Can I Get A Red Tailed Shark??

In my planned 65 gallon I will have 8 KuhlI Loaches, 2 different small plecos, 8 Platies, 10 Serpae tetras, and either 10 more Serpaes or 10 black skirt tetras. I was wondering if I could stock a Red tailed shark with them. I don't know if they will be too aggressive or what.

 

What size aquarium do you have? If you have the capacity, I think they should all get along.

 

What size aquarium do you have? If you have the capacity, I think they should all get along.

I have some of the fish in my 20 gallon but the red tailed shark will go in my new 65 build

 

Is the 65 gal 36" long or 48" long?

Not sure I'd keep the shark with kuhlis. The sharks get large and aggressive, and the kuhlis can't defend themselves and may not compete well.

 

Agreed with Texas about the loaches with the shark, but I think if you left them out (could they go in your 20?) the shark would be fine with the rest of your stock.

 

If it's a 48" tank, I agree that shark would likely be fine with the other fish!

 

If it's a 48" tank, I agree that shark would likely be fine with the other fish!

Mmmmmm yeah it is the 36" version. Do you think if I gave the kuhlis plenty of hiding spots (Tight spots under driftwood, slate, etc...) they would be fine? I saw some Red Tailed sharks at my local aquarium (Its in another state but its the closest around) and I fell in love with them among other things

 

The problem is that red tailed sharks like the same "tight hiding spots" that kuhlis do, and the kuhlis don't stand a chance if he decides he doesn't like them. I've watched my shark ram fish, which is when I had my "aha" moment about the black bruising they were developing before they died :-/ If you want a shark, you really have to plan everything around them. And a 36" tank is pretty tight...

 

I don't think these sharks should be in tanks less than 48" long, so personally I'd rehome the shark and get lots of kuhlis. In smaller tanks, these large and active fish can be real bullies.

 

I don't think these sharks should be in tanks less than 48" long, so personally I'd rehome the shark and get lots of kuhlis. In smaller tanks, these large and active fish can be real bullies.

Alrighty makes sense. I don't have the shark yet so I'll be fine on the rehoming front. I think ill be getting 20 serpae tetras, 8 platies, the 2 plecos, and I guess like 8-10 kuhlis. How many total Kuhlis do you think I can get? I have 3 right now and i'm picking up the tank tonight. The fish won't be moved yet but once I get like the 80lbs of eco complete I need they will all get moved.

 

If the only bottom dwellers you have are two plecos and the kuhlis you can easily do 15+. I'd aI'm for 20 personally. I keep 14 in a 40 breeder (same foor print as a 65) and they love it.

 

I would save yourself the money and get sand or Turface Pro League. Sand is fine for plants, and Turface Pro is the same as Eco-Complete, just much, much cheaper.

 

I would save yourself the money and get sand or Turface Pro League. Sand is fine for plants, and Turface Pro is the same as Eco-Complete, just much, much cheaper.

So I was looking at sand as I really wanted it but I seems really expensive for black sand. I saw the TSC Black Diamond blasting sand but I read that it was too rough for kuhlis and possibly plecos. Is there a softer cost effective version that I can easily procure. Also I have attempted to grow plants in my 20gal but I don't know if it was the lack of good lights or what but they have all died. I don't want to dose liquid ferts in this tank as I will need a ton for the amount of water I will be "Treating". How do I make the sand fertile? I have heard of root tabs but I dunno how to use em'. ;P

 

Black Diamond blasting sand in medium or fine is fine for kuhlis and plecos. Medium is easier to use and fine for kuhlis.

You add root tabs in the substrate, below the plants that need them. Water column need plants need liquid ferts.

Lighting or lack of ferts could have killed them.

 

Black Diamond blasting sand in medium or fine is fine for kuhlis and plecos. Medium is easier to use and fine for kuhlis.

You add root tabs in the substrate, below the plants that need them. Water column need plants need liquid ferts.

Lighting or lack of ferts could have killed them.

Mmmmmmm I see. I am not well versed in the realm of aquarium plants or their needs. Is there a good website I can reference for specific plant's needs and such?

 

There's a good guide on this forum for planted tanks, created by Dothan.

Tropica and The Planted Tank have good info on individual plant needs.

 

You have lots of options for great centerpiece fish in a tank that size! Leaving out the shark doesn't mean you have to go without a centerpiece or two.

 

You have lots of options for great centerpiece fish in a tank that size! Leaving out the shark doesn't mean you have to go without a centerpiece or two.

I was looking for one because TexasDomer had recommended going with a peaceful cichlid but I haven't really looked into them yet. Are there any other fish besides cichlids you would recommend?

 

I have my kuhlis on BDBS medium grit and they are perfectly fine and happy on it. Eco complete is actually larger grit and rougher than BDBS. The mix in the pic is BDBS and eco complete. Large gravel like bits are eco complete.



Root tabs are just pushed into the substrate under or directly around the plant it is to fertilize. Make sure the tab is fully covered by substrate.

 

I have my kuhlis on BDBS medium grit and they are perfectly fine and happy on it. Eco complete is actually larger grit and rougher than BDBS. The mix in the pic is BDBS and eco complete. Large gravel like bits are eco complete.
View attachment 376838

Root tabs are just pushed into the substrate under or directly around the plant it is to fertilize. Make sure the tab is fully covered by substrate.

Mmmmmmm I see. So are root tabs compatible with sand? I would assume but I dunno maybe they float out or whatever.

 

Yeah they work in sand too. You just gotta push em into the sand and cover them up with the sand and they'll be fine. Then they'll slowly dissolve and do their fertilizer thing in there.

 

Yeah they work in sand too. You just gotta push em into the sand and cover them up with the sand and they'll be fine. Then they'll slowly dissolve and do their fertilizer thing in there.

I see. Gosh i'm so excited for this build. Itll take awhile but I hope it will end up good. Ill probably make a Build log or whatever they are called on here. Thanks for the help

 

I was looking for one because TexasDomer had recommended going with a peaceful cichlid but I haven't really looked into them yet. Are there any other fish besides cichlids you would recommend?

There are many cichlids that could work in there, such as Bolivian rams, laetacara, electric blue acaras, firemouths... are you not interested in any of them? They have lots of personality, and will hold their own with the nippy tetras you're planning.

I will say I have never kept cichlids with kuhlis before, so hopefully others who have can share their experiences.