Suggestions for Eclipse 6

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Ophiuchus

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 31, 2006
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AL
www.shiningsnakes.com
Okay...so I haven't been outside the Reptiles section in forever, but after many months, I finally was able to set-up another aquarium.

[Back story...if you don't care, please scroll down to the pretty pictures.

So I was going to school in TN and since I graduated in May and was moving back home to AL, I had to give up my 16-gal "globe" tank. As a result of my family moving into a new (much smaller) house, I've been either staying at my grandparents or sleeping on the floor of my brother's room. Last week, my brother and sister finally (:headbang2 ) moved into their new house, so I now have a bedroom of my own again.]

So I've been wanting to set-up a small tank (gotta scratch that itch). I orginally wanted to do something between 10-20 gallons, due to space and finances. Also, if I somehow got offered a job out of the area, a smaller tank to easier to get rid of or move.

Well, a friend of mine offered me two Eclipse 6 systems with gravel (not my first choice of a tank, but hey, free is free). Both systems work fine, but one is noticeably cracked on the bottom, and while it successfully retains water now, I'm reluctant to trust it, so I just set-up one.
E6_stage2.jpg

E6_stage2_CU.jpg


I work part-time at our LPS (which is awesome BTW...if you're ever in the Mobile, AL area, check out: http://www.bbpetstop.com/). We routinely accept donation fish, and my FW manager offered me a decent-sized bulldog pleco free since it was simply donated. He was just too cute to pass up...and like I said, free is free.
E6_stage1_CU.jpg


So I'm gonna let things sit for a while before I add anything else. But I have a dilemma...there's a nice pair of krib cichlids that were also offered to me free. But I'm really wanting more than just 2-3 fish in there, and I absolutely love black phantom tetras (which occupied my last tank). What should I do? Save some money and just take the kribs (which are pretty, I must admit) or hold out for 5-6 phantoms?

And is an Eclipse 6 too small for a krib pair and that pleco?
 
I have an ecplise 5 hex and tanks that size don't support much bioload at all.

The biowheel MIGHT support enough bacteria to handle the waste from those fish (I dunno because I haven't kept that kind of fishload in such a small tank with a small filter like that), but nitrates build up really really quick.
In my 5g just with one betta the nitrates can get out of hand pretty quick if I don't watch it close, and that's barebottom with some plants.

I would venture to say that if you change the filter cartridges on a constant basis and do water changes every few days your tank could support a pleco and a couple of kribs, though personally I don't think any less than a 10g is very nice for a pair of kribs or the pleco since there's not much room.

Don't slack off on maintanance, small tanks can crash overnight if you get lazy.
 
Yeah, I know....I've kept small tanks before without issues. I know it'll be another 2 weeks or so before I add more fish. On the 2nd Tuesday of every month, the store has a "buy one - get one for $.02" deal, so if I did tetras, I'd wait until then. I just never had kribs before and didn't know too much about them. I do need to test the water though.
 
Ah, if you have experience keeping small tanks you shouldn't have any problems at all water quality wise.

Kribs should be ok in a 6g, I just would personally do a 10 or bigger for them.
 
Hey man I visit the Pensacola area often. How far is the shop from P'cola? Also I noticed on the website there is a fish labeled as Irwin's Catifsh. Is that Megaladorus Irwini?
 
JD7.62;1020840; said:
Hey man I visit the Pensacola area often. How far is the shop from P'cola? Also I noticed on the website there is a fish labeled as Irwin's Catifsh. Is that Megaladorus Irwini?

Probably about an hour. Just take I-10 to I-65 N...there's directions from there on the website.

And yeah, I think that is M. irwini. The one's that look like a super-sized raphael?

You should come check it out one day. Ask for Michael in the fish dept..I'll be the only person there sporting mutton-chops.
 
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