Help Me Choose

[shookONES]

Alright so I've got a 50g ready to go. Eheim canister, Estes sand, the works...

The dimensions are 36x18x18 and I'll be damned if I don't have at least one ray in there to hold me over until the next big tank. I've pretty much narrowed the fish list as follows:

1-3x Siamese Tigers
1-3x Indonesian Tigers
2-3x Angel Fish (GF bought them and I feel guilty not to at least give them a shot)
1 P.E.Endlicheri
1-2x P.Motoro
1 P.E.Congicus*
1 M.Tigrinum*

Here comes the question. I want a fish with will actively stir up the substrate and keep it free of debris. Two fish come to mind, Frontosa and Geophagus. We all know Geos do well with just about everything, but how about the Front's? They've long been one of my favorites and I would like to incorporate them if at all possible.

Also, save the "you're going to need to upgrade in a few weeks" nonsense. I'm not stupid.

 

[shookONES]

Also, the fish marked with a " * " are based on the availablity at an appropriate size. Too big a bicher and I'll have a chewed up ray. Too small a tig and I'll have an expensive feeder.

 

[Oddball]

This tank is going to be a major PITA. The tigers and polypterus prefer neutral to alkaline water. The angels and motoro need water on the acidic side. Also, the temp requirements are higher for the acidic fish. And, even by itself, a 50 is just wrong for any ray. And, not due to the ray's eventual size but, because the water quality will change too radically, for a ray, in a tank that size. Their diet and waste production simply make a 50 too impractical maintenance-wise.

 

[davo]

Id be a little worried that the bioload will be too much to keep the water quality a ray needs.

 

[shookONES]

Can we focus on the question at hand?

 

[milkman407]

fronts do best, if you keep them with there own kind.

 

[Oddball]

Can we focus on the question at hand?

Your question was lost in all the background info you posted. I have several strains of fronts. And, while they'll pick up food from the surface of the substrate, they won't sift or stir the substrate. For that purpose, stick with the geos.

 

[ammerman19]

This tank is going to be a major PITA. The tigers and polypterus prefer neutral to alkaline water. The angels and motoro need water on the acidic side. Also, the temp requirements are higher for the acidic fish. And, even by itself, a 50 is just wrong for any ray. And, not due to the ray's eventual size but, because the water quality will change too radically, for a ray, in a tank that size. Their diet and waste production simply make a 50 too impractical maintenance-wise.

And if he isn't going to listen to probably the most knowledable person on this forum then it probably won't help with me agreeing but I figure it's worth a shot

 

[ethnics]

Can we focus on the question at hand?

i can't even think of ur question anymore, to busy thinkin about you wanting 2 of the biggest bichirs possible, 2 motoros that get bigger then that tank, and a tig..


fronts are nice, but never seen them as much of a debri stirring fish.

 

[shookONES]

i can't even think of ur question anymore, to busy thinkin about you wanting 2 of the biggest bichirs possible, 2 motoros that get bigger then that tank, and a tig..


fronts are nice, but never seen them as much of a debri stirring fish.

"too busy to think of ur question anymore" are you joking me? Look at your 150g. You've got a 24" fish in an 18" wide tank! Don't preach to the choir.