Aquarium hobbyists, need advise

[Rÿcher]

I'm looking to get a good sized aquarium with my tax return next month.

I'm looking in the neighborhood of 50-55 gallon. Freshwater.

I'd like very graceful, calming fish. Not fish that are always darting around the tank. I guess the best example of what I'm thinking of are the goldfish(?) that are really fat and bulbous with the fantails - not the kind that have the bubbles on their heads. I also need my fish to get along. I don't need my daughter seeing our fish cannibalizing each other.

Live plants/artificial plants?

pumping/filtration system? if I get a 50 gallon tank should I get a filtration system for a 60 gallon? Under gravel or skimmer? Biological or activated charcoal?

I'm sure the so-called experts at the pet store would be able to help me out some but it would help if I got some input from the consumer. That's where you come in. please.

 

[Plecostomus]

Ok.

Live or plastic plants depend on what fish you get. My fairly large sucker-fish turned into a lawnmower, plants are a snack for him in between handfulls of sinking pellets.

He is an unholy critter in many regards.

Look at some of the catfish options out there, they alternate between swimming and resting on the bottom.

 

[Finn]

Check out an aquarium store. If their tanks look good (some algae is to be expected tho), the staff there should be good help.

Personally I wouldn't get goldfish for a tank that big. But that's just me. I don't know enough about filtration. But one designed for a 60 gallon tank should be fine- better than one for a 40 gallan tank. That's my guess.

I like Barbs, Conies, Zebrafish and Cichlids (some aren't that hard to maintain).