Need Some Ideas: Focusing on Eels

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Wiggles92

Dovii
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Apr 25, 2009
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I'm looking for some ideas as to how to make my dad's 55 gallon aquarium centered around an eel (or maybe a few if that's possible). By the way, I'm the caretaker of said aquarium, so I basically control what goes in it and how it looks; he just wants it to be attractive in appearance. He seems to greatly enjoy feeding and watching the snowflake eel he has already, so I figure that another eel will make the aquarium more enjoyable.

He currently has 1x snowflake eel, 1x undulate trigger, and three damsels (can become food for all we care; kept murdering the other fishes). I was wondering if another eel (or maybe more) could be safely added (maybe a Gymnothorax tile?). Also, are there any specific rock work configurations that are preferred? Rock wall, rock piles, etc.? I currently have it set up with a small rock pile on one end and a large one on the other end.

Also, I'm going to be in Florida over Thanksgiving, and I planned on collecting some hermit crabs for eel snacks; I'm getting my saltwater fishing license for FL when I go, so collecting them will be legal. Are there any other invertebrates that might be appreciated by the eel?
 
For the 50 gallon I'd say you're closing in on full, largely because of the trigger. Others who know more about them can chime in, but I believe he's eventually going to need a bigger tank.

Onto my favorite topic - Morays do best with lots of continuous rock-work... I wouldn't have it split into two separate piles in a tank that size. In a 55 gallon I'd recommend around 100 pound with lots of caves, nooks and crannies for them to hid in. Territoriality can be an issue, though the two species you have picked out are fairly laid back. Two eels in a tank that size would be ok, but it would put you on the max livestock load (particularly with the trigger), so make sure you're filtration is killer. Also, keep in mind your snowflake may munch on your inverts.

Hope this helps!
 
I was also thinking about some diy cave work with some 2-3" PVC, ge window and glass I, and a bag of crushed coral. That would help elevate your rock work and give your morays some nice, structurally sound cave work. Just drill holes in the pipe sporadically to avoid dead spots. I havent put this to test but I think it would be nice. I was thinking about doing it for my morays and demasoni cichlids.

Anyways yah you are pushing the load on your tank with the trigger he will need to be rehomed in a year or two ( I know tang police thing). But there really isn't a whOle lot that can go in a 55 eel wise except maybe a g. Tile or another e. Nebulosa. I am finding it hard to stock a 90 with eels because any less than that and they get like 5'.
 
Some good points above. I would say depending on sizes you are kind of overstocked already. Eels put a tremendous amount of bioload on a tank and as the Trigger and Damsels grow they will contribute a substantial amount as well. Try talking your dad into a bigger tank :nilly:
 
The snowflake eel is ~18" long, the trigger is ~3.5" long, and the damsels are ~1.5" long. We've wanted to get rid of the damsels for a while now, but we haven't had any luck finding a new home for them. The trigger refuses to grow despite daily feedings and good water quality, so I don't know what his deal is. He lived at PetCo for a few months before my dad got him for next to nothing; the guy who runs the saltwater department said that it refused to grow despite the fact that he was giving it extra food (krill) at his own expense. We're not too worried about the inverts getting munched on. The snowflake doesn't take down more than a hermit or two every couple of weeks, so I doubt that adding another eel would make too much of a difference; if anything, losing some hermits is a small price to pay for happy and healthy eels. I have a 75 gallon that might get converted to salt once its current inhabitants get rehomed; it all just depends on my dad wanting to upgrade or not. I also have a ~97 gallon cube (28" x 28" x 28.5") that could be put into use if need be (and if I fix the glass) although I'm guessing that an aquarium with a big footprint is preferred over this tall one.

As for the rock work, I'll have to rearrange that tonight; I've been wanting to get in there to remove the excess hair algae growth anyway. Also, I'm liking the pipe cave idea; I'll have to play around with that since I have some extra pipe from another project. Filtration is provided by an AquaClear 110; I have a bunch of other smaller HOB filters as well as a Marineland H.O.T. Magnum Canister filter that I can add on if need be. He has an AquaC Remora Hang-On for his protein skimmer, but it doesn't ever seem to put out that much gunk despite regular maintenance. I've also added a media-less Fluval U3 and a small powerhead (not sure on the specs off the top of my head) for circulation; I've hidden both of them behind the large rock pile to keep visual distractions to a minimum.
 
If you have hair algae you likely have a nitrate issue; given the size of the trigger and damsels I'd say your bio load isn't too bad, but you gotta upgrade that filtration. The power filters (aqua clear and the like) just don't do much of anything. I'd really recommend going with a simple sump setup with a wet dry or refuge. They are pretty easy to find used and will really help level off the nitrate/nitrites. Also, IMHO the AquaC's are crap, it looks like your finding that out to. I don't know why everyone loves them so much. At any rate I'd go with an in sump model rather than the hang on.

By the way, that cube sounds awesome! I have a Marineland Deep Dimension 150 which is 3x3 and it makes for a great eel tank. It's in the corner of a room and I have the rock piled into the overflow corner (around 220 pounds). They love it.
 
Comatose said:
If you have hair algae you likely have a nitrate issue; given the size of the trigger and damsels I'd say your bio load isn't too bad, but you gotta upgrade that filtration. The power filters (aqua clear and the like) just don't do much of anything. I'd really recommend going with a simple sump setup with a wet dry or refuge. They are pretty easy to find used and will really help level off the nitrate/nitrites. Also, IMHO the AquaC's are crap, it looks like your finding that out to. I don't know why everyone loves them so much. At any rate I'd go with an in sump model rather than the hang on.

By the way, that cube sounds awesome! I have a Marineland Deep Dimension 150 which is 3x3 and it makes for a great eel tank. It's in the corner of a room and I have the rock piled into the overflow corner (around 220 pounds). They love it.
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I've been testing the water, and my nitrates are staying pretty low (<10 ppm) which is what had me confused; all of the other water parameters seem fine, too. I even decreased the hours that the lights were on, but that didn't even do much. I think I'll have to convert the AC 110 into a refugium then; I can't seem to find any sumps for cheap on Craigslist near me. The AquaC will have to stay, though, since my dad's not going to want to plunk down another couple hundred dollars on equipment; maybe I'll build one or something.
 
A couple hundred? Nah... poke around on Ebay; do some research on models, there are some gems out there reasonably cheap. And if you're gonna build something, build the sump. A used 20 high, some acrylic sheets and a couple free hours and you've got a killer wet dry/refuge.

That said, if you're gonna invest, invest in rock. It doesn't have to be live either... get dry rock. It's cheaper, and it will be live in no time.

On the hair algae, perhaps it's your lighting (?). Maybe someone else can chime in on that. I've had plenty of it in the past, so it's not a damning in and of itself. I'd just suggest you upgrade the filtration system.
 
Well for starters I need to open with the rodi subject. That needs to be used in a saltwater tank. I would definitely do something with that hob filter. I would take out all the stuff in it and put in like 3 lbs of rock, some chaeto/ mangrove plants, and a clip on light. The whole bills for that will be like 15 dollars. I would also try to get some more flow in the tank. What do you have for power heads or water movement at all? You might also consider the PVC rock work because it will make it easier to clean under your rock structure as it will be elevated. Maybe reign in your feeding to, you might be running to high of a nutrient level for your stock. Whatever they don't eat algae will be more than happy to help with. That is why I encourage the chaeto. Algae is going to grow, yOu might as well use it to your advantage ;).
 
A big reason your trigger may not be growing is his environment, you need a bigger tank for him. Triggers are active swimmers and should grow fairly large, even though the undulate is a smaller trigger species, a 75-100 gallons is really the bare bones minimum for him. I also concur with Pig8enis, the use of RODI is essential in saltwater as the nutrients in tap water can feed the algae. Are you running RODI or treated tap water?
 
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