Sailfin Pleco

Hey guys, if I decided that the size wasn't that limiting (it is-- but I am trying to see what I can and cannot do) and I wanted to keep a sailfin pleco until it matured into a giant pleco or just buy a young adult pleco.

What kind of set up would I need? What size? How could I keep the water clean as possible? It would be the only fish in there... though 1-3 african clawed frogs in there with him would be nice.

I remember having one in a 40 gallon once, and he got rather big in 2 years. (or maybe it was a year I forget). Is there a way to keep him from redecorating? Also is there a way for him to stay visible without feeling stressed? like is there a method we could see him without stressing him out?

I remember having canister filters and they were such a hassle to operate. I'd end up with large pools of water because I wouldnt get used to them.

Are there fail-safe ways to keep the water clean without needing a complex canister filter?

I wanted it to have a high level of filtration (over kill if you please) because I want to keep the water clean, and free of odors as well as room for mistakes.

 

for a sailfin pleco, the very minimum tank size you could have is a 125g, they get large reaching 20" sometimes slightly bigger.

A Planted aquarium with hearty, fast-growing plants, high aeration, and water movement is best for them. Rocks and a very large driftwood (the driftwood is beneficial and required they eat it ) to help to accent a natural habitat and provide hiding spaces to reduce stress for the Sailfin.

They can eat just about anything including vegetables, flakes, pellets, wafers, and freeze-dried or live food.


Their fins can be delicate, so check any decorations for sharp edges before adding them to the tank. Their fairly immobile during the day and more active at night.

You don't absolutely need a canister filter but in my opinion anything above 50 gallon should be filtered by one especially if you want a sailfin pleco , huge wasters!! you should be aiming at 7x-8x+ gal/h meaning atleast 700gal/h-800gal/h +, a fluval fx6 canister is great it'll be doing 925gal/h. If you absolutely don't want a canister filter then 2 aquaclear 110 HBO would be good.

30% weekly water changes is very important to keep parameters down and water clean, you'll need a good vacuum because sailfin poop like crazy.

 

You will pretty much need a canister filter or better 2, they're big fish and you'll need a big, well filtered tank. Canisters are better filtration than HOBs and also quieter and lower maintenance. FX-6 would be good. Seriously, if you've been getting flooding with canisters you're doing something wrong.

Otherwise, they're pretty easy to take care of fish. Some hiding places, some driftwood. They're pretty low maintenance fish, not much else needed to do to take care of them, like most plecos.

 

You will pretty much need a canister filter or better 2, they're big fish and you'll need a big, well filtered tank. Canisters are better filtration than HOBs and also quieter and lower maintenance. FX-6 would be good. Seriously, if you've been getting flooding with canisters you're doing something wrong.

Otherwise, they're pretty easy to take care of fish. Some hiding places, some driftwood. They're pretty low maintenance fish, not much else needed to do to take care of them, like most plecos.

don't forget to add how big they get and what size aquarium they need , so the op understand the importance of it.

 

don't forget to add how big they get and what size aquarium they need , so the op understand the importance of it.

I have a fair idea. I have one 3 feet to my right that I've had for 17 years.

 

I have a fair idea. I have one 3 feet to my right that I've had for 17 years.

Finally figured out how to actually quote(it wouldnr before).

Anyways, the canisters I had I used some with turtle tanks, some with a big fish tank with a sunfish (panfish kind). They'd get clogged in a week or days for the turtle tank... For the fish every 2 weeks or less... I had the highest rating fluval canisters and eheim canisters.


I've also had the rena...

I always followed the instructions. But sometimes it would get stuck, and some broke their parts... It made me... Annoyed. Went through thousands. I had a 125g for the turtle with two big canisters. For the fish I had another 125g. I had other fish tanks ranging from 75-55-29 gallons. The whisper filter I used several of the big ones in the 29 gallon and it worked wonders and was easy to keep up with....


Is there another filtration system that is easier and stronger than the canisters?


If these grow to be 3ft tall... How big would be the max aquarium need to be? Gallons and measurements (by feet and inches if you could)

You will pretty much need a canister filter or better 2, they're big fish and you'll need a big, well filtered tank. Canisters are better filtration than HOBs and also quieter and lower maintenance. FX-6 would be good. Seriously, if you've been getting flooding with canisters you're doing something wrong.

Otherwise, they're pretty easy to take care of fish. Some hiding places, some driftwood. They're pretty low maintenance fish, not much else needed to do to take care of them, like most plecos.

Do you see them often? I saw mine often. Id prefer to avoid adding rocks. They scratch the glass and too much weight... Also I just don't trust them.

Driftwood sounds fine, but how do you get the tannins out? I hate it when aquariums aren't clear....

 

In my opinion you would need 180 gallons minimum. Sailfins can get to 2 feet and 125 wouldn't give them enough room t turn comfortably. If you are building/buying this tank specifically then I would go for a tank that was 200 gallons+. A longer tank with a larger footprint would be much better than a taller tank.

 

In my opinion you would need 180 gallons minimum. Sailfins can get to 2 feet and 125 wouldn't give them enough room t turn comfortably. If you are building/buying this tank specifically then I would go for a tank that was 200 gallons+. A longer tank with a larger footprint would be much better than a taller tank.

I can barely lift 125g tank empty... How would I even fit it through a tight hallway? Any plecos that would be okay in a 125g? I mean if I was to go with a much larger tank I'd rather keep something like a walking catfish.

 

Do you see them often? I saw mine often. Id prefer to avoid adding rocks. They scratch the glass and too much weight... Also I just don't trust them.

Driftwood sounds fine, but how do you get the tannins out? I hate it when aquariums aren't clear....

I see mine all the time.

Tannins aren't a real problem, boil and soak the driftwood beforehand will get most of it out. Your normal water changes will minimize them and it will stop leaching at all over a few months. I've never really had any driftwood release tannins, most of my driftwood is actual driftwood from beaches. Not bog wood like you get from a LFS that I think is dug out of peat and mud or something.

 

I can barely lift 125g tank empty... How would I even fit it through a tight hallway? Any plecos that would be okay in a 125g? I mean if I was to go with a much larger tank I'd rather keep something like a walking catfish.

Of course Rubberlips, BNs and clowns are just a few plecos that would do well in a 125.

 

galaxy pleco 10"
blue phantom pleco 7"
zebra pleco 4"
green phantom pleco 7"
tiger pleco 5"
gold nugget 8"
vampire pleco 10"

their are other but these are just some kool ones and their sizes.

I have a fair idea. I have one 3 feet to my right that I've had for 17 years.

holy smokes!! you must have a massive aquarium for this guys , hopefully 200g+. I've never heard of a sailfin getting that big in a home aquarium , biggest I've heard is 2 feet and at that it's pretty rare.

 

Of course Rubberlips, BNs and clowns are just a few plecos that would do well in a 125.

Bns? Ill look up the rest later.

Nice. I don't go to the beach. Is that even safe?

I see mine all the time.

Tannins aren't a real problem, boil and soak the driftwood beforehand will get most of it out. Your normal water changes will minimize them and it will stop leaching at all over a few months. I've never really had any driftwood release tannins, most of my driftwood is actual driftwood from beaches. Not bog wood like you get from a LFS that I think is dug out of peat and mud or something.

galaxy pleco 10"
blue phantom pleco 7"
zebra pleco 4"
green phantom pleco 7"
tiger pleco 5"
gold nugget 8"
vampire pleco 10"

their are other but these are just some kool ones and their sizes.





holy smokes!! you must have a massive aquarium for this guys , hopefully 200g+. I've never heard of a sailfin getting that big in a home aquarium , biggest I've heard is 2 feet and at that it's pretty rare.

Do you guys have a fist to fish comparison? Just to get an idea. I wonder how much itd be to have someone set it in place for me... (Alright I'm weak lol)

 

BNs = bristle nose pleco.

 

BN I believe stands for bristle nose

 

I have a fair idea. I have one 3 feet to my right that I've had for 17 years.

holy smokes!! you must have a massive aquarium for this guys , hopefully 200g+. I've never heard of a sailfin getting that big in a home aquarium , biggest I've heard is 2 feet and at that it's pretty rare.

Uhh....Not a huge tank, just a 4'x2'x2'. He's like 15", the fish tank is located about 3 feet to the right of my computer. He isn't 3 feet.

 

Uhh....Not a huge tank, just a 4'x2'x2'. He's like 15", the fish tank is located about 3 feet to the right of my computer. He isn't 3 feet.

ohhh my god , makes total sense now I was thinking wooow setting a new world record for sailfin plecos in home aquarium. hahha

I think if the op wants one a 125g would be good obviously bigger better , most 125g are 72 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 23 3/8, most sailfin that I've seen top out at 18".

 

ohhh my god , makes total sense now I was thinking wooow setting a new world record for sailfin plecos in home aquarium. hahha

I think if the op wants one a 125g would be good obviously bigger better , most 125g are 72 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 23 3/8, most sailfin that I've seen top out at 18".

Yeah. Also is it worth setting up a UV sterilizer? Does it actually reduce illness? I know it's usually used for saltwater but it's not a bad thing tbh.

With a 125g. how can I keep the water pristine, and ammonia, nitrates down to 0ppm?


I love this aquarium and that sand... usually id find the sand too coarse....

Also love that walking catfish. But I feel as if plecos are more resilient. Also, how do you guys even remove them from the tanks if you have to?

I mean plecos are so strong...the one we had I had to put his head through a net and hold the body with my bare hands as he would just try to flop out and was too strong. I don't think I had a net that fully fit it as he was just so big at the time. (I had the common pleco you find in petsmart and it was about 2feet).

 

Yeah. Also is it worth setting up a UV sterilizer? Does it actually reduce illness? I know it's usually used for saltwater but it's not a bad thing tbh.

With a 125g. how can I keep the water pristine, and ammonia, nitrates down to 0ppm?


I love this aquarium and that sand... usually id find the sand too coarse....

Also love that walking catfish. But I feel as if plecos are more resilient. Also, how do you guys even remove them from the tanks if you have to?

I mean plecos are so strong...the one we had I had to put his head through a net and hold the body with my bare hands as he would just try to flop out and was too strong. I don't think I had a net that fully fit it as he was just so big at the time. (I had the common pleco you find in petsmart and it was about 2feet).

I don't have any experience with U/V sterilizer I'll let someone else answer that.

get a very good canister filter or two of them, You could get one fluval fx6 925gal/h or two fluval 406 canister total 733gal/h, 30% weekly water changes, don't over feed and don't over stock the tank.

walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) they
can reach 24" but are very resilient but big wasters and big eaters!! they are also escape artist so be careful.

 

I don't have any experience with U/V sterilizer I'll let someone else answer that.

get a very good canister filter or two of them, You could get one fluval fx6 925gal/h or two fluval 406 canister total 733gal/h, 30% weekly water changes, don't over feed and don't over stock the tank.

walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) they
can reach 24" but are very resilient but big wasters and big eaters!! they are also escape artist so be careful.

fluvals are annoying to open to clean. like the renas and eheims.

 

fluvals are annoying to open to clean. like the renas and eheims.

no other option, hang on back filters stop at 100 gallon so unfortunately you gotta get a canister and honestly anything over 50 gallon should have a canister filter, and if opened and cleaned properly their shouldn't be any flooding.

 

no other option, hang on back filters stop at 100 gallon so unfortunately you gotta get a canister and honestly anything over 50 gallon should have a canister filter, and if opened and cleaned properly their shouldn't be any flooding.

I see. That sounds like a lot to consider.