I recently purchased a 125-gallon tank. Originally, I had 3 massive oscars and a 12" pleco in there. Today, I traded those Oscars for $50 of store credit from a store close to my home. I then used this credit to buy one African knifefish, one needlenose gar, and one elephant nose.
So right now in my 125-gallon aquarium, I have the following:
(1) 12" pleco
(1) 4" needlenose gar
(1) 4" elephant nose
In my 20-gallon, I have the following:
(1) 4" African butterfly
(1) 5" African knifefish
Over the next two weeks, I am going to try and turn my big tank into a stingray tank. Next week, I will take out all decoration and gravel, and then add sand. Then the week after that, I hope to add a stingray. The pleco will be removed from the tank and sold before the stingray is added.
Here are a few questions and concerns...
(1) Are all of these fish, even the ones in the 20-gallon, compatible with a stingray? I think all of them should be fine except for the elephant nose, but I was wondering everyone elses opinion.
(2) The elephant nose likes to dig around in the bottom of the tank. Will he be fine with sand?
(3) The elephant nose currently has a hiding place he really likes. When I add the stingray, should I leave the hiding place for him?
(4) Should I add plants to the tank when I add sand? I have researched all of the fish, and the needlenose gar and elephant nose both appear to prefer tanks with plants. If I should add plants, what kind, and where should I position them so they won't interfere with the stingray?
(5) I have 2 bigger pieces of driftwood in there now. Should I leave them in the tank once the sand has been added? If so, where should they go as to not disturb the stingray?
(6) The guy at the pet store told me to only add sand that was made specifically for aquariums. He tried to sell me twenty 5-lb. bags at $3 each (total of $60). I can go and buy sand from other places for like $6-8 for 50 lbs. Would that stuff work instead? Or is it something I should research first? I would love it if I could save $40 and have no adverse affects on the fish.
(7) What kind of stingray should I get? I was originally thinking a teacup, because they're rather cheap, but have since read on here that they aren't very hardy when young. I want to buy one that is fairly hardy. Also, I don't want to spend a ton of money on one, as I have invested a great deal of money in the aquarium already. What are other kinds of rays that are available at a decent price range? (Teacup would have cost me around $55. Not looking to spend more than $80-ish)
So right now in my 125-gallon aquarium, I have the following:
(1) 12" pleco
(1) 4" needlenose gar
(1) 4" elephant nose
In my 20-gallon, I have the following:
(1) 4" African butterfly
(1) 5" African knifefish
Over the next two weeks, I am going to try and turn my big tank into a stingray tank. Next week, I will take out all decoration and gravel, and then add sand. Then the week after that, I hope to add a stingray. The pleco will be removed from the tank and sold before the stingray is added.
Here are a few questions and concerns...
(1) Are all of these fish, even the ones in the 20-gallon, compatible with a stingray? I think all of them should be fine except for the elephant nose, but I was wondering everyone elses opinion.
(2) The elephant nose likes to dig around in the bottom of the tank. Will he be fine with sand?
(3) The elephant nose currently has a hiding place he really likes. When I add the stingray, should I leave the hiding place for him?
(4) Should I add plants to the tank when I add sand? I have researched all of the fish, and the needlenose gar and elephant nose both appear to prefer tanks with plants. If I should add plants, what kind, and where should I position them so they won't interfere with the stingray?
(5) I have 2 bigger pieces of driftwood in there now. Should I leave them in the tank once the sand has been added? If so, where should they go as to not disturb the stingray?
(6) The guy at the pet store told me to only add sand that was made specifically for aquariums. He tried to sell me twenty 5-lb. bags at $3 each (total of $60). I can go and buy sand from other places for like $6-8 for 50 lbs. Would that stuff work instead? Or is it something I should research first? I would love it if I could save $40 and have no adverse affects on the fish.
(7) What kind of stingray should I get? I was originally thinking a teacup, because they're rather cheap, but have since read on here that they aren't very hardy when young. I want to buy one that is fairly hardy. Also, I don't want to spend a ton of money on one, as I have invested a great deal of money in the aquarium already. What are other kinds of rays that are available at a decent price range? (Teacup would have cost me around $55. Not looking to spend more than $80-ish)
