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valerietheangel · 05-06-2008, 01:13 AM

A lot of people think that a 55 is too small for discus (if you consider their adult size it is a very narrow tank for them to turn around in when they are fully grown.) Also, redtail sharks are notorious fin nippers, I would be wary of your tetras AND discus AND rams with one of those around.

Another thing to consider is that the other fish on your list are going to be much more efficient at finding food than your discus, that's why most people keep them with very few tankmates in order to minimize their fight for food.

They also need pristine water to avoid getting hole in the head. Larger plecos (certainly commons) are waste-producing machines and that's going to up your demand for water changes. The discus keepers in our local aquarium society do 25% water changes 2x a week or 50-60% changes once a week. Definitely check out a discus specific forum before you make that large of a monetary/time commitment. They're gorgeous, but demanding fish.

Your rams and clown loaches are going to be competing for the same space on the bottom of the tank. If you add a pleco to the mix you're going to have a crowded bottom of the tank with little or no movement at the mid and top level.

My advice would be to choose a mid-size pleco (lots of fancy plecos have great color and are fairly easy to find now). Get a pair of rams (or two if you pack the bottom with driftwood and plants), get some dither fish like a school of tetras, rasboras, rainbows, or livebearers (several swords would work well in a tank that size) and something for the top like white clouds, danios, or maybe hatchets if you have a tight-fitting cover. This would give you activity at all levels and make your tank more interesting.

If you have your heart set on an eel, why not think about a 29 or a 30 breeder species tank for it? You could have a nice community tank and then have what you really want kept the way it should be??

Oh, and something ALWAYS to remember. No one's trying to sell you anything through free advice on a fish forum. EVERYONE is trying to sell you something the minute you step foot in a fish store. Lots of fish store employees will tell you whatever you want to hear in order to make a sale. It's sad but true.

05-06-2008, 01:13 AM	#10 (permalink)
valerietheangel Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: O'Fallon, MO Posts: 167	A lot of people think that a 55 is too small for discus (if you consider their adult size it is a very narrow tank for them to turn around in when they are fully grown.) Also, redtail sharks are notorious fin nippers, I would be wary of your tetras AND discus AND rams with one of those around. Another thing to consider is that the other fish on your list are going to be much more efficient at finding food than your discus, that's why most people keep them with very few tankmates in order to minimize their fight for food. They also need pristine water to avoid getting hole in the head. Larger plecos (certainly commons) are waste-producing machines and that's going to up your demand for water changes. The discus keepers in our local aquarium society do 25% water changes 2x a week or 50-60% changes once a week. Definitely check out a discus specific forum before you make that large of a monetary/time commitment. They're gorgeous, but demanding fish. Your rams and clown loaches are going to be competing for the same space on the bottom of the tank. If you add a pleco to the mix you're going to have a crowded bottom of the tank with little or no movement at the mid and top level. My advice would be to choose a mid-size pleco (lots of fancy plecos have great color and are fairly easy to find now). Get a pair of rams (or two if you pack the bottom with driftwood and plants), get some dither fish like a school of tetras, rasboras, rainbows, or livebearers (several swords would work well in a tank that size) and something for the top like white clouds, danios, or maybe hatchets if you have a tight-fitting cover. This would give you activity at all levels and make your tank more interesting. If you have your heart set on an eel, why not think about a 29 or a 30 breeder species tank for it? You could have a nice community tank and then have what you really want kept the way it should be?? Oh, and something ALWAYS to remember. No one's trying to sell you anything through free advice on a fish forum. EVERYONE is trying to sell you something the minute you step foot in a fish store. Lots of fish store employees will tell you whatever you want to hear in order to make a sale. It's sad but true.