Planning On Building Super Oddball Tank

[KingofthePisces]

wow! thats bigger than my dream tank! go for it! because that would be cool! how about a large catfish not an algae eater but somthing like a salmon tail catfish as well as the algae eater?

 

[GobyMaster]

What do you mean??

I've been told that true plecostomus can cause problems with stingrays as they will suck on the disks.

GobyMaster

 

[KingofthePisces]

perhaps a large clown loach then??? they clean and they look nice and grow big

 

[mark7616]

Well, forget the more realistic tank, if you've read here, you'll know that my parents just agreed that I'm getting a 225 gallon show size tank.

I've completely re-thought what it'll be stocked with, and this is what I've come up with:

• Black Arowana x2 (1 pair, male and female)
• Clown Knifefish x1
• Red Fin Prochilodus (Semaprochilodus taeniurus) x4
• Redhook Silver Dollar x8
• Siamese Tigerperch x1
• Fire Eel x1
• Ornate Bichir x1
• Oscar x2 (1 pair, male and female)
• Mosaic Stingray x2 (1 pair, male and female

The tank will have 3 inches of sand and some caves provided by slate boulders in one corner and 2 or 3 Amazon Swordplants.

I'll get pictures posted when I get the tank (sometime next year )

GobyMaster

Thats to much for a 225g.
For a first time aro keeper I wouldnt suggest trying a pair get a singualr 1. If you want a pair of rays you should leave the bottom bare no plants and no caves so they have maximum floor space. Plus you have far to many large midwater swimming fish.

 

[CAC]

But in that thread that you have posted a link to, you say it will be 180 gallon? How is that 225 gallons aswell? If it has changed up to 225 gallons, give us the diamensions.
I wouldnt put a stingray in a 2 foot wide tank, I just wouldnt do it. If the tank is wider (i.e 30, 32") then that would be ok for some species, please can you give us the scientific name of this "mosaic" stingray please?
A 2 foot wide tank couldnt house tswo fully grown black aros, or a single clown knife because they have a ridgid body which makes it hard for them to turn in such a small space. They will be too big for a tank thats 2 feet wide aswell, and a tank with a volume nearer 300g would be ok for one IMO.

 

[GobyMaster]

But in that thread that you have posted a link to, you say it will be 180 gallon? How is that 225 gallons aswell? If it has changed up to 225 gallons, give us the diamensions.
I wouldnt put a stingray in a 2 foot wide tank, I just wouldnt do it. If the tank is wider (i.e 30, 32") then that would be ok for some species, please can you give us the scientific name of this "mosaic" stingray please?
A 2 foot wide tank couldnt house tswo fully grown black aros, or a single clown knife because they have a ridgid body which makes it hard for them to turn in such a small space. They will be too big for a tank thats 2 feet wide aswell, and a tank with a volume nearer 300g would be ok for one IMO.

It's the common name of Potamotrygon scobina.

Here's a quote from the Black Arowana Fact Sheet here:

Care: A minimum tank size for a adult fish should be 180 gallons (6x2x2'). Slightly acidic conditions are prefered, however, they are not fussy about water conditions as long extremes of pH and hardness are avoided. Good filtration is needed to keep the water quality good. These large predatory fish need a water change of at least 30-40% a week, a temperature of 24 to 30 centigrade is needed (75-86F).

Well, forget the more realistic tank, if you've read here, you'll know that my parents just agreed that I'm getting a 225 gallon show size tank.

I've completely re-thought what it'll be stocked with, and this is what I've come up with:

• Black Arowana x2 (1 pair, male and female)
• Clown Knifefish x1
• Red Fin Prochilodus (Semaprochilodus taeniurus) x4
• Redhook Silver Dollar x8
• Siamese Tigerperch x1
• Fire Eel x1
• Ornate Bichir x1
• Oscar x2 (1 pair, male and female)
• Mosaic Stingray x2 (1 pair, male and female

The tank will have 3 inches of sand and some caves provided by slate boulders in one corner and 2 or 3 Amazon Swordplants.

I'll get pictures posted when I get the tank (sometime next year )

GobyMaster

Thats to much for a 225g.
For a first time aro keeper I wouldnt suggest trying a pair get a singualr 1. If you want a pair of rays you should leave the bottom bare no plants and no caves so they have maximum floor space. Plus you have far to many large midwater swimming fish.

Okay, I didn't know that I had too many fish. I'm new to the 'big tank thing' . What fish would you recommend getting rid of?

I already have decided against getting a pair of Arowana and Potamotrygon scobina. I'm only getting one of each.

What midwater fish would you recommend I get rid of? I've already decided to not get the Red Fin Prochilodus (Semaprochilodus taeniurus), Clown Knifefish, Tigerperch, and Fire Eel. Would the Redhook Silver Dollars aid in algae control? Because that's the main reason that I wanted to get the Red Fin Prochilodus, because I've read that they will aid in algae control. I've made a edit to the stocking list:

• Black Arowana x1
• Black Ghost Knifefish x1
• Redhook Silver Dollar x6
• Ornate Bichir x1
• Potamotrygon scobina x1

Or, my other plan is this:

• Black Arowana x1
• Black Ghost Knifefish x1
• Redhook Silver Dollar x6
• Ornate Bichir x1
• Lemon Spotted Green Plecostomus 'L200' x1, see here:

and info here.
As you can see, the alternate stocking plan is pretty much the same, only with the Stingray taken out and a plecostomus put in it's place. What one would say would be better?

GobyMaster

 

[§tudz]

• Black Arowana x2 (1 pair, male and female)
• Clown Knifefish x1
• Red Fin Prochilodus (Semaprochilodus taeniurus) x4
• Redhook Silver Dollar x8
• Siamese Tigerperch x1
• Fire Eel x1
• Ornate Bichir x1
• Oscar x2 (1 pair, male and female)
• Mosaic Stingray x2 (1 pair, male and female

The tank will have 3 inches of sand and some caves provided by slate boulders in one corner and 2 or 3 Amazon Swordplants.

Thats over stocked and apart from that there are a lot of problems with that stocking:

The fish problems:
Prochilodus will fight to the death, so you should keep only 1 specimen.

Oscars are big fish, reaching around 18" in adult size, they can become very aggressive, more so as you want a mated pair. Even to do this you would have to buy something like 6 of them as juv'ies and grow them out until the paired off.

Siamese Tigerperch? I think you mean Siamese Tigerfish, this also depends what species, they grow from about 12-18+ inches. Some species are also brackish. These are very shy fish too, easily spooked.

Orantes tend to be very agressive, although there are some who arent. Go for something like a P. delhezi or P. senegalus.

What do you mean Redhook Silver Dollar?? Redhook and Silver Dollars are different fish....

Other problems:
Oscars will rearrange the tank and eat the plants

Prochilodus will eat the plants

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Will all those fish your looking at a huge food bill, look at my stocking lists (in my profile) I spend prob around £20 a month on frozen prawns, £40 on frozen bloodworm, and then there is the decholorinator, the electricity, the water, and the prepared foods.

To answer your question about weight, as no-one has answered that. 100gallon = 1 ton, even a 225gallon your looking at 2 1/4 Tons of water, thats without the water in the filters, the weight of the stand and the tank, and its hood. And living in the USA, am I wrong in thinking your floors are made form wood? I wouldnt put anything like that on anything less than a concrete floor.

TBH, IMO, I dont think you are ready for such a large tank. At 13, you are not very experienced, and prob have trouble looking after yourself, never mind delicate fish such as rays. I would trust myself to have rays yet, and I have some good fish. From your profile looks like you only have what 4 fish currently, your a long way off being able to tend to a huge tank. My 120gallon tanks me a few hours every fortnight to sort out. (Saying that I've only been keeping fish for about 3yrs, but I have the will power to research and look after them, alot of people your age do this sorta thing then get bored of them... /me looks at the guitar he bought and still hasnt learnt to play it )

Why not get a 50gallon and keep something like snakeheads or polypterus, just to get you started. As someone else has said, wait till your older and have your own place, then big tanks wont be a problem if you have room.

 

[GobyMaster]

• Black Arowana x2 (1 pair, male and female)
• Clown Knifefish x1
• Red Fin Prochilodus (Semaprochilodus taeniurus) x4
• Redhook Silver Dollar x8
• Siamese Tigerperch x1
• Fire Eel x1
• Ornate Bichir x1
• Oscar x2 (1 pair, male and female)
• Mosaic Stingray x2 (1 pair, male and female

The tank will have 3 inches of sand and some caves provided by slate boulders in one corner and 2 or 3 Amazon Swordplants.

Thats over stocked and apart from that there are a lot of problems with that stocking:

The fish problems:
Prochilodus will fight to the death, so you should keep only 1 specimen.

Oscars are big fish, reaching around 18" in adult size, they can become very aggressive, more so as you want a mated pair. Even to do this you would have to buy something like 6 of them as juv'ies and grow them out until the paired off.

Siamese Tigerperch? I think you mean Siamese Tigerfish, this also depends what species, they grow from about 12-18+ inches. Some species are also brackish. These are very shy fish too, easily spooked.

Orantes tend to be very agressive, although there are some who arent. Go for something like a P. delhezi or P. senegalus.

What do you mean Redhook Silver Dollar?? Redhook and Silver Dollars are different fish....

Other problems:
Oscars will rearrange the tank and eat the plants

Prochilodus will eat the plants

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Will all those fish your looking at a huge food bill, look at my stocking lists (in my profile) I spend prob around £20 a month on frozen prawns, £40 on frozen bloodworm, and then there is the decholorinator, the electricity, the water, and the prepared foods.

To answer your question about weight, as no-one has answered that. 100gallon = 1 ton, even a 225gallon your looking at 2 1/4 Tons of water, thats without the water in the filters, the weight of the stand and the tank, and its hood. And living in the USA, am I wrong in thinking your floors are made form wood? I wouldnt put anything like that on anything less than a concrete floor.

TBH, IMO, I dont think you are ready for such a large tank. At 13, you are not very experienced, and prob have trouble looking after yourself, never mind delicate fish such as rays. I would trust myself to have rays yet, and I have some good fish. From your profile looks like you only have what 4 fish currently, your a long way off being able to tend to a huge tank. My 120gallon tanks me a few hours every fortnight to sort out. (Saying that I've only been keeping fish for about 3yrs, but I have the will power to research and look after them, alot of people your age do this sorta thing then get bored of them... /me looks at the guitar he bought and still hasnt learnt to play it )

Why not get a 50gallon and keep something like snakeheads or polypterus, just to get you started. As someone else has said, wait till your older and have your own place, then big tanks wont be a problem if you have room.

If you've read my previous post, I said that I've decided against getting any Prochilodus.

I've decided against getting any Oscars.

I've decided against the Tigerfish.

Redhook Silver Dollars. According to a book I have, the scientific name of them is Myleus rubripinnis.

I've decided to move it to the basement if my dad doesn't think our floor can support that much weight, and if it does, it'll get moved.

You said you've been keeping fish for 3 years. Just because I'm 13 doesn't mean I'm inexpreieced. I've been keeping fish since I was 9. That's 4 years, so technically, I'm more experienced than you are. Also, I've read every singe fish book in 4 of our city's libraries when I started out doing this, so I know most of what I'm doing.

Oh, and snakeheads are illegal to own in the U.S.

GobyMaster

 

[CAC]

Yes, 180 gallons for one black arowana...Not two. The two of them would be at the same level of the tank and having two aggressive, 24" long fish in a 6x2x2 tank that have to share the same tank level, isnt fair IMO.
Can you get hold of scobinas? And then when you find them, will you be able to afford them? Personally, I wouldnt keep any ray in anything less than a 32" wide tank, but thats just me and people do go smaller, but why is the question?!?!

If it were me, I would do your "other plan" and go for more suitable, less fradgile stuff for now. Assuming you did mean siamese tigerfish, you could stock a 6x2x2 with:
1x black aro
1x siamese tiger
1x fire eel
3x lima shovelnoses
and then maybe your black ghost knifefish if they grow big enough?
That would be a reasonably active tank, with quite alot going on.

 

[§tudz]

If you've read my previous post, I said that I've decided against getting any Prochilodus.

I've decided against getting any Oscars.

I've decided against the Tigerfish.

Redhook Silver Dollars. According to a book I have, the scientific name of them is Myleus rubripinnis.

I've decided to move it to the basement if my dad doesn't think our floor can support that much weight, and if it does, it'll get moved.

You said you've been keeping fish for 3 years. Just because I'm 13 doesn't mean I'm inexpreieced. I've been keeping fish since I was 9. That's 4 years, so technically, I'm more experienced than you are. Also, I've read every singe fish book in 4 of our city's libraries when I started out doing this, so I know most of what I'm doing.

Oh, and snakeheads are illegal to own in the U.S.

GobyMaster

I must have missed those points in your last post

Myleus rubripinnis is the redhook, never heard it called the redhook silver dollar though, must be an american common name. Thats the problem with common name though lol.

number of years, doesnt always mean your experienced, I know people who have kept fish for 30yrs+ and still think its ok to put a goldfish in a bowl

Most books are out of date, although I have read a considerable amount, as you will know the internet and word of mouth is normally the best place for info.

I dont know about 3 Limas though, one could be ok, but there are several species that are sold as Lima shovelnose. the true lima shovelnose has not long been offically scientifically named. I think the they max out at about 12-14" but some of the subsoecies (if you can ignore the name, as they are possibly similar species) can grow a lot bigger. Although they do well in groups as youngesters.

I've read every singe fish book in 4 of our city's libraries when I started out doing this, so I know most of what I'm doing.

That is a silly comment, nobody, not even the experts always know 'most' about what they are doing. If you knew most you wouldnt have posted saying you were going for such a HUGE tank when you have no real way of getting one. I do belive think before you open your mouth is the phrase.

EDIT:

Looks like you posted your other message, as I was writing mine, that why I didnt see it, I've just read up, and I didnt see any pics of green pahntoms, which are now present

 

[GobyMaster]

Yes, 180 gallons for one black arowana...Not two. The two of them would be at the same level of the tank and having two aggressive, 24" long fish in a 6x2x2 tank that have to share the same tank level, isnt fair IMO.
Can you get hold of scobinas? And then when you find them, will you be able to afford them? Personally, I wouldnt keep any ray in anything less than a 32" wide tank, but thats just me and people do go smaller, but why is the question?!?!

If it were me, I would do your "other plan" and go for more suitable, less fradgile stuff for now. Assuming you did mean siamese tigerfish, you could stock a 6x2x2 with:
1x black aro
1x siamese tiger
1x fire eel
3x lima shovelnoses
and then maybe your black ghost knifefish if they grow big enough?
That would be a reasonably active tank, with quite alot going on.

Would I be able to add the Lemon Spotted Green Pleco (L200) to that stocking?
I'm really interested in getting that, and at $32, it's inside my budget!!!
Also, what about a Senegal Bichir being added to that stocking? This is what I though the final stocking could be (after some careful consideration!):

• Black Arowana x1
• Siamese Tigerfish x1
• Fire Eel x1
• Lima Shovelnose Catfish x3
• Black Ghost Knifefish x1
• Senegal Bichir x2
• Lemon Spotted Green Plecostomus x1

For a tank with those fish, what should the decorations be? I was still going to add 3" of sand, so the Fire Eel could burrow, but what about plants and caves? I've read in numerous books that Black Ghost Knifefish require a densely planted tank with many caves so they can hid among the roots and stuff. So if I had a large slate cave in one corner, some bogwood and roots scattered around the tank, and a whole bunch of plants, would that work out?

GobyMaster

 

[§tudz]

that stocking looks much better, and if you get a green phantom (Lemon Spotted Green Pleco) I'll be very jeaous, I've wanted one for a while, I would also like a blue phantom, but hey we cant have everything.

3" of sand would be fine, but I'd get some geophagus or other such fish, to keep the sand turned over. a nice shoal of 4-6 would be great.


Over here in the UK, we've started to get really long (tall) fake plants, I'd go with them, more so that you have a fire eel, as they tend to up root plants when older, while burrowing. Also large river stones, and bogwood, will make a nice setup.

You may find that the black ghost becomes siamese tiger food, but they doo need a good area of cover and so do the Dats, again the tall plastic plants would suffice.

I'm of tp the not so LFS tomoz, and was looking for a replacement for my firemouth (R.I.P) and I might just go for another plec, although I already have an L001 and an golden nugget in there. we shall see what tomorrow brings

 

[GobyMaster]

Hey, if you want a Green Phantom, look here-->Click Me!!!

They have some for a pretty cheep price!

GobyMaster

 

[GobyMaster]

Alright, this is the final stocking for the tank:

• Black Arowana x1
• Black Ghost Knifefish x1
• Fire Eel x1
• Green Phantom Plecostomus x1
• Lima Shovelnose Catfish x3
• Senegal Bichir x2 (1 pair, 1 male, 1 female)
• Siamese Tigerfish x1
• Suriname Geo x5

What do you think. Overstocked?

GobyMaster

 

[mark7616]

Alright, this is the final stocking for the tank:

• Black Arowana x1
• Black Ghost Knifefish x1
• Fire Eel x1
• Green Phantom Plecostomus x1
• Lima Shovelnose Catfish x3
• Senegal Bichir x2 (1 pair, 1 male, 1 female)
• Siamese Tigerfish x1
• Suriname Geo x5

What do you think. Overstocked?

GobyMaster

Think you really need to read up on what you are doing you just throwing fish into a tank. This isnt a community tank with guppies and corries these are very aggressive fish. What are the dimensions of this tank and you may wan to asses your budget you will need a fairly large tiger if you want to keep them with the aro as they are very slow growing if you get a 8" pulcher you could be looking at anywhere up from $600 indos (microlepsis), campbelli, and quads are all cheaper but not that much cheaper probably around $300 for the campbelli and $150 for the others what studz was talking about are silver tigers and these do absolutely fine in fresh water they dont need brackish. What are the dimensions of this so called tank?