How many tetras with Sev in 55g?

[inssane]

In my sig is my current stock.
The Sev will be in this 55, for probably 2 more years, then a 75+

The pleco is about 3"
Loach is about 3"
And the tetras are babies now, but figure 2" a piece for those, round about.

I would like
3 more HY511
3 more Pristellas

OR
3 Rummy nose
3 (other small schooling tetras)

Obviously I don't want to crowd, but I do have alot of swimming space, no major decorations, low plants and low river stones.

I know I know, I hate this "how many" question, but it's part of being responsible
Thx
Nick

 

[inssane]

OK - here are the "sev 55 gallon" setups I am reading on other boards.
Some seem full, but any input on these would be great and I can base my stocking off of that.

IMO - this one is WAAAY too much

I have 4 red severums (not fully grown yet) in a 75 with 5 similar-size silver dollars, a group of 7 Aulonocara peacocks, a single ruby green Hap, a group of 5 Synodontis multi's, a single eupterus, and at least a dozen BN pleco's and 2 whiptails. Ammost all of the fish are in the same size range, 4-5" and get along quite well together. The severums and the silver dollars to like to eat the Najas and frogbit I occaisonally toss into the tank, but their staple diet is 1mm NLS cichlid pellets. A 55 would be fine for a few severums and a catfish.

I had my two severums in a 55 gallon community and I think they are great fish.

I would suggest two severums for your 55 gallon and a small school of congo tetras (about 6 or 8 ), and a BN pleco.

You get the picture.
Any help is appreciated as I just got this tank stocked 2 weeks ago, and if I do add more, I want to do it right away to avoid issues.
N

 

[svtim]

if you keep rummy nose try to keep a school of at least 10 i had a school of 20 and its amazing. they are a true school so many tetras will schoal. yes go with rummy nose and you wont be sorry

 

[inssane]

That may be the case, but will 10-15 overall tetras of 2-2.5" size be fine in a 55 with my Sev? Crowding is what I am trying to avoid

 

[svtim]

i think you will be fine the waste created by 20 rummy nose verse 1 6 inch cichlid is almost not even worth comparing. I really think two sevs and a school of 20 rummy nose will work fine. but what i would be concerned about is what and how many filters. i run a emperor 400 and a old school milliunium 3000 on a 55 they are both rated about the same gph

 

[HrHagel]

A pair of severums and 20 tetras should be fine.

Lord knows i've kept a much more overcrowded stock in a 55 back in the day. Turned out fine, no casualties, no sickness. Go for it tbh.

 

[inssane]

Haha
Well I have a Marineland Penguin 350 Biowheel -- I am hardcore with it though
I put my own bulk (fluff) material that is about 10 times more fluff than on those cartriges. I put fluff in both chambers and then a mesh media bag with about 1.5 cups of activated carbon.
Water changes 25-30% once every 5-6 days.

I am going to keep just the one Sev, I don't want to run into issues with bigger fish fighting like in the past. I would rather load it with schoolers in lieu of a bigger fish.
See, I love the rummy nose, but I already have the 3 HY511s and 3 Pristellas. So I was thinking of a couple options:
6 HY511s
6 Pristellas
6 Rummies OR 6 tetras with similar body shape as the HY and Pris

What do you think?
Any other suggestions for the "open tetra" option

 

[ryansmith83]

No suggestions on the tetras, but I do have a few for your setup.

First, ditch the carbon in your filter. It's more trouble than it's worth. You only need it if you're removing meds from the water. All my filters are full of media -- ceramic rings, sponges, and sometimes filter floss/fluff. I squeeze my HOB sponges/rinse the rings once a month in a bucket of tank water, maybe more often on crowded grow-out tanks. Do a weekly water change of 50% and be sure to keep the substrate clean.

 

[Gatorxxx420]

No suggestions on the tetras, but I do have a few for your setup.

First, ditch the carbon in your filter. It's more trouble than it's worth. You only need it if you're removing meds from the water. All my filters are full of media -- ceramic rings, sponges, and sometimes filter floss/fluff. I squeeze my HOB sponges/rinse the rings once a month in a bucket of tank water, maybe more often on crowded grow-out tanks. Do a weekly water change of 50% and be sure to keep the substrate clean.

+1 on this. Maybe even change out 30-40 gallons of water on it a week. But you should be fine with the stock as long as you maintain at least a 50% change a week while doing a good gravel vac.

 

[svtim]

Yep lose the carbon. And keep at least 10 rummy nose. You will much happier as will the fish. You will end up buying more once you see how well the school looks.