Few Questions

I

InvaderJim

Still a Newbie
Mar 13, 2006
124
0
0
38
Gainesville, FL
I'm about to start changing a lot of stuff in my tank (adding plants, new fish etc.) and I was curious about some things. Should I go ahead and establish the tank with the plants and driftwood before adding the fish, so that when I do add them they already have places to hide and what not?

I was also wondering what a good fish would be that could keep algae under control. I've heard most people say Plecos get too big for a 55g, especially a stocked one. Is there any neat Plecos that don't get huge that I could use? Or even another type of fish?
 
Otto's are good general algae eater as are siamese algae eater, not Chinese please. However the best solution to algae is a balance of nutrients. :o

As for plecos, I would not get one thinking it's going to work for room and board. They are great fish, but cause much more mess than they clean in algae. Think poop streamers..........

Add the new plants before the fish. Moving is always traumatic, so you will want to give them a week of peace and quiet after the move. BTW, you already have the fish in quarantine, RIGHT?
 
I will look into the Ottos. I am putting 2 angels, 4 cories, 4 blue rams, 10 cardinal tetra, 3 swordtails, in it. Will I still be safe with and Otto or two, without overstocking?

haha, I haven't bought any of the fish yet, and I don't plan to until I can setup my QT tank. I've learned my lesson about that already. :cool:

Alright I thought I should add the plants first. I was just making sure.
 
There are a lot of pleco's that would work in a 55gal. A Bristlenose pleco or two would be perfect in a that tank. They don't eat plants, and they seem to always be eating algae. They also come in a lot of varieties. I have a plain one and an albino long finned one in my 55 right now, and just bought a red marble baby the other day. I'm a little biased though I love plecos I have six in various tanks and am always looking for more.
Another thing to look into for a planted tank would be some snail. I keep MTS and Red ramshorns snails in my planted tank and they keep the plants nice and clean.

Common variety
100_0235.jpg


Albino long finned
100_0276.jpg


Red marble (a little over an inch long)
100_0455.jpg
 
InvaderJim said:
I am putting 2 angels, 4 cories, 4 blue rams, 10 cardinal tetra, 3 swordtails, in it.
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Ummmm, angels + little cardinal tetras = well fed angels
Just a thought. :read:
 
I really like that Red Marble Pleco. Now I have to to debate the Plecos and Ottos. :rolleyes:

Everyone else said the Tetra would be ok with the Angelfish. Any other ideas if not?
 
InvaderJim said:
I really like that Red Marble Pleco. Now I have to to debate the Plecos and Ottos. :rolleyes:

Everyone else said the Tetra would be ok with the Angelfish. Any other ideas if not?
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Once it gets bigger the color will be so much better on him. This link has pics of adult Red Marbel, Calico, Scarlet Red calico (or whatever else they call them) plecos.
http://www.cichlidlovers.com/a_bushynose_calico_veil.htm

As for the angels and the cardinals. Maybe yes maybe no. If they are big cardinals they should be ok. My Angels ate a school of neons, But the neons were small and my angels are pigs.
 
Where would I get a Pleco like that? I've never seen anything like those in Petsmart or anything. I think my Cories would eat snails if I had any in there.

I'll try and find some big Cardinal Tetra so that my Angelfish wont eat them. Because I'd really like to have a school of those guys in there.
 
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You probably won't find one of those plecos at petsmart. You could try a LFS and see if they could order them. If not they have been on aquabid almost every week. Here is an auction for some now.
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?fwcatfishp&1146542789
The seller is actually one of my LFS. They have the best fish I've ever bought.

Corys shouldn't bother snails. I keep corys and snails in the same tank and never have had a problem.
 
Awesome, Thanks for the info. I don't know what I would do with 12 Plecos though. haha

In that case, I will get some Snails to help clean the tank.
 
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