My 55-gallon tank is looking pretty bare right now. I'm down to three giant danios and my lovely sailfin pleco. He is only about 5" right now and I do have a larger home for him when it comes to that. In the next few weeks, I want to start adding a few more fish to the tank to get it back to its former self. What are your suggestions as far as a stocking list would go? I'm open to just about anything, provided they work with the current fish. Also, keep in mind that my tank has a stable PH of 8.3 right now. I look forward to hearing your suggestions!

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~Oddi~

First, I would re-home the pleco now. Keeping them in a tank that is too small will stunt their skeletal growth, so he'll stop growing on the outside, but his organs will continue to grow, so he will die a painful death. Best to re-home him early before the stunting begins.

If you want a pleco that will stay small, you can try a Bristle Nose Pleco or a Zebra Pleco (they are usually 4-5 inches) or a Clown Pleco (usually 4 inches.)

I'd add 3-4 more of the Giant Danios, to give them a proper school (as they are a schooling fish.)

Next, it kind of depends on what you're looking for.... do you want a few schools, or is the danio school enough and you'd like some fish that can be kept singly along with the danios? Do you want fish at all levels of the tank? Are you liking live bearers or do they breed to fast and you'd rather go with egg layers?

Maybe let us know a few of your preferences and we can help you pick out some more fish. :D

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20g Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981
36g Bow Front Heavily Planted http://www.aquariumforum.com/gallery...00&ppuser=8981

I'll look into re-homing the pleco. I don't feel comfortable putting him in my aunt's much larger tank while he is still so small. She has some big fish in there! Until I find him a good home, he will have to remain in the 55 for now.

I definitely agree with adding a few more danios. Now that there are only three of them (it was originally a school of 9 at the beginning of last year), they hardly ever swim together. I previously had a school of barbs (can't remember which kind... it was ages ago that I last had money to put into this tank) as well, and they were a lot of fun, so I would be open to a second school as well. However, I would like one or two "showcase" fish in the tank if possible. I think the danios are too crazy to keep with angels, but maybe a guorami or something? I'm not sure.

As far as tank levels go, I would like to occupy all levels ideally.

I have a 77-gallon livebearer tank, so I would prefer to stick with egg-layers in this one so I have some variation.

Thanks again for your input! I look forward to further suggestions.

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~Oddi~

For your showcase fish, I recommend the Leopard Ctenapoma.

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150G, 1 shovelnose sturgeon 8", 1 polypterus endilicheri 9", 1 leopard ctenapoma 4", 1 Distichodus Sexfasciatus 6", 1 Farlowella acus algae eater 8", 2 silver dollars, 2 tank bred angelfish, 1 clown knife 11", 1 Jaguar hybrid syntadonis 4", 6 African cichlids 3+"

Thanks for the input. However, I think I would prefer a showcase fish with a little more color. I also don't want to mess with anything that requires live food. I just don't have the time/budget for that. Keep the suggestions coming though; I'm really having too much fun procrastinating my homework by obsessing over my tanks!

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~Oddi~

Mine eats everything I put in the tank LOL
Pellets, flakes, Frozen anything, freezdried BWs, and he even nibbles on algae wafers.

I do understand the color thing though.

Have you considered a pearlscale angelfish or yellow Labidochromis?

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...UbLvl_DgBlQrnO

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150G, 1 shovelnose sturgeon 8", 1 polypterus endilicheri 9", 1 leopard ctenapoma 4", 1 Distichodus Sexfasciatus 6", 1 Farlowella acus algae eater 8", 2 silver dollars, 2 tank bred angelfish, 1 clown knife 11", 1 Jaguar hybrid syntadonis 4", 6 African cichlids 3+"

Angelfish are actually one of my first choices, but my concern with them is the compatibility with my PH (8.3) as well as my giant danios. I'm worried the spastic nature of my danios might stress them out too much. What do you think?

Would yellow labs be compatible with my danios? I kept them before when my 77 was a cichlid tank and they were a lot of fun. I know they wouldn't mind the PH. However, they like a lot of rocks, and my decor isn't really set up for that (driftwood, a bubbling dragon from my Asian-decor-loving phase, and some plastic plants), and I don't have the budget to re-scape the tank yet. Which reminds me, I'll post pics of the tank as soon as I can. I need to hunt down my camera for Halloween tomorrow night anyways.

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~Oddi~

I do agree that you might need a place of refuge for the lab, mine likes to take a break in the driftwood and plants sometimes.

I can't imagine any issues with either of those concerning the giant danio's
I had six at one time in with mine.
They didn't stress the fish out, they stressed ME out LOL

I got tired just watching the little rascals.
(do they make Ritalin for fish?)

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150G, 1 shovelnose sturgeon 8", 1 polypterus endilicheri 9", 1 leopard ctenapoma 4", 1 Distichodus Sexfasciatus 6", 1 Farlowella acus algae eater 8", 2 silver dollars, 2 tank bred angelfish, 1 clown knife 11", 1 Jaguar hybrid syntadonis 4", 6 African cichlids 3+"

I second the angelfish suggestion. Mine aren't freaked out at all by any of the faster moving fish in the tank (also a 55) and tend to stick to themselves...a definite plus if you're worried about aggressiveness as well, altho it helps that I added them last. koi angels have some amazing asymmetrical coloration patterns especially when mixed with some yellow/orange on the face/crown. don't know what effect the pH will have on their behavior, but most fish are pretty adaptive and maintaining a stable pH is just as important as hitting a species-specific pH.

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55gal tank
2 Serpae Tetra
5 Pineapple Swordtail
1 Marigold Wag Swordtail
4 Peppered cories
4 False bandit cories
1 Oto
1 Bristlenose Pleco
3 Boesemani Rainbows
1 Western rainbow
2 angels

I'm definitely considering the angels. They are such lovely fish. How many should I get? I know it is better to have only 1 OR 3+, but I don't know which way I should go yet. Would these guys be ok with barbs (if so, which ones)? Also, I shouldn't combine them with any guoramis, right? Thanks again for all your input. I really do appreciate it. I'm crossing my fingers that I will land this job I'm going for... then I could afford to start adding to my tank sooner rather than later!

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~Oddi~

Here's a picture of my current setup. I should also add that I have 1 black kuhli loach as well. I thought my loaches were long gone, but I saw him yesterday and was quite surprised. Obviously I will be getting him a few buddies as soon as I can.

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~Oddi~