55 gallon planted tank stocking

[Alex2290]

I am breaking down my other aquariums and moving the fish, shrimp, driftwood and plants to this 55 gallon. I currently have tons of shrimp but only 4 Chili Rasboras. What should I put in the aquarium that will agree with my shrimp and plants, but still reasonably priced.

Aquabid preferred.


(still working on aquascaping/procrastinating until I get a better pump)

 

[kenny1tothe6]

For a nano-fish tank[I'm assuming that's what you want with the rasboras & shrimp] there are several types of compatible fish...

A few I can think of right away:
Honey Gouramis
Samurai Gouramis
Peacock Gudgeons
Sundadanio Axelrodi
Microrasbora Kubotai
Celestial Pearl Danios[Galaxy Rasboras...same thing]
Zebra Rasbora
Threadfin Rainbowfish
Ember Tetras
Cardinal Tetras
Von Rio Tetras[I love the rarer orange kind... ]
Zebra/Regular Otocinclus[after your tank has had some time to run and has algae]
Zebra/Clown/B/N Plecos[any 1, I wouldn't do more then 1, TBH]
Pygmy and/or Dainty[habrosus] Cories
Kuhli Loaches[stripped/black...same general fish, different colors]

Any fish you add will more then likely eat shrimplets, but provided you have plenty of hiding places, some still should make it to adulthood...

HTH!

 

[Alex2290]

For a nano-fish tank[I'm assuming that's what you want with the rasboras & shrimp] there are several types of compatible fish...

A few I can think of right away:
Honey Gouramis
Samurai Gouramis
Peacock Gudgeons
Sundadanio Axelrodi
Microrasbora Kubotai
Celestial Pearl Danios[Galaxy Rasboras...same thing]
Zebra Rasbora
Threadfin Rainbowfish
Ember Tetras
Cardinal Tetras
Von Rio Tetras[I love the rarer orange kind... ]
Zebra/Regular Otocinclus[after your tank has had some time to run and has algae]
Zebra/Clown/B/N Plecos[any 1, I wouldn't do more then 1, TBH]
Pygmy and/or Dainty[habrosus] Cories
Kuhli Loaches[stripped/black...same general fish, different colors]

Any fish you add will more then likely eat shrimplets, but provided you have plenty of hiding places, some still should make it to adulthood...

HTH!

A lot of great ideas, thanks!!! I'd love to get some Otos but they are so darn expensive. I was planning on adding a school of von rio tetras . And a gourami? Interesting I'll look into that! I would also like to add 3 or so kuhli loaches, but not for a while until the tank gets pretty established.

Any more ideas? Also if you know of any GREAT looking plants that I should buy let me know

 

[kenny1tothe6]

There was one more fish I forgot that would work well - Sparkling gouramis...those are pretty cool!

For plants, my recommendation would be to keep a bigger tank simpler with what you've got + maybe some more crypts[balansae and/or retrospiralis, maybe?], a few more hygrophila species[hygrophila corymbosa 'stricta' & 'kompact', hygrophila angustifolia[willow leaf hygro], hygrophila polysperma 'rosanervig'[sunset hygro], etc., mosses[java, Christmas, flame, etc.], java ferns[needle leaf/windelov in addition to the regular], jungle & corkscrew vals, pygmy chain sword[E. Tenellus or H. Tenellum as the new name], watersprite, & floating fern as some examples...

Sometimes rotala rotundifolia & ludwigia repens thrive in low tech tanks, sometimes they die...

Now...some plants that are bought from a store are grown emersed....most usually don't pull through that, so it's best to buy from another hobbyist who has had the plant thrive if possible...

 

[aakaakaak]

Um...otos are under 2 bucks a pop at most places...

 

[kenny1tothe6]

Unless you want zebra otos which are like $10/e, I think...

 

[Alex2290]

Unless you want zebra otos which are like $10/e, I think...

Ding ding ding lol

The regular Otis are like $6 each from a lfs if I order them next week. I may just go with those.

 

[OrangeCones]

Unless you want zebra otos which are like $10/e, I think...

I'd buy 50 if I could get them at $10 each! I imported 10 almost 2 years ago and not including shipping, they were $15 each then.

 

[Alex2290]

I'd buy 50 if I could get them at $10 each! I imported 10 almost 2 years ago and not including shipping, they were $15 each then.

Yeah a little over 10 each but I wasn't gonna argue.

 

[OrangeCones]

Now...some plants that are bought from a store are grown emersed....most usually don't pull through that, so it's best to buy from another hobbyist who has had the plant thrive if possible...

Most aquatic plants are indeed grown emersed commercially, but with proper acclimation, most will survive from my experience.

 

[kenny1tothe6]

I never really had the patience for that...when I buy a plant, I like to be able to just plant it and it live...

You probably have better lights then me too...mine are just T8s/CFs...

 

[OrangeCones]

Yeah a little over 10 each but I wasn't gonna argue.

Checked my credit card statement online. I was charged 174.92 for 10, so including shipping, they were $17.49 each!

Sadly, they arrived (still in the shipping bag) absolutely COVERED in ich and 2 did not make it the first 24 hours. The shipper refunded $35 for the loss, which surprised me. I did provide photos before the bag was opened and offered to return the deceased for proof, but they did not even ask for it.

I had never had an ich outbreak in a freshwater tank in 30+ years of aquarium keeping, but luckily knew what it was and was able to cure with just raised temp.

 

[OrangeCones]

I never really had the patience for that...when I buy a plant, I like to be able to just plant it and it live...

You probably have better lights then me too...mine are just T8s/CFs...

Patience for..?

With most plants that had been grown out of the water, you can just trim the roots some, plant it, and trim all the leaves off. The above-water leaves are different than submerged leaves, and the plant will just waste energy trying to keep the doomed leaves going. With the leaves removed, the plant can use the energy stored in its roots to produce new leaves