Would Like Some Ideas

[erk628]

Alright I have a 150 gallon tank that I've had for awhile. Right now I have my oscar and 5 clown loachs in it. However I'm wanting to do something different because just them in there the tank looks empty. Most of the time the clowns are in there caves and the only thing you can see is the oscar. I was thinking about putting somethings in there with them but what he would allow is very few. At first I was thinking about starting a mbuna tank. I did a bunch of research on these then someone suggested a haps tank. Once again I did a bunch of research found several I liked and made a list. Today while thinking about it more I think I'm starting to change my mind again and this time I'm thinking of a community tank.

Now the main reasons I wanted a mbuna tank was one there colorful two there very active and three I could put a lot in a 150. Now the reasons I'm thinking against it is one there aggressive and I dint like having to constantly deal with that and I'm not one to just let my fish get picked on or fight. Two I would have to raise my ph and I would need a ton of rocks.

Now the main reasons I was thinking about haps was there very colorful and there not quit as aggressive. Now some reasons I'm thinking against this most get pretty big so I wouldn't be able to have many. Two there still pretty aggressive.

Now the main reasons I'm thinking about going community. One there won't be nearly as much aggression to deal with if I stock wisely. Two I can put a ton of fish in there seeing how most community fish are small.

Now heres what I'm looking for with my stock. First off I would like to say my oscar would be going back in the 75 were he originally was by himself. The terror thats is there will be going in a 55 by himself. The 5 clowns will stay in the 150.

1. I want a lot of fish
2. I want a big variety of fish not just a couple different ones.
3. I'd like a lot of different colors not just boring colored ones.
4. I would like some schools. any schooling fish that I get I would get the recommend number. One I can think of is I want a school of corys.

What I'm looking for from you guys is some suggestions! Also any good fish profile sites would be useful the profiles on here don't really have a lot of fish. Over the next week or so I'm going to be doing a ton of research and making a stocking list. Once I get a stocking list I'm going to post it on the forum to have it looked over and see if it needs any tweaking. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[erk628]

Another thing I would like is some rare fish like ones you don't hear about or see people having all the time. Common fish are fine but id like some rare ones to

 

[Wills]

Just to throw an other idea in there have you thought about a geophagus tank? Quite a few options in there, geos are generally considered peaceful and like groups

But if its schooling fishies my favorites are probably emperor tetras or von rio. You could try and find some of the rarer silver dollars like the spotted or black bar. A big rainbow school would look fantastic, as would a big school of denision barbs.

Quite a lot of nice plecs that would work very nice in that tank, like L14 Sunny Plec Though not sure if I would go for a one or two larger plecs or maybe consider a bigger group of smaller ones like king tiger or blue panaques.

If you wanted to stick with really rare fish big fish you could look at the Panda Uarus and True Blood Parrot Cichlids - quite expensive but certainly rare (I think min right in saying that no one on this forum has them) Could maybe get a few Dats as well could look nice with the clown loaches

 

[erk628]

Thanks for your inputs Wills! I would like a school or two but what I'm really going for is a variety. Like one of this one of that a school then one of this one of that etc. I would agree that some dats would look good but there big and would limit any smaller fish. I'd really rather have smaller fish because then I could have more. A few bigger fish are fine but don't want to have to worry about them eating the smaller fish. My main goals is variety and sheer number. So when you look in the tank you don't think for a sec that it looks empty and theres activity everywhere. Instead of right now when I look in there all the loachs are in there caves and the oscar is just sitting there staring at me!

 

[Shelby]

Check out this site and it gives all kinds of stocking information, how much you can have, if your fish will get along, etc...

http/www.aqadvisor.com/AqAdvisor.php

 

[erk628]

Thanks I've checked that site out before but didn't think to use it in this situation.

 

[furry catfish]

Torpedo barbs?

 

[erk628]

What about some good single fish who don't need to be in schools. I do want a few schools but I want a lot of different kinds of fish.

 

[Shelby]

If youre going for peaceful community tank you'll have to check compatability but you have things like

guppies
platys
swordtails
mollies
gouramis (dwarfs like neon blues)
scissortail rasboras

Those dont need large schools but its always better to have 3 or 4 of each. guppies mollies swordtails etc don't really "school"

well they might if I had more of them at any rate. I have two of everything (two boys each has to have one

 

[erk628]

Is there any rams that look like the german blue rams but don't require as high of a temp?

 

[Shelby]

I have no idea. Are they listed on the aqua advisor? Try googling different types of rams. I know nothing about them. Sorry.

 

[NinjaSmurf]

I think bolivian rams are the ones you're thinking of, but best to double check. You could go for some bigger cichlids like firemouths, you just have to up the size of your other fish somewhat.

Or get some apistos, a large school of cards/rummies/ and the like, and some other random stuff, plecos, bigger school of cories, some loaches, shrimp, certain types of gobies, smaller barbs, maybe some angels (of course it depends on tank height and other stocking).

Or you could go discus, with some large schools, and a few other thing listed above.


No offense to aqua advisor but I'd rather get my info from other people who've had actual experience with the fish I am interested in.

 

[erk628]

I think bolivian rams are the ones you're thinking of, but best to double check. You could go for some bigger cichlids like firemouths, you just have to up the size of your other fish somewhat.

Or get some apistos, a large school of cards/rummies/ and the like, and some other random stuff, plecos, bigger school of cories, some loaches, shrimp, certain types of gobies, smaller barbs, maybe some angels (of course it depends on tank height and other stocking).

Or you could go discus, with some large schools, and a few other thing listed above.


No offense to aqua advisor but I'd rather get my info from other people who've had actual experience with the fish I am interested in.

Thanks Ninja yeah I think those are the rams I'm thinking about. My tank is 72 inches long x 30 inches high x 18 inches wide.

 

[Shelby]

I think bolivian rams are the ones you're thinking of, but best to double check. You could go for some bigger cichlids like firemouths, you just have to up the size of your other fish somewhat.

Or get some apistos, a large school of cards/rummies/ and the like, and some other random stuff, plecos, bigger school of cories, some loaches, shrimp, certain types of gobies, smaller barbs, maybe some angels (of course it depends on tank height and other stocking).

Or you could go discus, with some large schools, and a few other thing listed above.


No offense to aqua advisor but I'd rather get my info from other people who've had actual experience with the fish I am interested in.

I understand what you mean by getting advise from other people who've had the fish. I was just thinking it would give him temps and compatability if he thought of something

 

[NinjaSmurf]

No, I understand, but from what I've done with it, I've dealt with it telling me my thirty gallon tank is almost fifty percent stocked with just my BN.