Suggestions for 55 gallon tank

[ChiliPepper093]

This will be my first tank. I really want to do a planted tank and have decided that I want a 55g, but I really want an eel and red tailed shark. I also want colorful fish and basically decided on cichlids. I know this is risky, but if I get lucky my tank will be amazing. An other suggestions, out of those the one I want most is the eel.

[Sponsors]

[toddnbecka]

You'll need to decide whether you want a planted tank, a cichlid tank, or an eel/community tank. Cichlids (for the most part) will dig up and rearrange most plants. Most of the spiney eels like to burrow in the substrate, not exactly a good thing for keeping plants rooted.

[lauraleellbp]

Originally Posted by toddnbecka

You'll need to decide whether you want a planted tank, a cichlid tank, or an eel/community tank. Cichlids (for the most part) will dig up and rearrange most plants. Most of the spiney eels like to burrow in the substrate, not exactly a good thing for keeping plants rooted.

x2

Eels pretty much need to either be kept in a species-only tank or with very large fish since they will eat anything and everything they can get in their mouths. Most large fish simply aren't compatible with plants (either eat them or dig them up or tear them up swimming...)

[ChiliPepper093]

I'm not disagreeing with you guys but I'm just asking, http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/mix/fireeels.php according to this fire eels like planted aquariums

[jasa73]

Yup thats probably true that they like planted aquariums because in the Asian streams there is dense foliage. So they're happy to slither around and about the plants, but they dont know you are also trying to accomplish a nice planting. Their activities will more than likely uproot your plants. That also probably why the article recommends including some floating plants =-)

If you want some colorful cichlids, may i suggest German Blue Rams? I have 7 in my 55gallon and they do very well. They're colorful, easy and have lots of personality. They do some minor digging (espically when they're spawning) but never enough to uproot anything.

[ChiliPepper093]

So as long as I don't mind replanting them and put in some floating plants, I should be okay with an eel in a planted tank? That's what I was thinking about. I love them.

[BruceWatts]

Sorry but you asked for advice and received it and now you don't like the answer. Thinking you might get "lucky" and putting together a successful planted tank with the fish you have chosen is not going to work out long term. No one sets out to put together a system that will fail but your chances are much better when you choose fish that are known to be compatible with planted tanks.

If you must have an eel then set up an eel tank. I am sure that you could possibly have some sort of plants in there but it probably will never be a planted tank at least not like you see on this site.

Now comes the time when someone will pipe up and say they did just what you are planning and it was fine. BUT the odds are it will not work out in the long run.

Bruce

[newshound]

bruce you rule!!!!!

[ChiliPepper093]

Bruce, I wasn't denying people I was clarifying when I said thats what I was thinking about I love them I meant the german blue rams. Sorry I wasn't clear. I was just asking because I read that article. Well I just went to my LFS and talked to one of the guys. I going to do a planted tank with discus, red tail shark, clown loaches, german blue/gold rams,pleco and fill the rest with various kinds of tetras.

[valerietheangel]

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.

[Bluebell]

You cannot mix discus with red-tailed black sharks and clown loaches. This will never work in a 55g. Discus tend to become stressed when the loaches roam around too much owing to their feisty nature. These also tend to be curious and may brush the discus with their whiskers or even nip their fins causing the discus to freak out. Red-tailed black sharks are belligerent and can cause issues with your rams, plecos, loaches and discus. Whatever your LFS says, do not believe in the instant they convince you it'll work.

What species is the pleco you are going to try?

[ChiliPepper093]

I don't know about the plecos yet. Any suggestions would be great. Could I use the rest of the tank if I leave out the red tail shark?

[Bluebell]

Panaque maccus or Ancistrus? Avoid the red-tailed black sharks and botiine loaches altogether.

Edit: I forgot the Pangio. They can work well with the discus fortunately so you still have an option to try these.

[ChiliPepper093]

Would a Peckoltia, Chaestostoma, or Peckoltia platyrhyncha be okay?

[Bluebell]

Originally Posted by ChiliPepper093

Would a Peckoltia, Chaestostoma, or Peckoltia platyrhyncha be okay?

Never tried the Peckoltia yet. I'm limited to most loricariids. Chaestostoma need cooler waters so no discus with them, not even the Sturisoma.