Stocking advice for new BIG tank

[Katchan]

Hi all after some "constructive" criticism on fish choices our new 6'x2'x2' 174 gallon tank. Here's what we have so far (all will be from a small size)

1-3 Black Ghost Knife's
1 Colombian Shark/catshark/Salmontail Shark (to be moved to a brakish pond when it gets larger)
1 Convict (female)
4 Angels
1 Pleco
1 Black Shark
1 Ornate Birchar

& Possibly a pair of Snakeskin gourami and a pair of either pears or 3 spots

If you reply in the negative please state why you think it wont work.

Katchan

 

[Paul_MTS]

just a few pointers...

the shark cats(what ever you want to call them) will need brackish water from about 4-5" onwards so won't spend much time in your tank and do better in small groups, if you want a nice looking catfish for that tank going with that stocking so far get a group of pim pictus.

and the black shark will kill everything once older!

best stick to 1 BGK although there's alot of conflictive information on weather you can have 1 or more your best off sticking to 1 IMO

your convict and even possible the angels would become food for the ornate bichir in the end aswell.

 

[Katchan]

thanks for the heads up on the BGK and birchar, so only one BGK B) and the bichar if we decide to it get it may end up with his own tank . As for the shark cats, we have a version availible local, that can be caught in local fresh water streams (read native) up to a good size (I've heard whispers on the local fish forum that its fine as as adult in fresh water). Will do more research on the black shark, most what I've read so far says similar temprament to red tail

Thanks paul

Katchan

 

[Paul_MTS]

The shark cats move into fresh water for very short times for breeding purposes, if you catch them at that period your interupting there trip back to the sea in which case they would almost certainly die a swift death in your tank.

The black shark grows to aorund 20" and are extremely agresive usually only being able to house them in a single specimen tank.

 

[andywg]

As Paul said there is conflicting info on muliple BGKs per tank. I am in the opposite camp and had three young ones doing fine (until I was informed that one of the BGKs was too small for that tank when a Chalceus decided to try and eat it - it only succeeded in killingthe BGK ).

No-one has yet sourced a story where more than one BGK has caused any trouble whereas quite a few (especially Blueice) have succesfully kept more than one.

But the choice is yours, only go with what you are happy with.

Black Sharks are far more vicious than Red Tailed Sharks. And around 4-5 times as big to go with it. I seem to recall that VIP kept one and it held its own with super aggresive Cichlids. Not a good fish for the tank mates you have put in.

What filtration are you going with?

 

[Katchan]

Thinking power filter at one end to provide good movement and a trickle/wetdry filter at the other end for good muck filtering ability. Please tell if this is wrong, I was going to go sand bottom with lots of caves/driftwood and maybe some swords/anubus/edlodia until the fish think the plants need to be "relocated"

Katchan

 

[Paul_MTS]

the arrangement sounds good, also try things like java fern and anubias nana that you can tie the wood.

I reakon a re-think on your stocking is a wise peice of advice, it's why we research though!

 

[Fishy411]

angels will be attacked and have their fins ripped up.

also pim pictus may be too small for your tank so you could try Ornate pims