.... need advice ....

Yeah I see your point, geekdafied, and we do thank you for trying to save us $$ .

Thing is, I know Mike *really* wants an eel (he told me he also wanted a shark... but that was before I explained to him you pretty much need like a 200gallon tank AND plenty of experience in the SW hobby for something like that...). And for the price that the tank is listed for, I figured I wouldn't mind letting him have a second tank just for the eel. (I was curious if there was anything that could be put in with it, because I am under the impression you won't really see the eel all that much because he would hide under/in the rocks and in the pvc pipes?)

 

needed to add another 0

 

just have mainly sand and a couple pieces of Solid LR and you will se him, but also get a nice top cover and wait the edges down, eels are escape artists

 

Yeah, maybe I can try to talk Mike out of his wanting the eel..

But I still think I'll be purchasing the 55gallon... i mean... I'm SURE I can find a use for it. (Maybe I'll set up a hermit-crab only tank... those are the lil guys I like! ;D)

 

Not to mention very messy and adds a big bio-load to your tank. Luna

 

Thanks Geekdafied, Aquaboy, Luna. (and 3reef)

I have to say, that even though the answer might not be what we're wanting to hear, we know you guys will always say what's best for the tank.

=D

 

how about an engineer goby? mine's been in my 55gal since it was about an inch long. anyone who sees it who doesn't know what it is thinks it's an eel. he's got a great personality and is about 8 inches long. Maybe longer. I'm kinda fish "heavy" though...Him, foxface rabbitfish, maroon clown and 4 stripe damsel. just a thought.........

 

You forgot to mention the part about how they like to dig and move things around hence the name "Engineer" Goby. They are beautiful fish, but have to make sure your rock is sitting on the bottom of the tank and not on the sand. If you dont, you might wake up to everything in your tank carpet surfing. Same holds true for eels to...

 

this is true Geek. Mine has only knocked the rocks over once, a very long time ago. From what I remember it wasn't bad, since I didn't have very much rock at that time. you do have to arrange your rock with an engineer goby in mind and/or use putty to hold them together. Make him places where he can get under the rocks and tunnel. Mine has pretty much stopped "engineering" since I put in the two pcs of rock I made. I did them flat with kinda like feet on the bottom. I put four small rubble rocks under each corner , to raise it, and he swims in and out all day. I think that's all he wants to do, swim under the rocks and in his tunnels, not so much dig just to dig...

 

I was set on getting a 55 gallon system. Go with 55 or bigger is the rule of thumb. With the stuff that you have to buy to support anything between a 55-100 gallon system, it's virtually the same. Filter, powerheads, protein skimmers, etc..... I opted for a 75 gallon tank, and only spent $60 more for the tank, and as a bonus, I got crappy lighting! Yippie! Granted, more rocks, sand, etc, but the hardware was the exact same. Something to think about.

I found a 75 gallon system on craigslist, 2 snowflake eels and other critters, but, it was 350 miles away. I decided to start fresh. Those eels really were the deciding factor for me to opt out. I've heard all the stuff you mentioned. Good luck!