Stocking a 55 gallon fish tank

[NewHopePoultry]

In a few months (once our house is done) we will be setting up our 55 gallon fish tank again.
But Im not sure what I want to put in it.
Any suggestions?
I love color, so what to have colorful fish of a few types.
What would be good to put into the tank?

 

[usschicago1]

Im a huge Guppy Fan Myself! If that were me i would have a hundred or so guppies and lots of blue mystery snails http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwsnails&1267839862

But really guppies come in all colors and maybe a few swords and a pleco

 

[usschicago1]

There are some aquarium pictures here
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=302050

 

[ConchRepublic]

ichlids have lots of color specially the Africans.

 

[bagendhens]

if you want lots of color, look into the peacock cichlids.
the males will fully color without the presence of a female (meaning you can do an all male tank to avoid agression issues) and of all the species of freshwater fish the peacocks actually equal the color of some of the salties...
plus cichlids are personality plus, mine play "chase" with the dog (he noses and paws at the glass and they chase his paws and visa versa...) theycome to the front when i walk into a room and follow my fingers, my largest male actually likes to be petted if i put my fingers in the tank hell swim around underneath, brushing against them and even "rolling over" for belly rubs, and food, forget it theyll eat out of my hands and swim to the surface as soon as they see the food container.
i love seeing them flash their fins and show off, and watching them pick up shells, sand and rocks and move them around the tank redecorating.

ive also found them to be easy keepers, good filtration and water and havent had any issues...and peacocks are some of the more delicate of the african cichlids.

 

[gritsar]

Another vote for cichlids. The african cichlids are beautiful and they are the only fish I consider to have personalities.
ETA: Well I should also add that my two albino cory catfish have personality. That's why there are still alive after all our other fish got old and die. I was gonna flush them, but couldn't bring myself to do it.

 

[pasofinofarm]

We had a 120 gallon tank of peacock cichlids.. beautiful and very hardy and forgiving. Tropheus are also very beautiful and colorful but are delicate and not for beginners. We raised them for years and really enjoyed them.. they live in breeding groups and watching the life cycle is so much fun... well worth putting up with a few teritory fights for. The females are 'mouth brooders' and carry the eggs in their mouhts until the little fishes are ready to go out into the tank...very cool! We moved to a 1931 farm house and the floor is not on a slab so the tanks had to go... I miss them still.

 

[taraann81]

Button quail!!

Okay, I like African cichlids too. But I also like peaceful community fish like neon tetras.....

 

[ConchRepublic]

Quote:

I found a use for my 30 long with snake lid! (wife HATES snakes)


I good amazon tank is extremely colorful, but pricy. It's a lot cheaper to set up a cichlid tank. If you can find a way to hook up a sump tank you could do saltwater, but that costs more than an amazon tank (the parts alone are in the hundreds, and the fish are not far behind)

 

[NewHopePoultry]

I'm going to look into cichlids