do the same thing you had done before.  The water parameters for Angels is similar to that of the micro fish you were keeping before, but remember that you can't keep anything that the Angels can fit in their mouths because they will eat just about anything they can find.

Start off with the substrate you have and some driftwood.  Add some water and live plants to the setup and let it run for a few weeks to a month.  You may have to adjust your lighting schedule if you start getting algae.  Once you have the settings right for the plants you can introduce some ammonia to the tank to do a fishless cycle, or add some hardy fish like Danio's.  Because the plants will be established you can add hardy fish slowly and the plants should take up the waste until the bacterial filtration starts.  Once the tank has been running with some smaller fish for a few weeks take the danio's out and go with some cardinal tetra's and some rummynose tetras and then add in your Angel's.

And then enjoy the tank for a while before you rip it apart again 

LOL you guys are gonna bug me forever on this issue of ripping the tank apart lol. But I understand what you mean.

So can you please give me 3 stocking ideas for 3 different setups.

1) 1st Stocking Suggestion should have Angelfish|
2) 2nd stocking suggestion should have Convict Cichlids
3) 3rd stocking suggestion should have big tetras such as Silver Dollars, etc or even a Goldfish tank if you think I can get away with 2 weeks of not doing a water change

[Stussi613]

or even a Goldfish tank if you think I can get away with 2 weeks of not doing a water change

Please don't do this.

[masoud100]

Please don't do this.

Ok Stussi so can you give me a stocking suggestion for the 3 mentioned ideas?

[Stussi613]

Ok Stussi so can you give me a stocking suggestion for the 3 mentioned ideas?

1.  See above for Angel stocking suggestion.
2.  Convict cichlids are aggressively territorial and pairs are best kept alone.  The aquarium should be decorated to mimic the natural environment and include rocks and artificial caves for breeding.  The species is an unfussy omnivore and most types of prepared fish foods are readily accepted.  The species also consumes aquatic plants.  Due to the species' tendency to dig, external filtration is superior to undergravel filter systems. 
3.  Silver dollars natively live in a tropical climate in the sides of weedy rivers.  Their diet is almost exclusively vegetarian and in captivity they will often eat all the plants in a tank. They will also eat worms and small insects.
The silver dollar is listed as semi-aggressive but it is very mellow like the pacu. These fish can be kept in community tanks with fish that can't fit in their mouths, and once fully grown (6 inches), they can be kept with larger fish like oscars, pikes, and larger catfish.

[az]

i had silver dollars, pair of non breeding convicts and a red tail black shark in a 60"x8"x16"h wall tank, one of the best setups i ever had, they all got along. keep in mind convicts are easier to maintain if they are not breeding anymore, when they were breeding the male would kill all day. they are just awesome parents.

if you have good filtration and if you do not overfeed, 10 times a year is all the water change you would need.

[lucius]

Goldfish tank if you think I can get away with 2 weeks of not doing a water change

I have three goldfish in a 30 gallon and do water changes every three weeks without any issues but I have an AC 300 as a filter so it's being filtered 10x over.

[masoud100]

I am probably going to go with a planted tank as I already have high source of light and substrate suiited for plants. So looks like convicts and silver dollars are out. I wouldn't like just an all angels tank thoigh
I used to have and with great sucess 2 bolivians rams, pair of BN plecos, 40 rasboras, ghost shrimps and otto cats. I am going to do something similar if someone woild know what fish to keep and how many of each with angelfish.

[Stussi613]

remember that you can't keep anything that the Angels can fit in their mouths because they will eat just about anything they can find.

Start off with the substrate you have and some driftwood.  Add some water and live plants to the setup and let it run for a few weeks to a month.  You may have to adjust your lighting schedule if you start getting algae.  Once you have the settings right for the plants you can introduce some ammonia to the tank to do a fishless cycle, or add some hardy fish like Danio's.  Because the plants will be established you can add hardy fish slowly and the plants should take up the waste until the bacterial filtration starts.  Once the tank has been running with some smaller fish for a few weeks take the danio's out and go with some cardinal tetras and some rummynose tetras and then add in your Angel's.

I would go with at least 12 of each of the ones in bold above for your final stocking with Angels.  They like to school among themselves and will often school together as well.  You need the tank to be well established before you add the rummynose though...they are like the canaries of the aquarium.  If they start to lose colour on their heads you know the water quality is going down.  You might actually be able to put a pair of nice German Blue Rams in as well depending on the length of the tank and your filtration.  You could also add a group of small cory's and some otto cats for clean up...but you'll want to spread everything you are adding out.

[exv152]

I do not recommend angelfish for your small setup if you're planning a community tank. Each full grown adult angel needs 10 gallons of space each, and they should be kept in groups of 6-8 minimum, to curb the aggression because they're SA cichlids. Keeping them in smaller groups, like 2 or 3, just makes them pick on one individual. I would suggest you just go with two or three schools of tetras, and maybe a pair or two of dwarf cichlids.

[masoud100]

I had 4 angelfish with rasbkras no problem. I doubt 2 will fight eachother. I have 55 gallon 48 inch long tank. I have 2 filter and 2 heaters. Also in a planted tank stocking can be on the higher side. Woild a stocking of angelfish, kribs, tetras, otto cats, rams or gouramis be a good list?

[Stussi613]

I agree with you Stussi613 at first long time ago I was new, etc and tried to do what others couldn't do. But eventually my planted tank blossomed I had rasboras, bolivians rams, plecos, shrimp, etc with everything getting babies. Only reason I got Africans is because I went on a 3 month vacation and when I came back my dad the day earlier decided to take out the fish and clean the tank completely with detergent, etc thus killing all good bacteria from the substrate and having now chemicals in it. Inserted the fish and all more than 40 fish died. I then started an African setup because my cousin gave me sand and rocks for Africans.

I am probably going to go with a planted tank as I already have high source of light and substrate suiited for plants. So looks like convicts and silver dollars are out. I wouldn't like just an all angels tank thoigh
I used to have and with great sucess 2 bolivians rams, pair of BN plecos, 40 rasboras, ghost shrimps and otto cats. I am going to do something similar if someone woild know what fish to keep and how many of each with angelfish.

I had 4 angelfish with rasbkras no problem. I doubt 2 will fight eachother. I have 55 gallon 48 inch long tank. I have 2 filter and 2 heaters. Also in a planted tank stocking can be on the higher side. Woild a stocking of angelfish, kribs, tetras, otto cats, rams or gouramis be a good list?

Can I ask you a question?

Why do you change your stocking list every time someone advises you not to do something?

I've noticed that you do this quite a bit, you come on asking for advice and people reach out to help you, then you either just ignore what they are telling you, or you change your tune to make it sound like you have done it in the past.

We want to help you, my friend, we just need you to listen to the advice you're being given.  Eric knows more about Angel's than I do so I would personally heed his advice.

[exv152]

Hi Masoud, I think a 55g seems big to some of us, but in all honesty it's not a big tank. The standard perfecto 55g measures 48x13x20 and although it is long, it is not a deep or wide tank. I've kept angels for years, and the smallest tank I have a group in now is 75g. I also have another group in a 125g, and that seems crowded at times too. The reason I say that is because plants tend to grow, and occupy swimming space. If your angels reach a mature size they can be as long as 6 inches, by as much as 10 inches in height (because of their fins). Keeping them in small groups is not the end of the world, it can be done, and they may not pick on each other (if the male/female ratio is right, and you don't get a pair that bond, because aggression will be 10x worse), but in small groups they won't be as happy as they could be given they're social group fish, and over crowding a tank can lead to other issues like high nitrates, disease, etc. Whatever you choose, just keep that in mind. As far as tank mates are concerned most tetras (except neons) are a good idea if they're big enough, bigger catfish, dwarf cichilds and corydoras are all very compatible. I like keeping cories with my angels because they help eat the food leftovers.