What Is Wrong With This Kid?!?!?!

[matt295]

i just got a new issue from one of my magazines and they have a question and answer collumn. This kid is 13 years old and says that he has a 55 gallon freshwater tank. the PH is 7.6, temp is 81 Fahrenheit, he has an underground filter, and a power filter. In the tank he has a 6 inch goldfish, 3 3-inch clown loaches, 3 4-inch swordtails, a 5-inch african cichlid, 2 8-inch common plecos, and a 7-inch gold clown knifefish!!! He says that he has been interested in a lot of species that include electric catfishes, needlenose gar, red tail catfish, and a channel catfish! He wants to know what species would be best for his tank.

I think this is so cruel. How can someone do this

 

[orange shark]

what magazine is it?

 

[afishdude]

whats wrong with what hes got? it all looks fine to me, he just cant add anything. if he does water changes and keeps up with it, it looks fine.

 

[orange shark]

knife fish and 2 common plecs is whats wrong with it

 

[backley420]

plus the cichlids!!!!

 

[afishdude]

2 common would be pushing it but alright in a 55g because the 55g is long, as long as he keeps up with it. yea the cichlid are a prob but they could be ones that get to 2" you dont no.

 

[orange shark]

i dont know about cichlids but i know they dont get too big so that shouldnt be a problem, but i think that even one common pleco in a 55 gallon is a problem, nevermind two!

 

[stang1]

One Common isn't suitable for a 55G regardless of the tank length, let alone two as they have the potential to reach 18".
Clown Loaches need a minimum of 75 gallons.
Goldfish shouldn't be kept with tropical fish.
I see plenty wrong with the tank!

 

[nukeonekitty]

Depending on the species, the African cichlids will kill everything in that tank other than the plecos and the clown knifes.Oh, and I am curious to know what reply he got from the magazine.

 

[afishdude]

plecos can never reach 18" in a home aquarium unelss you have like a 1000g aquarium. and yea i was thinking 55g is bigger than it is, its barly bigger than mine!

 

[stang1]

Seemed to have missed the word "potential"!
And a 1000G aquarium for an 18" fish....

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Yep. African is way too agressive if you ask me. Should get pretty nippy, pretty soon. But, even though that stock is pretty bad, I have seen worse...

 

[GuppyDude]

Iv'e seen african cichlid fish that have been particularly mellow, but even so putting them into a community is risky

The knife fish must go, im surprised he hasn't had problems with it yet; or maybe he has.

The common plecs might be ok in there for a couple years, but they will outgrow that tank.

 

[GuppyDude]

18 inches per fish is still more than that aquarium can support with everthing else in there.

 

[afishdude]

common rarely reach 18" in home aquariums. 12-14" is more realistic.