Community Tank - need some opinions and education

[Bleeding]

Im getting ready to transfer a 20 gallon setup into a 55 gallon planted tank. In this 20 gallon there are:

guppies
platys
zebra danio
lots of fry
rubber lipped catfish

There are about 14 fish in there now, which i feel like is quite a bit for the small tank. So on to the 55....

I want to make room for a little breeding of the above livebearers, but want to add some variety to such a big tank with such small fish. Here is what i had in mind:

Cherry barbs
Five banded barbs
Neon rainbow
Neon tetra
Rummy nose tetra
Mollies
ONE male betta

Right now i seem to have a very good environment and mix, and am a little concerned about introducing new fish. Sooooo...

What are your experiences mixing these peaceful community fish? Are there other good suggestions for community fish?

Any advice is welcome!

 

[red oscar]

not sure what banded barb is but if it is same thing as tiger barb it will be a fin niper. with small fish like you have you can use the old 1 inch of fish per gal if you plan on keeping any of the fry or breeding breeding your fish you will want your tank way under stocked. because in no time it will be over stocked

 

[gomezladdams]

The barbs willbe too rough for the fish you have now and the betta
Mollies usually do better in really hard water or brackish,while neons need soft
With a betta in the tank you wont have to worry about the other fish breeding they can eat quite a bit

 

[jimk]

I would eliminate the barbs and pick either the rainbow or the neon tetra and get a larger school of one of them. Schooling fish are more interesting to watch IMO and you may get that in the 55. Mollies are more difficult without salt as previously said.

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

seems like your set-up is completed Congrats to having a planted tank. Please post some pics in the Photo Lounge!
What's been said above is absolutely right: Barbs will nibble the fins of guppies and possibly even the betta, and mollies like it hard and a bit salty. Thus, I would rule those species out.

Besides, it is most appealing to the eye to have larger numbers of a few species as compared to a colorful mix. Try it out first. You can always add more species if the few species are boring. But it's hard to reduce the number of species once they're in your tank.

Considering the live-bearers, I'd suggest to introduce a few "rougher" tetras - neons and rummy nose are prett slow and small-mouthed when it comes to eating fry. I successfully kept Serpae tetras with guppies, and they controlled the population nicely. As much as you like fry right now, it might become a problem down the road. Serpaes are beautiful fish that can take care of things for you in a natural way.

Again, don't forget to post some pics,
and good luck,

HarleyK

 

[Bleeding]

I did a little research on the barbs, and some website was telling me that these species of barbs are very peaceful:

Puntius titteya
Barbus pentazona


The barbus is the one that looks similar to the tiger barb, but apparantly dosent carry the fin nipping quality.

Im guessing this information is incorrect by experience?

 

[jayclarke]

all the fishes uve listed will b ok 2gether its a good mix, jus make sure u have at least 6 of each sp. as there all shoaling fishes u could even add 3 or 4 female Bettas providing u have enough cover.

Good Luck an post some pics

J

 

[FishHeadSoup]

how about adding a single moon snail for added interest?

or a small clown loach?

i noticed you dont have any bottom feeders...

 

[Bleeding]

Are clown loaches ok for this setup? I liked them, and they are similar looking to the color of the tiger barbs?

Are they not agressive? Will they not eat the smaller fish like the neons?

 

[jayclarke]

Are clown loaches ok for this setup? I liked them, and they are similar looking to the color of the tiger barbs?

Are they not agressive? Will they not eat the smaller fish like the neons?

They will when there bigger! At least mine do anyway. If u grow them up 2gether u may get away with it jus remember Clowns grow 6"+. Try some of the smaller loach sp. like the YOYO or Zebra. There not as colourful but defo. as playful.

Good luck