Is my tank big enough?

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » 26 Nov 2005, 12:46

Hi to all,
In contrary to one of my earlier posts, I didn't got my hands on the 50x50x50cm (125L) Tank I was eying at. Unfortunately, the chap who owns the tank (standing empty in his garage

) said he didn't want to sell it.

Now I've got my hands on another tank: a 60x30x30cm. I got this tank for free from a guy, so this wasn't a bad transaction at all

But now I'm a bit in doubt; can I use this tank to house my L260 QA wich is now in my 180L community tank? I would like to add 2 other QA's, preferably 1male/2female. Would this work, or is this tank too small for these 3?

Moreover, does anyone has pictures from a Pl&co-only tank? I want to make a tank where I can actually see these little fellows!

Thanks, Ruud

Budgieman · Post by **Budgieman** » 26 Nov 2005, 13:01

I am also very interested in pictures of pleco only tank setups where you can see te fish. I could post a picture of a pleco only tank, but you won't see any fish

Regards,
Wim

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 26 Nov 2005, 13:21

I think that size tank would be be fine for 3 QAs.

The key to seeing your plecs is to keep the lighting really dim. Hypancistrus are mainly nocturnal, so to tempt them out in the day, they have to feel secure. I use floating plants to do this. Another method I use is to aim the powerhead across the front of the tank. They will usually prefer the areas of higher current. Providing loads of hiding places will make them more confident. Dithers such as characins will also help.

Unfortunately these fish tend do nothing in the day, unless they're fed, so it's quite normal not to see them. Once they've properly settled in (this could take 6 months!) though they should be much more active at feeding times.

I've got a fair few plecs in my tanks and there's always one or two not hiding somewhere.

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » 26 Nov 2005, 13:36

Thanks for your replies folks. Still, i am very interested in pics of Pl*co tanks, i've searched the Tank Talk Topic, but got nothing much there!

Other possibilities for the 60x30x30Tank is Cory's only. So now I know 3x L260 is also possible, I'm in even more doubt

Thanks again (and what a great site&forum this is!!

)

fishboy23 · Post by **fishboy23** » 26 Nov 2005, 14:02

A trick I've heard of to get nocturnal plecos out in the open is to give them dither fish. The dither fish a friend of mine uses on his L-134s are cory Rabauti and another cory (the name escapes me). He noticed a remarkable difference in the amount he saw his fish. I don't think this would hinder breeding attempts, as the cories could never get around a pleco to it's eggs. Upon spawning, though, I would remove the cories for the sake of newborn pleco fry.
Hope this helps,
Gary

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 26 Nov 2005, 17:54

Some backing (preferably black) covering both the back and sides of the tank should also help.

Budgieman · Post by **Budgieman** » 27 Nov 2005, 12:41

Ok, here are pictures of my catfish tank. The tank dimensions are 100x30x30 (90L)

The first picture below was taken when I had the tank running for a few weeks. Brown and green algae started to grow and I put in 5 young ancistrusses. Three hours later I took this picture, you can already see where the fish ate away the algae:

This is my tank now:

I have 6 corydoras aeneus (with some sub-adult fry left) and 5 ancistrus (with fry) in it. The background is home-made and I must say, the fish (especially the fry of both cory's and ancistrus, that are free-swimming for about a week now) love it, they constantly "graze" on it.

I hope you get some inspiration of it...

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 27 Nov 2005, 12:56

Nice tank!

Warrior, if you want to go down the biotope route, then these fish come from fast flowing water over rocks.

I would put a thin layer (<1cm) of sand mixed with gravel down (hopefully the same colour and type as your rocks).

On top of this, i would pile loads of large (10-15cm) dark rounded river stones on top of each other (so there's lots of hiding places) with a few more open areas.

Seach the forum for "river tank" and there's loads of pics of peoples tanks they've set up just for plecs.

Warrior · Post by **Warrior** » 27 Nov 2005, 22:16

Thanks all!!

So i could also house 3x L260 with a small group of (small) Cory's?? That would be really the best!!

Budgieman · Post by **Budgieman** » 28 Nov 2005, 10:41

I don't see real problems in that... In my tank the fish get along very well. There's only one little thing; if I want corydoras fry, I have to remove the eggs as soon as I can because my ancistrus see the eggs as some sort of delicacy. The ancistrus don't eat the corydoras fry, but my corydoras do eat their own fry! My corydoras don't touch (nor eat) my ancistrus fry. But I have to admit that they always stick to the background wall just below the watersurface. If they should stick together on the bottom substrate I would not dare to guarantee a happy ending...

Since friday I also have a couple of queen arabesques in this tank. So far no problems...