Synodontis Lucipinnis tank size

[igol66]

Hi,

I just wandered what the minimum tank size would be for a pair off luci's, and how many could I keep in a 125 liter tank if there are no other fish there? (and probably will remain this way)

Thanks

[Richard B]

Being "old school" (if i'm being complimentary to myself) or "a stick in the mud who refuses to come to terms with the modern age" - can you tell me the dimensions of a 125 litre tank (preferably in inches!!!)

[igol66]

it is = 81 x 36 x 50cm

so according to an online converter in inches it is: 31.9 x 14.2 x 19.7

[Richard B]

If it's (probably)Lucipinnis only, with massesof rockwork, i'd go for half a dozen. Perhaps a shoal of cyprichromis could be considered as tankmates

[igol66]

6 lucipinnis sounds really good.

a shoal of cyprichromis? how many could i get? are they mid water fish, or top water?

[Richard B]

6 lucipinnis sounds really good.

a shoal of cyprichromis? how many could i get? are they mid water fish, or top water?

Cyprichromis live away from the bottom - in 99.9% of tanks there is no differentiation between mid & upper layers - tanks simply aren't deep enough. You'd want 5 or 6 Cyprichromis, 1 male and the rest females.

[Phyllonemus]

I don't agree.
Cyprichromis doesn't fit in this tanksize, they are active swimmers, be kept in large groups and shouldn't be kept in a tank smaller than 130cm.

Even for Paracypichromis is this tanksize to small.

You can put a group of 6 lucipinnis in this tank, and combine them f.i. with a couple/trio Altolamprologus "shell".

[QbaZ]

hey, sorry to hijack this thread but would I be able to keep any lucipinnis in a 60 x 35 x 45 cm tank??

[N0body Of The Goat]

hey, sorry to hijack this thread but would I be able to keep any lucipinnis in a 60 x 35 x 45 cm tank??

I would not consider any Synodontis besides nigriventris or contracta in a tank like that, other African alternatives that come to mind would be the often mislabelled Microsynodontis (with the exception of the true batesii.. often what all the other species get imported as, incorrectly) and Mochokiella paynei.

[igol66]

Would you be able to keep Otocinclus and lucis together? aqadvisor doesnt say anything and recommend the parametres at something like 22-25 degrees celcius, pH of 7.5-7.8 and hardness of 10-15dH.

i saw some otos in my lfs and they looked like they could swim really fast so they could escape from hungry lucis I know a friend who had lucis in his tank and had a pair of breeding bn plecs and he told me the young were only eaten from time to time, but he got about 3/4 surviving because some got caught in the filter at night

[sidguppy]

not a good idea

otocinclus are fairly fragile and belong in planted tanks with some bogwood and best of all: lots of algae and docile tankmates
the boisterous Synodontis lucipinnis will cause stress and also is a fierce foodcompetitor (it grazes too!); you'll see the oto's wasting away one by one.

personally I think this tank is too small for lucipinnis, rocks or no rocks
iit's a good size for a breeding effort of the lucipinnis, but not big enough for a landscaped furnitured tank with luci's.

also i agree with the above comment of it being far too small for cyprinids.
they'll freak out and do each other damage in this tanksize.

if you like Syno's best get a bigger tank;

on the other hand there ARE Mochokids that fit in here without any trouble: Microsynodontis and Mochokiella.

[igol66]

125 litres, 80x35x45 is too small for lucis?? so how come i got two completely different answers. half a dozen OR 0 lucis is a difference...

[Phyllonemus]

125 litres, 80x35x45 is too small for lucis?? so how come i got two completely different answers. half a dozen OR 0 lucis is a difference...

That question is already answered (by me) .

[igol66]

125 litres, 80x35x45 is too small for lucis?? so how come i got two completely different answers. half a dozen OR 0 lucis is a difference...

That question is already answered (by me) .

sidguppy said this tanksize is too small, Phyllonemus and Richard B said its ok for 6 lucis with lots of rocks...

[Scleropages]

also i agree with the above comment of it being far too small for cyprinids.

I think you meant Cyprichromis. There are many species of cyprinids that will do fine in igol66's tank.

125 litres, 80x35x45 is too small for lucis?? so how come i got two completely different answers. half a dozen OR 0 lucis is a difference...

As sidguppy pointed out, some people here think your tank size is marginally ample for a small group of S. lucipinnis. IMO, if you want to make it a species tank that will only hold the S. lucipinnis, I think you'll be fine with a group of 6-8 of them.

[igol66]

also i agree with the above comment of it being far too small for cyprinids.

I think you meant Cyprichromis. There are many species of cyprinids that will do fine in igol66's tank.

125 litres, 80x35x45 is too small for lucis?? so how come i got two completely different answers. half a dozen OR 0 lucis is a difference...

As sidguppy pointed out, some people here think your tank size is marginally ample for a small group of S. lucipinnis. IMO, if you want to make it a species tank that will only hold the S. lucipinnis, I think you'll be fine with a group of 6-8 of them.

OK, thanks for clearing it up for me, I will definitely get a species tank.

[igol66]

Sorry, more questions

what external filter would you recommend for a 80x35x45cm tank with 6-8 lucipinnis?
OR
should I not bother buying an external and stay with the Fluval U3 Internal?

Thanks

[Scleropages]

For our American readers, an 80cm x 35cm x 45cm tank is 31.5" x 13.8" x 17.7". I'm wondering if this tank is really a 29 gal (30" x 12" x 18"). Barring any algae problems that necessitate a UV filter, a Marineland Emperor 400 would be all that you need. You can find them on Foster and Smith right now for $40 USD.

[MatsP]

For our American readers, an 80cm x 35cm x 45cm tank is 31.5" x 13.8" x 17.7". I'm wondering if this tank is really a 29 gal (30" x 12" x 18"). Barring any algae problems that necessitate a UV filter, a Marineland Emperor 400 would be all that you need. You can find them on Foster and Smith right now for $40 USD.

No, it's not a US 29g. tank - it's similar size, but they are built in Europe (or China to European specifications, hence the even 5cm measurements, rather than even inches). As a rule, tank sizes are different in Europe and the US, and to complicate matters further, traditional UK tank sizes tend to be different yet again.

The Marineland products are not generally available in Europe.

The choice between internal or external filter is quite a complex question. The benefits of internal filter is generally price and "ease of use" (no hoses, etc), where the external filter wins on things like media volume and as a consequence maintenance frequency.

--
Mats

[Scleropages]

Thanks for the clarification, MatsP.