Sump pump help for 55 gallon P. delhezi Tank

[LoudAlligator]

Hi guys!

Beginning fish keeper here. Basically, my first fish project (a 10 gallon heavily planted tank with a mini ecosystem of breeding cherry shrimp & peal dianos) is going to be done soon. I'm basically just waiting for the plants to breed/ propagate more so it looks perfect. So I'm looking to the next project.

My LFS got in bichirs last weekend when I came to pick up a different colored shrimp and I feel in love. I've been reading everything I can get my hands or google search on but I still have some noob questions I thought you could help me out with.

I want to start out with a 55 gallon planted tank for a P. delhezi. Eventually, I would upgrade him into a 75g and turn the 55g into a clown pleco tank. He would be the solo resident.

But I need help understand the filter. I want to build a trickle tower sump with mechanical and biological filtration. Even after browsing through the filtration section of this forum, I am still not sure what turnover rate I need to get.

The rule of thumb I've seen mentioned across the internet for carnivorous fish is flowrate X4 of the tank size and if you are buying a filter, get a filter rated for something X2 to X4 times your size.

So...what do I need for a filter?

Also, my LFS specifically said that non-ropefish bichir prefer to be solo. I've ran into a few comments on this site that disagree. Thoughts?

 

[jaws7777]

Way to many ways to set up a sump with out more info. You should post in that section. Just to get more ideas on what you can do. Trickle tower with mech are an option, just filter socks are another.

If your just looking for mech and bio filtration the easiest to maintain would be filter socks, no baffles, media near the pump. Turnover rate is usually 10x the tank volume. Check oht the dc pumps they are adjustable (flow rate) i have two jebao dct's another brand that ive hesrd good things about are wave line

Polys enjoy other polys so dont worry about that.

 

[Zilch]

I think basically everyone here has 3+ polys, so the whole "lone wolf" thing isn't really solid advice. They're pretty peaceful for aggressive fish and they're built like tanks so any spats are usually just a couple bites and the other bichir slinking off to hide on the other side of the tank for a while (if that). You just have to be aware of large size differences, specifically with the larger lower jaw species... dels and other uppers are pretty chill and generally don't cannibalize each other.

I'll let someone more pro than I hop on for filtration advice, but in a 55-75g tank with just a single bichir it really won't take much

 

[jaws7777]

Canister and hobs are fine more maintenance involved but easier to set up. Sumps are harder to set up but pretty much maintenance free (depending on how you set it up).

For a 75 gal i think a decent can or pair of ac110's are a great option probably only 1 ac 110 if the bioload is small like 1 poly but the trick is being able to keep just q poly lol. I went with a sump on my 75 gal just becaue i wanted to learn how to build a sump but it really wasnt needed.

 

[DMD123]

A delhezi is a great choice for your first poly. They have great markings and are one of the more active of the upper jaws.

As to just one... dont think its possible, its like the bag of chips, you cant have just one.

 

[Polyaddict86]

A delhezi is a great choice for your first poly. They have great markings and are one of the more active of the upper jaws.

As to just one... dont think its possible, its like the bag of chips, you cant have just one.

Trust them one poly is never enough, thats what i learn here,lolz

I think most of us start with upper jaw and endup owning a lower jaw.