55 gallon stocking

Also, I have decided against the syno. All these years I was misinformed about its max size
plenty of other smaller catfish and bottomfeeders you can do though - I've always been partial to Rainbow and Redtail sharks, Spotted Raphaels, Asian Bumblebee catfish, Spotted Pimelodus, Hoplo cats, and various Plecos
 
A rainbow shark was on the list,haha.
Raphaels and hoplo catfish have interested me before. But don't hoplo catfish get like 8 inch? Im pretty sure I read that somewhere. But anyway, I'm not looking for another bottom feeder. I'm bottom heavy with only 1 top swimmer. I'm still thinking about the rainbow fish though.
 
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They do. And they like friends, so with other fish I don't think hoplos are the best choice
 
A rainbow shark was on the list,haha.
Raphaels and hoplo catfish have interested me before. But don't hoplo catfish get like 8 inch? Im pretty sure I read that somewhere. But anyway, I'm not looking for another bottom feeder. I'm bottom heavy with only 1 top swimmer. I'm still thinking about the rainbow fish though.
I keep my Rainbow and Redtail sharks in groups and they occupy all levels of the water column at different times.

My friend has a large albino Rainbow that hides all the time, but I have a Rainbow, 3 albino Rainbows a Redtail and a Black shark and they are always very active for me and keep my tank nice and clean.

I'd go with Live-bearers like Molly, Platy, Fancy Guppy, etc - that way you can either save the babies or just let them be and they will be a healthy source of live fish for the others to eat.

I used to keep them in harems, 1 male and 5 females and male Platy will tolerate male Mollys and Guppys and so-on so you can really have more than 1 male each if you want, but I like harems for fishkeeping in general

Also I had a Hoplo for years and he never got bigger than 6". Just because they can grow 8" doesn't mean they will. There are also a couple different species of Hoplo as well. Like the sharks, they are very active even kept solo and will occupy multiple levels of the water column, not just the bottom. They will work "splendid" when kept w/ groups of Brochis splendens
 
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I constantly hear that retail sharks are aggressive so I'm not so sure that your situation wasn't just luck that is making it work, no offense. But it does intrigue me and give me thought for future stockings....
I don't think the livebears would work, the Senegal bichir would definitely eat a good many and the angel fish may decide he once to try sushi. He has been with tetras and even guppies, but never fry. If he does, then I'm sure those 2 could wipe out all guppies within half of the time I gave them to establish themselves. If I gave them 6 months to breed, they all would be gone within 3 :/. Besides, I'm planning a tank for raising live food
 
I constantly hear that retail sharks are aggressive so I'm not so sure that your situation wasn't just luck that is making it work, no offense. But it does intrigue me and give me thought for future stockings....
I don't think the livebears would work, the Senegal bichir would definitely eat a good many and the angel fish may decide he once to try sushi. He has been with tetras and even guppies, but never fry. If he does, then I'm sure those 2 could wipe out all guppies within half of the time I gave them to establish themselves. If I gave them 6 months to breed, they all would be gone within 3 :/. Besides, I'm planning a tank for raising live food
I doubt it.
 
Maybe it would have worked, maybe it wouldn't have but we wont know now. I am setting up a 20 to breed platties later on.
 
Maybe it would have worked, maybe it wouldn't have but we wont know now. I am setting up a 20 to breed platties later on.
that's cool, I want to do the same - i have a tank with 2 sponge filters in it right now so I could just take one out since it's already cultured but I doubt it would be sufficient to maintain water quality since Molly/Platy are somewhat sensitive. The next issue would be figuring out where else I can put a tank lol I already have 12 set-up :(
 
I have 2 HOB filters stuffed with filter pads. Isn't it true that if I set up a filter with those pads filled with the bacteria that it instantly cycles the tank?
Have you considered one in the bathroom? Maybe make the bathtub into a fish tank if you have 2
 
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