Need Ideas

[Gnatfish]

Hey

I am planning on getting a 4ft tank...

Except i really don't know what to put in it. I want to try something different from Tropical Community (that's for other tanks )

I need ideas. I'm either gonna do a African Cichlid tank or big fish tank.

If i choose big fish tank what could i put it in? Not big big fish..but reasonable size.

I would love to have an Oscar or two. And i also like Silver Dollars and Clown Loaches.

Could these mix in a 4ft? What else would be interesting? Preferable something that wont take my hand off when i put my hand in tank.

Also whichever fish i choose, i would like to know whether they like tall or deep tanks.

Thanks

Nathan

 

[BigIan]

an oscar needs 75 gallons all to him self, and double that for 2, so oscars are out of the question, ri ift lake chiclids are coll though the wife and i have a 4 ft tank with 6 lamprologus birchardi and a common synodontis in it and its ace,

or you could try angels or discus both of wich like tall tanks, and need 10 gallons of space per fish, but are great fish and very colourfull

 

[loafybones]

Oooh i love it when people ask for ideas!!!

You could do allsorts with a 4ft tank.

Malawi Mbunas are gorgeous, I had some of those but they got kidnapped when I split with my husband. They're colourful and pretty interesting to watch coz they dig and dance and chase each other around!

Any type of Cichlids would be nice actually.

You could do oddballs if you want something different.

You could just go for a shed load of community fish.

You could even go marine!!

Let us all know what you decide and take pictures!!!!

 

[Gankutsuou]

Okay. I'm getting a 40 gal myself and have considered two opts.

A: predator Tank.
Put in a pleco, Dragon goby, and striped raphael catfish for the main cleaners
Then, for my intresting piece, a Black Ghost knife fish

then I need to make the decision. Do I want 3 Balas or 3 Clown Loaches? (much more pheasible in your tank to have these)

Then Do i wanna throw in a roseline shark?

But see... the other option is so amazing. It's why i combat my urge for the predator tank constantly

Cleaners:
Chinese Butterfly sucker, Pleco, Dragon Goby (This guy is peaceful. And the normal store doesn't bother adding brackish. I just add 2 tbsp of salt for the dude per 10 gal, and it seems to help other fish. Remember, freshwater aquarium salt).

Main attraction
3x Roseline shark
Expensive. Very expensive. But... the background fish will bring him out so brilliantly...
Background fish
20x Cardinal Tetra - BEAUTIFUL IN MASS
20x Glow Light Tetra - Oh gosh... add these to cards... they're gorgeous....

They do school together. And... since you seem to have a bigger tank, you have space to add in others, like perhaps some Black Neon tetras.

Seriously, common, but not common to see in sheer mass beautiful numbers like that ^_~!

 

[Gnatfish]

Those options sound way to much for a 40 gallon.

The Knife fish needs about 80 gallons apparently and the other option sounds really crowded...

However you have brought to me attention some interesting fish and ideas, so thanks

Anymore ideas?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How many gallons is the tank? It could be anything from under 40gals to over 80 etc.
Also, do you have any idea over what sort of fish you want or what sort of look tank you are going for? You should check oout the members gallery tank pics on here to give you some inspiration- its not always a simple matter or stocking the tank with the right fish if your tanks habitat doesn't fulfill their needs.
Gourami's for example prefer heavily planted tanks, clown plecs like tanks with lots of mopani and driftwood, many cichlids eat plants while fish like danio's prefer big open spaces to swim in with a bit of planting etc...

 

[Gankutsuou]

Yeah. The knife is a scraped option for me right now. I really thought he might be cool, but considering his own health and how much special care he'd require... well.... yeah....

I know though. It's going to be an intresting tank. And I just can't help myself when it comes to fish. Once i start, I just can't stop, and it goes over what I ment it to be...

but yesh. I'm thinking of 3x roselines with quite a few neons, glowlights, and have the cleaners stick to being mr. Pleco (common. when he gets too big, i'll do a trade in for a small and something?) and mr. dragon goby.

mr. pleco is less than 2 in. right now, so he's good.

 

[Paradise_Gourami]

Alright first of all a 4'(or 48") tank is 55 US Gal

I think you should get a Senegal Bichir (aka Bichir eel or dinosaur eel)
This fish are very personably and can be raised to be predatory but if kept with fish too big to eat will accept flakes.

Perhaps a few gouramis like some moonlights or pearls.

a needle fish which being predators can go with the bichir

 

[Gankutsuou]

hmmmm.... If i had a 55 gallon and didn't want a pretty tetra tank....

1x Raphael Catfish
1xDragon eel (not a bad choice. Super cheap at pet's not so smart!)

And go from there. Maybe make an eel tank....
maybe make a life prey tank

At my LFS, They have the raphaels in with the angels. It's pretty darn cool.

Kinda likea tough agressive tank.

I've decided my 40 gallon is going to go on a more peaceful route.

after a bit of cycling, it'll look like....

3x Roseline Shark (i know... shoal in 6 is best... but 3 is near 100 already!!!)
10x Glow Light Tetra
10x Cardinal Tetra
10x neon tetra?
1x pleco (trade in as he gets too big for another one. right now mine is as big as a neon. he has time
1x Dragon goby. (just can't beat to part. There will be 1 tbsp per 10 gallons. Enough to keep his golden sheen, and enough to be considered actual treatment for my other fish for healing. I mean, that's more freshwater aquarium salt than they get usually...)

I'm kinda cheating the inch per gallon, but the dragon is going to be staying on the bottom of the tank, and the pleco will be on the sides. Still... meh... dunno. Might go with 15 cards and 15 glows also.... Gotta admit, those tetras would bring out an EXCELLENT look with the roselines.

But... hmmm... if you indeed have a 55, you could do this w/o the dragon goby, and maybe not have problems with the pleco getting to big (although, he probably will). Remember, heavily planted tank for this. It should be fun, pretty, and intresting.

Go predator, or go peaceful.... it's a tough choice !