Fish for a 54 litre tank
Fifty-four litres — 60 × 30 × 30 cm — is the most common first aquarium sold in Europe, and the first size where a proper small shoal becomes possible. One centrepiece species plus one shoal is the shape that works here; three shoals is the mistake.
Why these
Minimum volume of 54 litres or less, taken from each species' own requirement.
45 species

Bladder Snail
Physella acuta
1.5 cm · 15–30 °C · ≥ 10 l

Endler's Livebearer
Poecilia wingei
4.5 cm · 22–29 °C · ≥ 30 l

Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
6 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Malaysian Trumpet Snail
Melanoides tuberculata
2.5 cm · 18–30 °C · ≥ 10 l

Ramshorn Snail
Planorbella duryi
2 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 10 l

Rosy Red Minnow
Pimephales promelas
8 cm · 4–26 °C · ≥ 54 l

White Cloud Mountain Minnow
Tanichthys albonubes
4 cm · 5–24 °C · ≥ 40 l

Amano Shrimp
Caridina multidentata
5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Assassin Snail
Anentome helena
2.5 cm · 20–28 °C · ≥ 38 l

Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)
Betta splendens
7 cm · 24–30 °C · ≥ 20 l

Blue Velvet Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
3.5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 19 l

Celestial Pearl Danio
Danio margaritatus
2.5 cm · 20–26 °C · ≥ 40 l

Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
3.5 cm · 15–30 °C · ≥ 19 l

Colombian Ramshorn Snail
Marisa cornuarietis
5.5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Dwarf Orange Crayfish
Cambarellus patzcuarensis
5 cm · 16–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Ember Tetra
Hyphessobrycon amandae
2 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Ghost Shrimp
Palaemonetes paludosus
5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Honey Gourami
Trichogaster chuna
5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Japanese Trapdoor Snail
Cipangopaludina japonica
5 cm · 2–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Lambchop Rasbora
Trigonostigma espei
3 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 45 l

Least Killifish
Heterandria formosa
3.5 cm · 15–26 °C · ≥ 20 l

Medaka Ricefish
Oryzias latipes
4 cm · 8–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Mystery Snail
Pomacea bridgesii
5.5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 38 l

Nerite Snail
Neritina natalensis
2.5 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 19 l

Pygmy Corydoras
Corydoras pygmaeus
3 cm · 22–26 °C · ≥ 40 l

Salt and Pepper Cory
Corydoras habrosus
3.5 cm · 20–26 °C · ≥ 40 l

Blue Tiger Shrimp
Caridina cantonensis
3 cm · 18–25 °C · ≥ 38 l

Brevis Shell Dweller
Neolamprologus brevis
6 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 40 l

Chili Rasbora
Boraras brigittae
2 cm · 24–28 °C · ≥ 30 l

Clown Killifish
Epiplatys annulatus
3.5 cm · 20–26 °C · ≥ 20 l

Dwarf Rasbora
Boraras maculatus
2.5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 30 l

Green Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon simulans
2.5 cm · 23–30 °C · ≥ 40 l

Multifasciatus Shell Dweller
Neolamprologus multifasciatus
4.5 cm · 24–27 °C · ≥ 45 l

Ocellatus Shell Dweller
Neolamprologus ocellatus
6 cm · 23–27 °C · ≥ 40 l

Peaceful Betta
Betta imbellis
5.5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Scarlet Badis
Dario dario
2.5 cm · 18–26 °C · ≥ 30 l

Similis Shell Dweller
Neolamprologus similis
5 cm · 23–28 °C · ≥ 45 l

Sparkling Gourami
Trichopsis pumila
4 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 30 l

Strawberry Rasbora
Boraras naevus
2 cm · 20–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Thai Micro Crab
Limnopilos naiyanetri
2.5 cm · 21–28 °C · ≥ 20 l

Bumblebee Goby
Brachygobius doriae
4 cm · 22–29 °C · ≥ 40 l

Crystal Red Shrimp
Caridina cantonensis
3 cm · 18–26 °C · ≥ 38 l

Dwarf Pea Puffer
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
2.5 cm · 22–28 °C · ≥ 45 l

Freshwater Clam
Corbicula fluminea
4 cm · 18–28 °C · ≥ 40 l

Sulawesi Cardinal Shrimp
Caridina dennerli
2.5 cm · 25–30 °C · ≥ 20 l
Which of these go together?
A list tells you what is possible on its own. Whether three of them share a tank without one eating another — and whether your volume, temperature and hardness actually allow it — is what the planner works out.
Open the planner