90 gallon Stingray tank & 40 gallon Aquascape

[AClark318]

New to the community, I have two tanks. The 90 has Motoro stingray, dragon fish (Goby), Lima Catfish and a Zebra Pleco.
My 40 has two blood Discus, five Rose line barbs, two Cory cats (green), rope fish, stingray looking Pleco for got the name, three bamboo shrimp and both have ghost shrimp that don't stay on the food chain for long.
I've been doing this for about 2 and a half years.
Here to help and learn, cheers.

 

[bud29]

to the AA community!

I don't know much about rays, but I have heard that they need 180+ gallons. I love Zebra Plecos, but they are way too expensive for me. Same with discus. Also, not trying to be the bad guy, but I think discus need a 55 gallon.

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

Is the 'stingray looking pleco' a hillstream loach?

 

[bud29]

That's what I am guessing too. They are also sold under the name "Borneo Sucker" and "Butterfly Pleco."

 

[AClark318]

to the AA community!

I don't know much about rays, but I have heard that they need 180+ gallons. I love Zebra Plecos, but they are way too expensive for me. Same with discus. Also, not trying to be the bad guy, but I think discus need a 55 gallon.

I have a 240 gallon sitting in the shed just waiting to finish the lid and lighting, then I'm moving the aquascape to the 90 and ray to the 240. My ray is only about 7-9inches right now. My filtration systems are way more above the required. The discus are young too, just now working up the guts to give them a shot. Their filtration is also way above the required. Thanks and I know, I would say the same!

 

[AClark318]

Is the 'stingray looking pleco' a hillstream loach?

Yes! Thank you for calling that out, I took a gamble not knowing much about him. A well planted tank can't hurt any fish though.

 

[bud29]

Does your pleco look like this?

 

[bud29]

OK, nevermind. You just said it was the hillstream loach. They are not a good tankmate for discus because they like cold water and discus like very warm water.

 

[AClark318]

Does your pleco look like this?

Yes, and I had never seen one till a couple weeks ago. Pretty sweet fish for 11.99.

 

[AClark318]

OK, nevermind. You just said it was the hillstream loach. They are not a good tankmate for discus because they like cold water and discus like very warm water.

I have the temp set at 84, lowest I think I can go with discus. My local pet shop had them in the discus tank, I assumed they'd be fine.

 

[bud29]

Here are two links. The first is an article about hillstream loaches, the second is a thread I started once because I wanted one and I was wondering if they could be in a tropical tank.
Hillstream Loaches - The Specialists at Life In The Fast Lane — Loaches Online
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f12/borneo-sucker-butterfly-pleco-care-213981.html

 

[YaHemCheck]

You need a much bigger tank for your ray.

 

[AClark318]

You need a much bigger tank for your ray.

Indeed, I'll be too happy when my 240 is done.

 

[AClark318]

Thanks bud! I may have to find a different means of Pleco for the scape.

 

[bud29]

Great! The bristlenose pleco is a great small pleco that can be in tropical tanks. Look in to them.

 

[Nu-Nu the eel]

Hillstream loaches are pretty sweet. Hard to take care of from what i have heard because they have specific requirements with temperature and flow.

 

[bud29]

+1 to that. Many people have them in single species tanks because there aren't too many coldwater fish that like really strong currents.