180 Gal Eel Tank Build.

[Musbtr1pin]

I have a 180 Gal tank 72x24x25.. something along them lines, who cares.. I want to house an eel in this bad boy and want some ideas on what would be the best fit for my tank.

Also, can I put any other inhabitants in the tank? I plan on using dry rock and sculpting everything myself to make overhangs and caves and what not for my eel... Seed it with some nice cherry Live rock... and wait till its ready to house my baby! What are my options?

What type of eel? :crazy1::uzi:

 

[olemiss reb]

Gymnothorax vicinus

or Gymnothorax meleagris

would be my choices. They are both pretty easy to find and not that expensive. Damsels are the only fish I recommend keeping with piscivorous eels. If you want a tank with a variety of fish, don't get an eel.

Note- I chose these simply because my next eel is going to be one of the two. Recommending one is hard due the sheer number that are available if you are willing to look/pay for them.

 

[wedwards]

I have never owned an eel, but I have always thought that the Dragon eel's are the coolest. They are a bit on the expensive side though...

http://www.liveaquaria.com/diversden/ItemDisplay.cfm?c=2733+3&ddid=113080

 

[Musbtr1pin]

eels

eels

I saw the dragon and that thing is amazing! I am not going to put a 900$ eel in my tank for a starter tho.. Possibly in the future..

I was thinking the zebra eel, with some various other fish's. Possibly puffers or triggers? I have heard of them coping with one another extremely well, and when you have 180 gallons to play with, what do you guys think? How many of them can I house together?

Am I even on the right track?

 

[rubensito]

you can mix the zebra preferably with one of the Echidna species, should work ok in a tank that size

 

[Musbtr1pin]

I could house two of these zebras together tho in a 180 and be safe?

 

[Musbtr1pin]

I am pretty enthused by the Pterois volitans.. Or the Lion fish... Can one of these be housed with a zebra eel in my 180, given I provide ample amount of hiding spots..?

 

[Musbtr1pin]

What does everyone think about lights? This is going to be just LR and two eels... and maybe a lion fish..

 

[Musbtr1pin]

you can mix the zebra preferably with one of the Echidna species, should work ok in a tank that size

thanks!

 

[stacyjo]

I have a 180 with three eels in it.. But I have not put other fish in it yet cause not sure what to add with them either. I have a Hawaiian Dragon eel and I have read that you can not but much with them.. I have a tesselata eel and a brazilian moray eel in with him now.. i really like the way the Briazilian one looks that maybe one that you want to look into.. They are not the expensive either..

 

[Musbtr1pin]

What's the best way to setup my lights on a 180 Gal.. dim.. 72x24x25 Do I need some HO t5's... or maybe MH... What are your thoughts?? I can see some coral in the future... soft corals... maybe some anem.. if I can get away with it... What do you think about lights??

 

[Musbtr1pin]

So I am going to draw up some schematics in a bit for the wiring for my tank and stand. My stand will be a simple plug and play application. Four independent switches, with four independently controlled GFCI. I have an AFCI on the main breaker... So no worries there...

This is going to be a fun build.. I expect to start this weekend... I will keep you all posted and pics will be uploaded..

 

[ironeagle2006]

Stacey how well does your Tessalated get along with other animals. I have one inmy 150 Fowlr. Mine get this even has a Pet I swear my Hawkfish he even sleeps with the thing.