Fish is currently in a a 55 gallon w lots of driftwood. temp is 70 f.

Two medium cats in one 55? No wonder the P. nigrolineatus was so upset. A 55 is about as small as you can go with just the one Panaque you've got in it now.

'Tis time to branch away from catfish. Keep the royal, obviously ...

Alternatively, you can check smaller tile stores who may discount broken boxes. I've picked up freebies by approaching the shop owner for advice on slate, ten minutes of chat equals five sqaure feet of free leftovers.

I work in one of the big-box home improvement stores, and I guarantee that if ...

Discus do best in relatively still, very warm water. Loricariids, being riverine, do best with a current in the tank and fairly cool conditions.

Admission: I cannot imagine a time when I would ever set up a discus tank. While beautiful, discus are almost sedentary fish and they are exceptionally ...

If you want beauty, think about hypancistrus... but that isn't a good algea cleaner... :wink:

Hypancistrus is a fast-water fish that lives in rapids; discus won't last in water that's as fast as Hypancistrus needs to be happy.

With Hypancistrus and Discus in the same tank, one of 'em is going to ...

I've had a sailfin pleco ( Glyptoperichs gibbiceps, according to the taxonomic key) for about two years. He lives in a 55 with some Jack Dempseys. Water conditions are good--I had his water tested, and according to the LFS the ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, kH and pH are all acceptable for plecos ...