my new 200 leter tank (55 gal. in the U.S.)

[bigduke45123]

Hi I have a 55 gal tank that I am wanting to set up for my six catfish and I am woundering if anybody has any suggestions on what to put in with them. I would like to get some plants to put in there but don't know what kind to get that will grow fast in the back of the tank and some good small ones for the front. I haven't used plants that often in a tank so I don't really know a whole lot about them. If anybody has any comments I would be glad to hear from ya. Also I would like to know what some good fish would be to mix in them.
Once again thanks

[DutchFry]

which species are the six catfish you already have? so we can say anyting useful about other possible fish!

fast growing plants for the back of the tank:

Egeria najas, Ludwigia repens, Cabomba aquatica, Elodea densa, Hydrotocyle leucocephala and such alike.

slow growing plants for the backside:

Echinodorus uruguayensis, Echinodorus bleheri

nice plants for the front:

Echinodorus latifolia, Echinodorus magdalenensis, Echinodorus tenellus, Lobelia cardinalis, Anubias nana, Anubias bartheri, Pogostemon helferi, Cryptocoryne nevelli (and others), Glossostigma elatinoides, Lilaeopsis Novea-Zealandiae, Micranthemum micranthemoides (Hemianthus micranthemoides) (last three definately need extra co2 and lots of lights!)

[DutchFry]

i read here http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... =4&t=23499

you have 6 synodontis specimens, 5 eupterus and 1 ocellifer, you might want to swap the ocellifer for another eupterus, although i'm not an expert and african catfish at all! so further advice on this matter is necessary.

you can make a nice african setup with lots of big and smaller rocks piled up to make nice rock formations. the plants i suggested above are not all suitable. Synodontis species like their water hard and alcaline, so you can make use of plants like Anubias species, Java fern, Vallisneria spiralis and such a like. sand to cover the bottom. lighting should be dimmed.

good tankmates would be a nice shoal of Congo tetra's!

[bigduke45123]

Thank you Dutchfry the catfish have been living together for about six months to a year now and the ocellifer seems to get along with the eupterus very well most of the time he seems to hang out with the three bigger ones. you gave me some good advice.
Thanks

[Birger]

Sorry Dutchfry if it seems like I am picking on your post

Synodontis species like their water hard and alcaline,

You can not say this about all synodontis, the ones from the Rift lakes yes, but even though these syno's can handle it, it is not really correct, they should get neutral to slightly acidic

good tankmates would be a nice shoal of Congo tetra's!

These are excellent tank mates for the syno's but a 55 would be minimal for a shoal of these and even then the males would not have the space to run back and forth like they are apt to do when they are showing off to each other, which is the best part of having these

I found S.ocellifer seem to like to dig out their own spot under stones so you could supply some areas where yours could do this, I would think they should be okay together though. The 55 I would again say is minimal and will seem small once all these fish reach an adult size so you need to make sure to provide more than enough cover for them, once they get older they will also get just a wee bit more grouchy about sharing their chosen spots

These

Pareutropius buffei

make a good addition as a shoaling fish , are fairly active as long as kept in good size groups (10 or so) but do not compete so well with others such as the mentioned congo tetras, the added benefit of these is being able to say you have an all catfish tank and still have activity during the day. It also should be not too hard to find a supplier for these.(usually sold as Debauwi Catfish)

Birger

[sidguppy]

double post!
notdone, making double postings

anyway; you have waaayyyy too many and too large Synodontis species for this tanksize.
to keep 6 Syno's wich each can reach about 8"/20cm in length you need a bigger tank.

as for shoaling fishes; Paretropius is indeed a good choice, but there's also 1 smaller Congo tetra that does fit: Alestopetersius caudalis.
this is the smallest of the true Congo tretra's. it matches very well with Paretropius.

good sized Synodontis cats are nigriventris, contractus etc.

because of the catfishes you might think about subdued light, there are some really nice African plants that do fine with a little less light: Anubias spp, Crinum calamistratum, Bolbitus heudeloti. the last one needs bogwood to grow on and should not be planted in the substrate.

[bigduke45123]

I do understand that the tank is a little small but I am going to get a bigger one when I can afford to I am going with what I go right now and am always looking for good deals on tanks. I was thinking would java ferns and java moss do good with then and what about baby tears and four leaf clover?