Eel experts, tank tunnel ?'s

[NEK-ap24]

Hello,

I am looking to set up a 125 mixed reef, with the focus being on the purchase of a small zebra moray, who will be the centerpiece of the tank. The coral and other livestock will be in consideration of him/her.

I am looking to build a tunnel out of PVC, and thought that 3" Schedule 40 PVC conduit should be sufficient. (chime in if it needs to be bigger or should be smaller)

I was going to have it stretch across 4' of the back of the tank and have a a long sweep 90 degree angles for ports at either end and a center vertical pipe with port out the top.

Should I drill many holes in it for water circulation? or leave it smooth for comfort of the eel. (if drilling is best, should I leave the bottom solid for him to slide his belly across, and only drill the sides and top? or what is the best practice.

Has anyone plumbed any kind of gentle closed loop into a tunnel system to keep detritus from building, or would the eels prefer a more stagnant tunnel/cave. (will an eel deficate in his tunnel or go out in the tank?)

Thanks for the help in this, I search the forum, and was unable to find reference to caves other then "I used PVC"

:bounce1: Thanks

 

[olemiss reb]

I think 3" will be fine for a zebra. I'd step it up to 4" if you plan to get a thicker bodied eel down the line. My moringas have a five foot section of 4" pvc with 90s at the ends and an opening in the middle.

I didn't drill holes in mine. It will not matter where you drill the holes as my eels often peak out of the openings upside down or sideways, if that makes sense. The eels will use the bathroom in it but they seem to clean the pipe out with their tails.

 

[NEK-ap24]

thanks for the reply,

I am pretty certain on wanting to keep a mixed reef of sorts with the eel as a center piece, so I doubt I will ever get a bigger moray then a Zebra to house in this 125 Gallon. If I must get another (larger) moray in the future, I would probably need a bigger tank anyhow.

Correct me if I am wrong, but my research is that the zebra is the safest bet with smaller fish in a mixed reef.

I like snowflake's looks a lot, but have read that they are more likely to bite at fish then zebras are. Also, there may be other morays that will live with inverts and larger fish, but then I think my bio-load would be getting too much for the 125 again. Its a tricky balance.