New 55g setup! Pics + thoughts on stocking

[andrej351]

Hey guys!

Just finished decking out my 4ft (~55 US gallon) and thought I'd share a couple of snaps. I already had the black gravel and a few of the coloured rocks before I spotted the "Purple [???]" plants in my LFS. So I decided to grab a few more of those style rocks and try and get a consistent, dark colour scheme happening. Results below. At the moment the only inhabitant is a juvenile Firemouth (pictured).

Now my other 3ft tank is home to one Blue Acara (~5 inches), one Convict (~4 inches) and a largish (~8 inch) common Pleco. I recently lost my Oscar fish and am hoping to take this tank in a new direction, populating it with a few smaller cichlids. The Pleco won't be moving in, but I would like to get a Bristle Nose to help keep things a bit cleaner. Other than that the only other idea I've had is maybe a Salvini or another Firemouth to keep the little one company.

So a theoretical stock list would be:

• 1 x Blue Acara
• 1 x Convict
• 1 or 2 x Firemouth
• 1 x Salvini
• 1 x Bristle Nose

Thoughts? Feelings? Questions? Comments?

(apologies for the phone quality pics)

Tank:

Little Firemouth:

The Acara:

 

[aclockworkorange]

Just some aesthetic input, I think the tank would look a lot better if you painted the back black.

 

[blksubykid]

Just some aesthetic input, I think the tank would look a lot better if you painted the back black.

Agreed! A black background makes your decor pop!

I think the Sal and/or Con will be the most aggressive of your stocking. I would keep the Acara with the FM and BN and maybe add some ditchers (ie Giant Danios) and a school of loaches or cories for the bottom.

 

[rusland005]

Nice setup.

How about adding a few Congo Tetras or Bosami Rainbow fish for company? They don't like staying still for very long and bring a bit extra life to the tank

 

[andrej351]

Quick update, I've just added one juvenile (i think female) Bristle Nose and one Otocinclus Cat. I really like these guys and they should keep the tank maintenance to a desirable level (I HATE scrubbing algae!).

Now I'm considering what to do next, as I have unfortunately just lost my Blue Acara. I was recently at a mates house who's tank offered some inspiration. He has a 5ft set up with a nice variety of smaller community fish plus a large (~1ft) Pleco. He has an air pump at one end of the tank and has the last ft or so covered with a towel casting it in shadows, so the Pleco happily chills in open view. I'm considering something similar with mine. I really like the idea of the Pleco as the 'gentle giant' in the tank. I also want him out to be admired while still comfortable.

Feel free to share any thoughts.

 

[The Flizzle]

My large common pleco is out all the time as well. Cool fish. I think some firemouth with a group of corys would be cool. Remember ... a large common pleco is a waste machine, and doesnt eat algea like a bn pleco. Mine almost exclusively eats veggies and fish food. Mine is about 14" or so and its poop is insane. Strands of it float around the tank at times over a foot long.

 

[andrej351]

Haha yeah they are pretty messy. I'll keep that idea in the maybe pile for now.

What do you think about a pair of Pictus Cats? My LFS just got in a pair of ~2 inch guys and they're super active and look great. My concern would be their eventual size in a 4ft tank + the commonly held belief that they are very sensitive to water parameters.