Welcome to Gaia! ::

So I have a 55gl sitting around and I really think I want to make it a river tank, I've looked online and to make inserts and other platforms should be fairly easy, I'm thinking of leaving the bottom 1/2 one big "river" and have two waterfalls with pools on each side of the tank.

I'm gonna do tree frogs, and one betta per pool, I may make one pool bigger and put a school or something in it. but the bottom has me a little stumped, any happy fish idea?

I'm thinking a larger school of fish maybe something of the following neons, rasboras, danios/white clouds, or rosy barbs. and maybe a larger blue ram or something?
Or should I not do fish at all and get an axolotl?

also if I dont make it a river do we think a 55 is large enough for a school of congo tetras and some rainbow boesemani, I've seen both yes and no, and those are my two favorite looking freshwater fish.


Oh In my 10g I already have a Rio-Negro Pleco, I would like in the river tank to do more live plants, driftwoods and more bottom guys

I was thinking 5 for the one with just the betta and 10 for the other.

Sorry my art is poor, I'm fairly sure the two ponds will be closer together in the correct sizes, and I'm not sure how high the level at the bottom will be I was thinking around 30g for the bottom. so its gonna have more water then most river tanks but thats ok.

It will look very full as i will have a backround with small ledges for the frogs and LOTS of vegetation.

this shows the divided tanks and good plants river tank example




an example of a random river tank : random river tank

I'm gonna do tree frogs, and one betta per pool, I may make one pool bigger and put a school or something in it. but the bottom has me a little stumped, any happy fish idea?

Keep in mind that if you're doing these pools, they seem they're going to be rather shallow, so betta splendens and small killifish species may be your only option. Often times the two don't get along. Be aware that tree frogs hunt by movement and might cause harm to the fish if they're feeling brave. Expect the unexpected. All the bodies of water will need a stabilized temperature somehow.

I'm thinking a larger school of fish maybe something of the following neons, rasboras, danios/white clouds, or rosy barbs. and maybe a larger blue ram or something?
Or should I not do fish at all and get an axolotl?

I think the axolotl would be a better idea. Danios and White Clouds would be second best if you're set on fish. Neons and rasboras will probably die.

Rosy barbs will get too large for this project, and a german blue ram will probably just die as well. They're not hardy fish, people who keep WC Discus and Altum Angels sometimes have a hard time keeping german blue rams alive because of how god awful they've been bred. Even WC or F1 GBR's need a very very well kept tank. The effects you see on their health will not show short term, but often times their lifespan is cut into a quarter despite looking healthy for several years.

you'll want hardy fish for this project. The temperatures in the tank may be unstable due to the potentially needed basking lights and heaters, there are chances of mixed waste and debree getting in the water, and this waste and debree can and will alter the perimeters in the water. Things like coconut fiber or bark falling into the ponds or river can cause the pH to lower as it decomposes. Any trace elements in the coconut fiber or bark can leach trace elements that can potentially harm your fish. This is just an example.

Also keep in mind frogs like a lot of height to the tank, so if you're making short bodies of water, you're robbing the fish of significantly needed room. If you're making the bodies deep, then you're robbing the frogs of their height.

also if I dont make it a river do we think a 55 is large enough for a school of congo tetras and some rainbow boesemani, I've seen both yes and no, and those are my two favorite looking freshwater fish.


Congo tetras would work great, rainbow fish imo should get larger tanks, but it's possible to get away with a small shoal of them. Rainbows are just active fish, they're plenty small enough to fit in the tank, but I just feel like they don't have enough room to sprint.

If you like congo tetras, here's a stocking list you might be interested in, get some sandy substrate or smooth, fine river rock substrate nothing sharp, (I used quikrete playsand at first, it's 3 dollars for 50 pounds of it and it looks great) some anubias nana, some java ferns, and some vallisneria. All these plants are super easy to grow and do not need attention of fertilizers or co2. A few chunks of driftwood or branches would work well for territory or cover:
8 congo tetras
12 Corydoras Species (Julii, sterbai, or bronze IMO, peppered and panda like cooler water so avoid if possible)
1 Bristlenose Pleco
then choose 1:
If you want Oddball: 2 Blockhead Cichlids, I love these guys heart
If you want Pretty: 2 Blue or Yellow Acaras
If you're Brave: 1 Firemouth Cichlid (unpredictable temperament)
If you want quantity: 6 bolivian rams OR 6 apistogramma (2m 4f) with 1 angelfish

Oddball: Blockhead cichlids have a modified swim bladder which makes them hop around on the substrate adorably like goby fish. They need high oxygen content in the water so some powerheads to simulate a river environment is prefered. A bubbler should also do the trick if the other fish don't like the water flow, but I can't see the congo tetras or cories or plecos having any issue with a riverlike flow.

Pretty: Acaras are gorgeous and mild tempered, and will still give your tank a decent sized fish to look at, as well as interesting mannerisms.

Brave: Firemouths are gorgeous and some of my favorite cichlids, but they ca be devils. Alternatively they can be saints. It's always hard to say. If you're not afraid of aggression, don't toss these guys to the side.

Quantity: This'll leave your tank fully stocked, and IMO a little crowded looking. You may need to do a bit more water changes to keep up with the bioload. It could also potentially make a gorgeous tank though.

How's it going? smile