What are the best fish to start fresh with in a 55 Gallon Aquarium?

Question

Ok. Hey there guys and gals. I recently got a 55 gallon fish tank with the works. I have all the equipment set up, just waiting for the water to get enough bacteria set before adding fish. Here's the thing. I am pretty much a novice on communities, so I basically would LOVE to hear some advice on what to get, what goes good together. I really want goldfish of a few varieties, would love to get about 5 Neon Tetra, a few zebra danios, and I also have my eye on a new fish discovered in 2004 which is a burmese border Botia, and I would like your opinions if these fish will all go together well. I am wondering if the goldfish will bother the zebra danios or the tetra. And what else can I add do you think? I would love a colorful and diverse variety. And also would love to know what the limit in amount of fish I should get with all the breeds I discussed earlier taken in consideration. Tell me what you think!! Thank you so much! Muah Muah! ;)

Ok this is going to be a FREAH WATER tank. Thanks for the great responses already. But gosh, really? No goldfish??? It's that bad? Because I was really hoping to populate it with mostly goldfish! Yikes! Now what?

I AM SO IMPRESSED AND GREATFUL FOR ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS!!! And ok ok ok, I soooooo get the picture now about Goldfish being coldwater...eek....ok....I get it now. LoL. Wow, I was really set on goldfish, and dissapointed with hearing all the negatives, until I read EvelynMarch26's comment!! That excited me, thinking...hmmmm maybe I will just do goldfish. But then I read under another answer that says only 3 goldfish in a 55 gallon???? Is that true??? I certainly do not want to overpopulate my tank by any means, just have a comfortable amount that can live happily with tons of room....but COME ON...only 3 fish??? I am really starting to abandon the idea of goldfish...darn!! So give me some ideas of fish that YOU would occupy in a 55 gallon, including quantities. That would rock my world. Thanks all you awesome fish people! I am learning alot!! Muah

Answer 1

I'll just add one more take on the situation for some added confusion lol

As others have pointed out, golfish can tolerate much colder temperatures than some of the other fish on your list, however, that doesn't mean they can't also tolerate warm temperatures as well. Goldfish will do just fine in temperatures into the mid 70s F as will most tetras and danios. What I would suggest is for you to check a decent book on preferred temperature ranges for all of the fish you have under consideration and go with the one's that overlap. Remember too that most all fish will do ok a few degrees outside of their preferred range of temperature, just don't push it too much.

In my opinion, I wouldn't hesitate to keep goldfish with "tropicals" in a tank with a temperature around 74-76 F, which frankly should be fine for neons and the danios and probably the loach as well.

As far as building your bacteria in the tank, I assume you have a few fish in it or are using a fishless cycle to do this. In case you aren't here's a site that will help you out on the cycling

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

MM

Answer 2

If you want to have goldfish in your tank you're absolutely fine, but with that said it will be a coldwatertank and not a warmwater tank
There are very few fish you can put together with goldfish
If you want to go for goldfish, go ahead, but leave out all the warmwater fish like neons, and danios

And here is some info about your loach, I think it should do fine with the goldfish
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botia_kubotai


Hope that helps, good luck


EB


Edit*
By the way goldfish are not dirty at all when you take proper care of them, I have a goldfish tank myself since 4 years and it is always crystal clear
most important rule, don't overfeed them, only what they eat in a period of 3-5 min once a day
Turn on the light during the day for 10-12 hours, and off for 12-14 hours at night

Answer 3

hmm... Well first of you dont want to put goldfish with tropical fish!! Plus goldfish, you could only have about 3 in a 55 gallon. Neon tetras , and zebra danios go good together. You want to get something hardy to help cycle your tank! The botia needs to be in pairs of at least 3. They are very peaceful fish. Neons need to be in groups of 6 or more, same as danios. Now remember the ratio of fish .... 1 inch ( count the full adult size of each fish you add) per gallon. You do not want to overstock your tank, as it can cause all kinds of problems. Will make you have spikes in your parameters. And you will have to clean it and do water changes Alot more.

Answer 4

ok first off the only way to get the bacteria started in your tank is to put fish in it. The cycle will not start till you add fish.
I dont think you want to put gold fish in a tank that size because goldfish are very dirty fish and are the best way to get ich in your tank.
all the other fish you want to keep are ok you could put like 5 neon tetras in there to get your tank started. Then wait for your cycle to finish and ad 1 or 2 other fish over a few weeks.
but if you want to keep a good clean tank stay away from goldfish youll be sorry if you get ich in your tank and it kills your other fish

If you want to keep goldfish in there then keep just goldfish but the other fish you want to keep are very delicate and will not last long in dirty water.
Goldfish are dirty fish make tons of wast thats why they are big on haveing ich

Answer 5

is your tank going to be a fresh water tank or a salt water tank? fish can go in either one or the other but rarely both. best to ask someone at the pet store where you bought the tank