i hate this so much

[Darth Scohin]

The Other important thing is WHAT KINDS OF FISH
Bichir and "small" Cichlid could be anything, if you mean Senegal, Palmas Complex or Delhezi that's okay but any Lower Jaw or Ornate/Weeksii is bad news. Same thing with cichlids what type of cichlids are we talking?


PS: IMO/IME Marineland HOB Suck IMHO I'd swap them for two AC70 and get a 305Fluval

 

[livebearerfreak]

or just get 3 AC 500s...

 

[Snook000]

my fish store screwed me and i paid $100 each for both of them and one of them has been running for 3 year. my water is never crystal clear

 

[Snook000]

and i dont have any of the fish yet the bichir will be a sen and Delhezi will work for a 55

 

[gavigan1]

Will be OK in short term provided you beef up filtration, perform water changes, control feeding and have a plan to upgrade to a wider tank in a couple years

 

[Snook000]

what other kinds of bichir would be good for life in their and does anyone have a mosaic gar

 

[Industrial]

Wait, is this mosaic gar a Boulengerella sp?

To me it sounds like Boulengerella maculata. If so, these are very skittish fish. In fact, they are so skittish, that the ones at work will never eat in front of anybody and jump out if you open the lid too much. I would think that this fish would only last a week if there was any kind of cichlid in the tank.

If so, it will outgrow the tank. As for the filtration, I think that is the lesser problem. Most LFS just run sponge or UG filters and the fish do fine. All of my tanks with HOB have super high stocking compared to the filter rating. When the fish get larger, you may need filtration, but unless the fish are already more than 10" I wouldn't worry about it.

For a bichir, I recommend Senegal. They are the smallest maxing out at 12". In your tank, it would still be cramped, but it would be your best bet.

 

[Snook000]

has anyone had a mosaic gar i know their skittish thats why i was going to plant it very heavily

 

[MonsterMinis]

Wait, is this mosaic gar a Boulengerella sp?

To me it sounds like Boulengerella maculata. If so, these are very skittish fish. In fact, they are so skittish, that the ones at work will never eat in front of anybody and jump out if you open the lid too much. I would think that this fish would only last a week if there was any kind of cichlid in the tank.

If so, it will outgrow the tank. As for the filtration, I think that is the lesser problem. Most LFS just run sponge or UG filters and the fish do fine. All of my tanks with HOB have super high stocking compared to the filter rating. When the fish get larger, you may need filtration, but unless the fish are already more than 10" I wouldn't worry about it.

For a bichir, I recommend Senegal. They are the smallest maxing out at 12". In your tank, it would still be cramped, but it would be your best bet.

penguin 350's imo are not a bad filter. personally I hate AC's and swear by marinelands. I run 2 200's on my 40 breeder and 2 emp 400's on my 75 and love both filters. I prefer the Emperor line as it has more space for bio media atop the wheels. For the stock you want imo the filtration should be fine. Water changes are simply a fact of life in the hobby. You can't replace them. I would swap out one of the 350's if you aren't happy with your water chemistry ( ie ammonia/nitrites showing. NItrates are a bi-product of the cycle.. and only regular water changes can elliminate them)

Most Sens will stay 8-10" particulalry if they are captive bred. I've only seen a few older WC ones who hit the 12" range. So imo your 55 should be fine if not for life for a good couple of years. I keep my Bichir with some pike cichlids and everyone plays well. a pair of C. Proteus would do well in a 55. I would avoid overly boisterous species like Convicts, though firemouths "Might" me okay. You want something big enough not to become food, and not wanting to take over the tank.

And put the Cichlid in last.

 

[Saterus]

my fish store screwed me and i paid $100 each for both of them and one of them has been running for 3 year. my water is never crystal clear

After 3 years it's definitely not running at full potential unless you took excellent care of them, you're lucky if you still have the original impellers, IMO. I like them, but I don't trust the 90g rating on my 400s at all.
It's your job to do the research on your equipment to avoid getting screwed. My boss at the LFS would sell you a doorknob as a rare snail if he could convince you..

However, you seem REALLY unsure of what you want and how to go about caring for the fish you think you want on a given day. You have a 55 and low filtration for a predator, there isn't much for big fish you can cram in there. Yet here you are asking about oscars, exodons, dats, pike, EBJD, pickerel, knives, why your bichir died, anything that will "tear up feeders" and even about possibly turning yor tank to salt, and that's just the past MONTH!
Also you frequently refuse good adivce and ask questions then turn right around and tell people they are wrong and even argue with them but still expect help.

I think you should pick some SMALLER fish, something that will not overstock a 55 on it's own since you seem to want multiple fish. Until you have the ability to buy the proper equipment as needed, the potential to upgrade for some of the larger fish you want as they grow, and the maturity take the advice you ask for if it isn't the exact thing you wanted to hear. Sorry if that sounded mean, I mean it in the nicest way possible.

Really, I'd love to see you finally settle on a cool fish and take care of it but you change your mind every day it seems and just want big-mean-kills stuff-no effort or investment required..
Maybe a few good books on some popular families of fish would help? Something on gars, something on cichlids, ancient fish, etc. Then you'd have a reference on hand for general sizes, diet, water preferences, aggression level, possible tankmates, etc.