Update: 55gal + few questions

[Ekuallaizer]

Hi everyone,

I'm rick and i'm from Holland.

I started with the hobby a few months ago. started with a 60L, now a 180L.
Got rid of all the plecos BUT 2 bristlenose plecos.
got rid of Pimelodella pictus and got a much better filter. Went from a EHEIM 180 aquaball(internal filter) to a EHEIM classic 600 external filter.

plants are growing and i have to cut them every week. i test the water every week for nitrate and do my cleaning/water changes.
(thanks for the tips everyone)

The following question(s)

1. I'm thinking of re-decorating the tank, as in removing some of the gravel(tried to create some depth) removing some of the plants.
2. re-stocking the tank. i currently have about 15 platys all sorths. a pair of Synodontis Petricola,
1 trichogaster trichopterus Blauwe Gourami( had a pair but one killed the other.. and 2 bristlenose.
The biggest fish i have atm is a 6CM Synodontis.
and i want to somewhat turn it into a (SMALL) predator tank. (i already have another tank for the platys)
Any advices/ideas?

I got great advice/tips on the other thread, following them was the best thing i did. I hope you guys can help me out once again.

Sincerely,
Rick.

 

[Gourami Swami]

I think an exodon tank would be cool. They are carnivorous tetras, they swarm like piranha at feeding time and will rip up meaty foods like market shrimp. You could have a bunch of them in there, they like to be crowded a bit. Tankmates are probably a no-go if you go this route, but you could easily do 20+ of the tetras.
Red wolf fish would be another option, would probably have to be solo in this tank size. But are a very cool fish, grow to around 8" and are 100% predators.
Belonesox belizanus is a cool little pike-like fish which you could keep in this tank as well, they get to around 3-4" and eat smaller fish.

 

[Fat Homer]

You could also do a bunch of dwarf puffers... they are mini predators and will take care of any snails in your tank

 

[TheMoneyTank(TMT)]

Hi everyone,

I'm rick and i'm from Holland.

I started with the hobby a few months ago. started with a 60L, now a 180L.
Got rid of all the plecos BUT 2 bristlenose plecos.
got rid of Pimelodella pictus and got a much better filter. Went from a EHEIM 180 aquaball(internal filter) to a EHEIM classic 600 external filter.

plants are growing and i have to cut them every week. i test the water every week for nitrate and do my cleaning/water changes.
(thanks for the tips everyone)

The following question(s)

1. I'm thinking of re-decorating the tank, as in removing some of the gravel(tried to create some depth) removing some of the plants.
2. re-stocking the tank. i currently have about 15 platys all sorths. a pair of Synodontis Petricola,
1 trichogaster trichopterus Blauwe Gourami( had a pair but one killed the other.. and 2 bristlenose.
The biggest fish i have atm is a 6CM Synodontis.
and i want to somewhat turn it into a (SMALL) predator tank. (i already have another tank for the platys)
Any advices/ideas?

I got great advice/tips on the other thread, following them was the best thing i did. I hope you guys can help me out once again.

Sincerely,
Rick.

Here are some BIOTOPE options you could consider with a decent sized tank like yours
WEST AFRICAN BIOTOPE
Catfish options:
-Synodontis Angelicus 15-25cm
-upside down catfish 9-11cm
- featherfin catfish 15-20cm
-other Synodontis species under 25cm
Cichlids options :
- jewel cichlid 8-10cm
-Thomasi dwarf cichlid 7-9cm
- African blockhead 9-13cm
- kribensis cichlid 7-9cm
Tetras options
-Congo tetras 6-9cm
-(Other rarer varietys of Congo tetras available aswell)
Oddball/predators (suitable with above):
- African leaf fish 9-12cm
-Leopard bushfish 13-18cm
- African butterfly fish 8-10cm
- African knife fish 15-20cm
GENERAL ODDBALL AQUARIUM IDEAS
-striped pike characin 18-22cm
- African butterfly fish 8-10cm
- African knife fish 15-20cm
-Amazon leaf fish 8-13cm
- African leaf fish 9-12cm
-Amazon pufferfish 8-13cm (can be nippy when feeding but otherwise very good)
-Leopard bushfish 13-18cm
-Dwarf-medium sized pike cichlids 7-20cm

 

[Fat Homer]

^ regarding the amazon puffer, its normally best kept in groups of 3 or more but do note they may require teeth trimming as a lot of people who have kept then said their teeth grow a lot faster than your average puffers...

 

[mattison187]

Here are some BIOTOPE options you could consider with a decent sized tank like yours
WEST AFRICAN BIOTOPE
Catfish options:
-Synodontis Angelicus 15-25cm
-upside down catfish 9-11cm
- featherfin catfish 15-20cm
-other Synodontis species under 25cm
Cichlids options :
- jewel cichlid 8-10cm
-Thomasi dwarf cichlid 7-9cm
- African blockhead 9-13cm
- kribensis cichlid 7-9cm
Tetras options
-Congo tetras 6-9cm
-(Other rarer varietys of Congo tetras available aswell)
Oddball/predators (suitable with above):
- African leaf fish 9-12cm
-Leopard bushfish 13-18cm
- African butterfly fish 8-10cm
- African knife fish 15-20cm
GENERAL ODDBALL AQUARIUM IDEAS
-striped pike characin 18-22cm
- African butterfly fish 8-10cm
- African knife fish 15-20cm
-Amazon leaf fish 8-13cm
- African leaf fish 9-12cm
-Amazon pufferfish 8-13cm (can be nippy when feeding but otherwise very good)
-Leopard bushfish 13-18cm
-Dwarf-medium sized pike cichlids 7-20cm

I would say angelicus and feather fin get a bit large to be happy in a 55.