Tanking

[ClownKnife28]

Okay, guys, I have a few questions about tanking.

I have a 10 gallon tank, 55 gallon tank and a 150 gallon tank (which is not set up). In my 55 gallon tank, I have a 3-inch clown knife, a 3 inch senegal bichir, a red tail shark and two bala sharks. I just read beblondie's thread here: http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173088
It states that I should keep the bichir in the 10 gallon till it grows 7-8 inches. I was intending on using the 10 gallon to breed guppies for feeders, but oh well. My fish do look kinda lost in that 55 gallon right now. I think will move them to the 10 gallon. lol.

When my ck and balas grow too big, I will move them to the 150 and let the senegal and red tail shark keep the 55 gallon. Will angel fish and silver dollars go with the red tail shark and senegal bichir when I move out the balas and ck? I know that the senegal grows out to about 12 inches and the red tail shark 6-7 inches. Do I have to worry about the red tail being lunch for the senegal one day? Will the senegal go well with angel fish which will grow about 6 inches long and 12 inches tall? I was thinking about a 55 with an angel fish, 2 silver dollars, the bichir, red tail shark and, when algae starts growing, a starry night pleco (grows about 8 inches).

Will this work?

 

[pwmin]

the red tail shark should be fine, as well as the angels, but even some angels can be aggressive. silver dollars get too big for a 55. using plecs for algae control isn't a great idea.

 

[polypterus77]

Be careful with the pleco, most of them like to suck the slime coat of other fish and polypterus are frecuently attacked.

Also they generate more waste than they clean.

 

[benzjamin13]

As long as you keep the Pleco well fed, you shouldn't have that much of an issue with it. Red-Tail Sharks are normally aggressive towards it's own kind and other fish sometimes. A rainbow Shark is more forgiving with other fish around it, but my friend has one that likes to punk his ID Shark. Angels and Silver Dollars should be fine with the Shark and the Bichir.

 

[ClownKnife28]

the red tail shark should be fine, as well as the angels, but even some angels can be aggressive. silver dollars get too big for a 55. using plecs for algae control isn't a great idea.

I thought silver dollars only get 8 inches. That's not too big for a 55, of course, I could be wrong. How big do silver dollars get?

 

[pwmin]

it's not a matter of them getting too long for the width, it's the amount of swimming space they need since they are very active. I'm sure there are some species that get only 6 inches that would probably be okay if you only kept 3.

 

[ClownKnife28]

Dang, this is tough (but fun to think about!)

Here are my thoughts for the 55g:

Choice 1---1 Sen Bichir, 1 Red Tailed Shark, 1 Gold Severum

Choice 2---1 Sen Bichir, 1 Red Tailed Shark, 1 Angelfish, 2 Bala Sharks

Choice 3---1 Sen Bichir, 1 Red Tailed Shark, 1 Angelfish, 2 Silver Dollars

Choice 4---1 Sen Bichir, 1 Red Tailed Shark, 2 Angelfish, 1 Silver Dollar

Which of these will work, which will not work? Hopefully at least 2 or 3 will work so I have a choice.

 

[pwmin]

generally, you want at least 3 SD's. i like choice 1 the best, but make sure the severum doesn't get large enough to eat the "shark". a bala will outgrow the 55, but they grow very slowly. they're generally better to keep in 3's also, but i've kept them by themselves.

 

[ClownKnife28]

The Gold Severum will eat the Red-Tailed Shark? The shark grown 6-7 inches, right, and the severum 12 inches. The shark is not safe?

What can I keep with a Sen Bichir and Red Tail Shark? I chose to swap the shark for a gold severm, what can I keep with a gold severum and sen bichir?