Building My 15,000 Gallon Mini Mega Tank

[arapaimag]

Hey......just noticed you have sw also. Here is my honeycombe eel (testty)

[nickmax5]

:OMG::jaw::jaw:

:shark:Ill go find the kids now(very nice tank)

[artemis1]

Wow nice eel! He's awesome.

Here's some pics of the shovelnose:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u173/Amiacuss/Picture4-2.png

My water is quite hard and full of minerals... At one point the tank had no fish in it so I just let it evaperate until it was empty rather than taking the water out... well that was a bad idea and left an ugly residue on the glass that doesn't come off :irked: I need some lime-away as you can see in these pics:

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u173/Amiacuss/Picture5-2.png
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u173/Amiacuss/Picture6-4.png

I'll take some pics of the wild O soon. :)

[arapaimag]

Thanks for the pics. Yours is young but that is the best way to get them so that you can raise them to full size. Still want to see the wild oscars.

I actually have one in the 52k but he hides a lot and is very hard to get any pics of him. I put him in the tank at 32" and he has not appeared to grow much in the 2+ years in the tank. Never see him eat any food I put in. He seems to live off cichlids he captures.

[artemis1]

Sorry, I'll upload some pics of the wild oscar.

Wait, what's 32''- not the oscar right???

[arapaimag]

Sorry, I'll upload some pics of the wild oscar.

Wait, what's 32''- not the oscar right???

No that's the tiger shovelnose like yours. Sorry to confuse you.

The biggest oscar I have ever measured was 18" tl.

Personally I have never had any bigger than around 13"

[ccdoido]

I'm trying to view your tank
please tell me how

[arapaimag]

May be that MFK had it down when you tied, But I just went to page one showing the construction and all the pictures displayed.

Best to try again

[arapaimag]

[QUOTE=artemis1;1596885;]More pics of you smaller tanks!

OK
Here are 3 of the 800 with a 22"-23" tl Boulengerochromis microlepis tanganyika giant cichlid

I have 3 smaller Boulengerochromis microlepis between 14 to 15" tl long in seperate 180's.

[artemis1]

[QUOTE=artemis1;1596885;]More pics of you smaller tanks!

OK
Here are 3 of the 800 with a 22"-23" tl Boulengerochromis microlepis tanganyika giant cichlid

I have 3 smaller Boulengerochromis microlepis between 14 to 15" tl long in seperate 180's.

Nice:D

Sorry i haven't shown you pics of the wild oscars, I'm up in Oregon...

[arapaimag]

When are you coming back. I really want to see those wild oscars.

[AVALover5498]

Stunning!:nilly:

-Chris-

[arapaimag]

Fish photographer Dave Unruh of St Catherines Ontario Canada took a few pics of fish at my place when he visited last November and gave me a cd of them today.

The Emperor/Imperial shark (Panagasius sanitswongi)
is in a 540 gallon tank (8' x 4' x 28")

[ceeej31]

do those get huge like paroons?

[arapaimag]

do those get huge like paroons?

They are also called paroons but in Quaoar or Canada they are known more so as Imperial sharks. They can max at 9 to 10 feet long and over 600 lbs.

I had these 3 in my 52k but had to get them out because they were attacking my arapaima's. When I've had them before I never had this problem.

It is just the personality of the different fishes.

Do you have them in the USA ?

[ceeej31]

i dont personally but i know quite a few people do

[kidd_reafer]

DANG 15,000G TANK
NOW DATS WUT IM TALKING BOUT HAHAHAHA

DO U KNOW WHERE I CAN GET SUM PIRANHAS

[arapaimag]

Fish photographer Dave Unruh of St Catherines Ontario Canada took a few pics of fish at my place when he visited last November and here is a 16" Boulengerochromis microlepis in a 180.

I bought it at The Tropical Fish Room in Brantford, Ontario Canada.

The pic was taken by Dave Unruh.

[tuaniee]

crazy looking tank nice wish had the money for that

[Red tail catking]

Dude how much did that thing cost!?

[arapaimag]

More from Dave Unruh the photographer.

The Dolphin cichlids are in a 120.
The gigas is a 5 footer in the 52k

[Basstrainer]

oh emm gee dude u must live on a goldmine. cause i could never get a tank that big.. think about the maintenance!! wow man u must be a billionare.

[Raynebowfish]

That is an absolutely stunning set-up you have got. I won't dare ask how much it cost, as that is none of my business, but wow...Your tank has got to be as big as my home *I live in a Mobile Home* I could just imagine turning my house into one giant aquarium...I would then be homeless though LOL
I don't know if any one has asked this, I browsed through some of the older posts, but didn't see it. How long did it take to build it?

You know...You could do tours of it! I'm sure someone has already thought of it...but hey! You could charge like a couple bucks to get in, and than save that money to build a 100,000 tank!!! :)

[arapaimag]

I never really measured the time to build the 15k. The concrete, steel and glass went up over a couple of months. The coatings, lights, plumbing probably 2 more. It took a lot more time building the 52,000.

[unlabledpack]

nice

[oscardelahoya93]

Damn what do you do for a living rob banks. Do you like have the cure for cancer too.:jaw-dropp:jaw-dropp:jaw-dropp:jaw-dropp:jaw-dropp

[sgriffin760]

and the water bill and electric bill comes up to a grand total of??????????

[wise175]

All I have to say is-Damn!!:clap

[plec master]

wow nice one i want a tank like that

[arapaimag]

and the water bill and electric bill comes up to a grand total of??????????

Hey you forgot heat. Many of us live in cold climates.


Oil went up today $6 a barrel on the july future markets so my grand total and everbody else's on this site will be going up also....................................I already see people cutting back on their hobbies because of it. This is a sad thing for us all.

[Hawkfish3.0]

I firmly believe that the the current oil market is a 'bubble market' and it will succumb to the same fate that the housing market did when it bloated a few years ago. Hang in there until that happens!

I could look at your tanks for hours...

[tomsudz93]

you are like a hero to most fishkeeper including me:headbang2. just wanted to ask what is your fav fish in your tank and how long have you had them?

great tank man good luck on future projects

[PoofaceQ]

feel like were probably talking to some celebrity somewhere

[KMKN]

i would love to have a tank like that

[Johny]

can u please right my name in you will

[Illusia]

I really really want one!

[arapaimag]

you are like a hero to most fishkeeper including me:headbang2. just wanted to ask what is your fav fish in your tank and how long have you had them?

great tank man good luck on future projects


Sorry for the long delay


My favourites are:
The Pimas (3 years), Wallago (17 years), Stingrays (more than a dozen aquired at different times oldest is 10 years), Tigrinus (Since the late 1980's), Aba Aba (11 years), Colosoma (from 16 years to over 20 years), Clown Trigger (2 years), Honeycome eel (2 years), Electric eels (10 years), Red tail catfish (3 years), Lungfish (several from 2 to 20 years), Arrowanas (2 to 14 years), puffers (11 years), Goldfish and Koi up to 20 plus years), Piranhas many up to 25 years. The list continues and you can see I actually like every fish I own.

[darth hippy hoppa happa]

another tank???!!!!!!how do u maintain the tanks,financially???

[eegraham1]

Mr. Bryce, your fish tanks are so amazing! I'm putting together a new TV show on outrageous fish tanks and I'd really love to show yours. Would you be interested in showing them? If so, please email me at emilyg@sharpentertainment.com.

Thank you!

[ccdoido]

yess i like his
did you see mines
youtube ccdoido movies

[gar man]

dude ur lucky

[arapaimag]

I firmly believe that the the current oil market is a 'bubble market' and it will succumb to the same fate that the housing market did when it bloated a few years ago. Hang in there until that happens!

I could look at your tanks for hours...

You were right on with the oil market..................

[juree]

Great,but why did You not invest little bit into some gravel layer ? 2inch where bacteria to live...

[arapaimag]

Great,but why did You not invest little bit into some gravel layer ? 2inch where bacteria to live...

Both the 15k and 52k have swimming pool drains on the floors. That would not work with the gravel.

[FlamingFury5]

wow u can charge people to visit and look at your fish like a real aquarium

[arapaimag]

Here are a few pics of my 807g Cichlid tank

[arapaimag]

another 807g pic

[arapaimag]

Another 807g pic

[arapaimag]

Another 807g pic

[arapaimag]

I have health issues and only have the use of one hand until July so I had time to put together a small video of the 15k today. I hope the sound works OK.

http://gallery.me.com/arapaimag#gallery

[invisyblegypsey]

SHARP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wayne the pain]

Great video of a tank us mortals could only dream of. Love the wyckii in there, great to see one mixed in a large community.;)

[arapaimag]

Do you keep crystal eyed catfish?

[arapaimag]

HR669 video to oppose watch it please http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientis...s_in_peril.php

[wayne the pain]

Do you keep crystal eyed catfish?

No sorry, dont keep one, a very good friend of mine has one, a real beautiful cat. :)

[arapaimag]

How long has he had it?

How big is it tl & sl?

[apscott]

cooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooool

[wayne the pain]

How long has he had it?

How big is it tl & sl?


Well the one he has now is only a young one, about a foot long, but he used to have another one that was about 2ft till he lost it :(

[greengiant]

I have read through your threads several times and I am always impressed with what you have done with your fish. I find it inspirational to know that someone who faces the physical challenges such as yourself takes on a task of caring for so many of these beautiful creatures. it proves that if you want it you will find a way. you are a real genuine person from what I see. thank you for sharing this with us. I have 6 tanks ranging from 20G up to 250G and plan to build somethingin the range of 2-5000G but not until I get my feet back under me. I was also wondering what kind of Gar is in that tank? I couldn't back up the video to get a second look.

[arapaimag]

I have read through your threads several times and I am always impressed with what you have done with your fish. I find it inspirational to know that someone who faces the physical challenges such as yourself takes on a task of caring for so many of these beautiful creatures. it proves that if you want it you will find a way. you are a real genuine person from what I see. thank you for sharing this with us. I have 6 tanks ranging from 20G up to 250G and plan to build somethingin the range of 2-5000G but not until I get my feet back under me. I was also wondering what kind of Gar is in that tank? I couldn't back up the video to get a second look.

Thanks for the kind words. I really hope you are able to get back on your feet soon. I joined this site to encourage hobbyists to recognize the need to provide large tanks for their monster fish and to show them that if I can do it so can they.

There are so many great MonsterFishTankKeepers on this site to further entice hobbyists to build ponds & tanks and are very helpful to offer suggestions when requested.

You have a large 250g tank, so your fish are already getting very good
accommodation. Please keep us informed when you can, on your dream project.

[arapaimag]

I was also wondering what kind of Gar is in that tank?.

There are 3 gars in the 15k. 2 Lepisosteus oculatus the florida gar (owned 8 years) and 1 Lepisostus osseus the long nosed gar (owned 9 years).

[arapaimag]

Here are a couple of pics of head shots on the long nosed gar.

[invisyblegypsey]

WOW NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[apscott]

more pics

[SMIELY]

awesome jumbo tank,i am impresed n i have 2 say u r the man ...

[arapaimag]

Thanks and welcome to MFK

Hope you enjoy all the big tanks on this site. There are a great group of monster fish hobbyists here.

[VTfish]

Mini now that's funny!

[arapaimag]

Mini now that's funny!

Welcome to MFK

That was Neoprodigy's idea.

Have you ever seen his swimming pool?

[brujah]

I am just amazed by your tanks and fish. Fantastic work! :)

[arapaimag]

I was asked by a hobbyist for a list of the fish I keep in my 100+ tanks.

Here it is and I hope I have not missed too many

number of fish species scientific names are always changing common name to me


9 Abramites solari(hypselontus) abramite
100+ Ancistrus lineolatus bushy nosed pleco
1 Ancistrus sp. red marble plecos
2 Ancistrus sp. red marble longfin plecos
1 Anguilla anguilla sarrgossos eel
2 Anostomus taeniatus blackline headstander
1 Anostomus trimaculatus anostomus
2 Apisto cacautoides apistogramma
1 Apteronotus albifrons black ghost knife
2 Arapaima gigas Pirarucu
15 Astatotilapia obliquidens (zebra) obliquiden
1 Astronotus ocellatus oscars
8 Astronotus ocellatus oscars tiger
6 Astronotus ocellatus oscars albino
9 Astyanax mexicanus blind cave fish
2 Atractosteus tristoechus cuban gar
1 Auchenoglanis occidentalis giraffe cat
25+ Aulonocara baenschi sunshine peacock
10 Aulonocara flavescens blue dorsal flavescent peacock
25+ Aulonocara jacobfreibergi jacobfreibergi
25+ Aulonocara korneliae regal peacock
4 Aulonocara sp silver crest peacock
6 Aulonocara sp ? astato neon blue
6 Aulonocara sp ? martini red
2 Aulonocara stuartgranti stuart grant
1 Bagarius yarelli grandfather catfish
1 Balistoides conspicillum clown trigger
15 Barbodes pinnauratus(barbus orphoides) orange gill barb
6 Barbodes schwanefeldii(Barbus) tin foil barbs
1 baryancistris spec. iriri gold nugget pleco
1 Batrachomoeus trispinosus stone fish
13 Betta Splendens siamese fighting fish
6 Botia morleti skunk loach
6 Botia striata striated loaches
1 botia ? tiger type loach
2 Boulengerochromis microlepis tanganyika giant cichlid
25+ Brachydanio rerio zebra danio
1 Brachyplatystoma filamentosum jumper cat
1 Brachyplatystoma jurense jurense
1 Brachyplatystoma tigrinum (Merodontus tigrinus) king tiger
5 Bruchromis chrystes Bruchromis chrystes
5 Bruchromis rhodesia Bruchromis rhodesia
15 Brycon brevicauda brycon
8 Brycon falcatus brycon
2 Brycon melanopterus brycon
1 Callophysus macropterus giant pimidilodus
8 Capoeta arulius auriulus barbs
12 Capoeta tetrazona tiger barb
12 Capoeta titteya cherry barb
2 Carassius auratus shbunkin goldfish
2 Carassius auratus wakin
1000+ Carassius auratus goldfish
5 Celebes Celebes rainbows
3 Celestichthys margaritatus celestial pearl danios
1 Centrodoras hasemani
1 Centromochlus heckeli skinny cat
1 Cetopsis candiru candiru catfish
4 Chaka chaka chaka chaka
1 Channallabes apus (Gymnallabes typus) eel catfish
2 chromis xanthurus damsels blue/yellow tail
7 Chromobotia macracanthus clown loaches
3 Chrysemys scripta elegans red ear slider
25+ Chrysemys species painted turtle
1 Chrysemys species yellow belly slider
1 Chrysichthys furcatus aluminum cat
1 Cichla temensis peacock bass temensis
2 Cichlasoma argentea argentea
2 Cichlasoma centarchus centarchus
100+ Cichlasoma synspilus synspilus
4 Cichlasoma urophthalmus urathalmus cichlids
1 Clarias batrachus walking catfish
1 Clarotes laticeps blue nile catfish
4 Corydoras adolphi adolphi cory
5 Corydoras aenus bronze cory
4 Corydoras axelrodi corydoras
3 corydoras duplacarus duplacarus cory
2 Corydoras melanistrus 1 corydoras
6 Corydoras paleatus corydoras
3 Corydoras panda panda cory
4 Corydoras rabauti corydoras
3 Corydoras robinae Robinae cory
3 Corydoras sterbai corydoras
3 Creicara punctalatun
1 Ctenopoma acutirostre leaf fish
1 cyclocheilichthys janthochir pretty finned river barb
25+ Cyphotilipia frontosa frontosa
25+ Cyprinus carpio koi
5 Cyprinus carpio koi longfin
4 Cyrtocara moorii Blue Dolphin deep water Haps
1 Danio aequipinnatus giant danio
1 Dianema longibabbus porthole catfish
1 Dianema urostraitum flag tail porthole catfish
6 Dicrossus filamentosa checkerboard cichlids
2 Dimidiochromis compressiceps compressiceps
2 Distichodus fasciolatus distichodus
3 Distichodus sexfasciatus tiger distichodus
2 Distichodus shenga distichodus
2 Epalzeorhynchus kalopterus Siamese algae eater 2
2 Epalzeorhynchus siamensis Siamese algae eater
1 Erpetoichthys calabaricus rope fish
9 Fossochromis rostratus rostratus
1 Gemicanthus lanmarck lamark angel
13 Gnathonemus petersii elephant nose
1 Gramma loreto royal gramma
1 Gymnarchus niloticus aba aba
5 Gymnocorymbus ternetzi black tetras
1 Gymnothorax polyuranodon or (Monopterus alba) fresh water moray eel
1 Gymnotus carapo carapo knife
2 Gyrinochelios aymonieri chinese algae eater
3 Hampala macrolepidota hampala barbs
5 Hap nigrans???? Hap nigrans????
4 Haplochromis livingstonii livingstoni
6 Haplochromis mloto mloto
2 Haplochromis polystigma polystigma
6 Haplochromis salousi salousi
4 Haplochromis Species 44 (Red Tail) species 44
1 Haplochromis venustus Venustus african cichlid
6 Hasemania nana silvertip tetras
2 Hassar orestis(Hassar Hassar) Hassar cat
3 Hemibagrus wyckii (Mystus wyckii) crystal eyed cat
1 Hemibagrus wyckioides (Mystus nemurus) red tail asian
2 Hemichromis bimaculatus jewel cichlid
6 Hemigrammus bleheri rummy nosed tetra
6 Hemigrammus rodwayi gold tetra
7 Hemiodopsis gracilis tetra
2 Hemisynodontis membranaceus mustache synodontis
1 Hepsetus odoe african pike
8 Herichthys bartoni bartoni
50+ Herichthys citrinellus red devil
2 Herichthys dovii dovii
1 Herichthys hartwegi hartwegi
6 Herichthys labridens gold cichlid
3 Herichthys maculicauda black belt cichlid
3 Herichthys managuense jaguar cichlid
20 Herichthys nigrofasciatus convict cichlid
10 Herichthys nigrofasciatus hybrid with parrot fish convict/parrot hybrid cichlid
6 Herichthys salvini salvini
2 Herichthys tamosopoensis tamosopoensis
1 Herichthys umbriferum umbie
1 Heteropneustes fossilis fossil cat
2 Hoplarcus psitticus parrot cichlid
2 Hoplosternum thoracatum hoplo cat
2 Hypancistrus zebra zebra plecos
1 Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis Lemon Tetra
25+ Hypostomus plecostomus pleco
12 Hypsophrys nicaraguensis nicaraguense
1 Ictalurus furcatus blue channel cats
12 Julidochromis dickfeldi julies
12 Julidochromis marlieri julies
100+ Julidochromis regani julies
4 julidochromis transcriptus transcriptus juli
1 L201 Pseudo Zebra inspector L201
3 Labeo bicolor red tail shark
10 Labeo erythrurus (frenatus??) rainbow sharks
25+ Labeotropheus fuelleborni fuelleborni
25+ Labidochromis caeruleus electric yellow caeruleus
3 Labiobarbus festiva arrow shark
6 Lamprologus leleupi leleupi
1000+ Lebistes reticulatus (Poecilia reticulata) guppies
1 Lepidosiren paradoxa south american lungfish
2 Lepisosteus oculatus florida gar
1 Lepisosteus spatula Atractosteus spatula alligator gar
1 Lepisostus Osseus longnosed gar
3 Leporinus affinis fasciatus
2 Leporinus agasiz leporinus
4 Leporinus arcus leporinus
16 Leporinus faciatus Leporinus faciatus
2 Leporinus friderici Leporinus fredericki
3 Leporinus trimaculatus Leporinus trimaculatus
6 Leptobarbus hoeveni pink tailed sharks
1 Leuciscus idus orfe
20 Libistes reticulata endlers endlers live bearers
1 Liosomadoras onicinus jaguar cat
3 loriceria simillima lip breeding whiptails
1 Loshiosilurus alexandria pacman cat
1 Malapterurus electricus electric catfish
1 Mastacembelus armatus zig zag eel
3 Mastacembelus erythrotaenia fire eels
1 Mastacembelus favus tire track eel
1 Megalodoras irwini irwin doriad
4 Melachromis cyaneor habolos likpma island
10 Melanchromis auratus auratus
10 Melanochromis johanni(chisumulu) electric blue johanni
12 Melanochromis johanni(maingano) electric blue johanni
4 Melanotaenia praecox dwarf neon rainbows
4 Metriaclima pyrsonotos albino zebra cichlids
6 Metriaclima sp msobo deep
2 Metynnis argenteus silver dollars
5 Monoducltulus argentia Monoducltulus argentia
5 Monoductulus sebae Monoductulus sebae
1 Morulius chrysophekadion black shark
11 Myleus rubripinnis red hook
15 Myleus schomburgki black bar
2 Mylossoma aurem Mylossoma
2 nanacara anomala gold nanacara
1 Nanacara taenia nanacara
6 Nandopsis haitiensis haiti
12 Neetroplus nematopus neet cichlid
50+ Neocaridina heteropoda cherry shrimps
1 Neoceratodus forsteri australian lungfish
10 Neolamprologus brichardi daffodil brichardi
2 Notopterus chitala clown knife
1 Opsodoras orthacantus ??? doriad
1 Osphronemus goramy Giant goramy
7 Osphronemus laticlavius The Asian Goramy red tail
10 Ossubtus xinguensis parrot pacu
8 Osteoglossum bicirrhosum silver arrowana
1 Osteoglossum ferreirai black arowana
11 Otopharynx lithobates lithobates
25+ Otopharynx lithobates lithobates malri island
12 Otopharynx tetrastigma 3 eye cichlid
2 Panaque nigrolineatus royal pleco
1 Panaque suttoni blue eyed pleco
2 Paracheirodon axelrodi cardinal
3 Parachromis loisellei loiselle cichlid
3 Paratilipia aureum Tilipia
2 Paratilipia Butekoferi Buttekoferi
1 Paulicia lutkeni Zungaro zungaro
1 Peckolita vittata clown pleco
1 Pelteobagrus fulvidraco tawny dragon catfish
3 Pelvicachromis pulcher kribensis
2 Perrunichthys perruno chocolate sailfin
1 Perrunichthys perruno/sciades marmalotus chocolate sailfin
3 Phractocephalus hemioliopterus red tail catfish
3 Piaractus brachypomum(Colossoma brachyponum) colossoma
1 Pimelodus maculatus pimelodus
1 Pimelodus ornatus pimelodus
1000+ Pimephales promelas rosey yellow fat head minnows
1 Placidochromis milomo VC10
1 Potamotrygon leopoldi henlyi stingray
6 Potamotrygon sp stingrays
1 Procambarus sp. Hammers cobalt blue lobster
10 Protomelas sp. spilonotus tanzania red empress ?
10 Protomeleus Similis red empress
2 Protopterus annectens african lungfish
5 Pseudodoras niger niger
1 Pseudohemioden apithanos chameleon whiptail catfish
1 Pseudopimelodus fowleri giant frogmouth
1 Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum tiger shovelnose
10 Pseudothropheus Sp. callianos
5 Pseudotropheus "acei" yellow fin acei
2 Psuedotropheus aurora
5 Psuedotropheus demasoni demasoni
50+ Psuedotropheus zebra yellow male/brown female african
2 Pterodoras granulosus large blind cat
5 Pterophyllum scalare marble angels
1 Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
1 Pterygoplichthys scrophus Rhino Pleco
8 Rasbora heteromorpha harliquin rasbora
4 Rhamphochromis macrophthalmus Rhamphochromis
3 Rineloricaria 'parva' whiptail cats
12 Rocio octofasciata jack dempsey
12 Salminus maxillosus south american salmon
1 Scatophagus argus red scat
4 Schizodon vittatus/fasciatum leporinus (barred/spotted)
12 Sciaenochromis ahli hap ahli
4 Sciaenochromis fryeri electric blue hap
2 Scleropages formosus red tail golden
1 Scleropages formosus red tail golden high back
1 Scleropages formosus super red
1 Scleropages formosus green arrowana
2 Scleropagus jardini jardini arrowana
1 Serranus tabacarius tobacco basselet
1 Serrasalmus elongatus elongatus or pike piranha
1 Serrasalmus geryi violet line piranha
1 Serrasalmus natteri red breasted piranha
3 Serrasalmus piraya Pygocentrus Piraya piranha
2 Serrassalmus notatus Pygocentrus caribe caribe piranha
3 Serrassalmus species pirahna
1 Sorubim lima shovelnose
1 Sorubimichthys planiceps planiceps
6 Species 14 lake victorian species 14
12 Species 44 lake victorian species 44
1 Sphaeramia nematoptera pajama cardinal spotted
3 Symphysodon sp.) discus red candy apple
4 Symphysodon sp.) discus marlboro red
1 Synodontis eupterus feather fin synodontus
1 Synodontis eupterus eupterus
4 Synodontis ? upside down cat
3 Synodontus angelicus angelicus
1 Synodontus budgetti? black synodontis
1 Synodontus decorus decorus synodontus
1 Synodontus greshoffi greshoffi
7 Synodontus multipunctatus multipunctatus
4 Synodontus notatus notatus synodontus
2 Synodontus occifer synodontus
1 Synodontus petricola petricola
1 Tetraodon mbu Mbu Puffer (Congo Puffer)
6 Theraps wesseli wesseli cichlid
1 Thorichthys meeki firemouth cichlids
1 Tilipia chambo Tilipia chambo
1 Trachelyopterus fisheri (Parauchenipterus fisheri) wood cat
1 Tracycorystes tracycorystes big mouth cat
9 Tramitichromis intermedius intermedius
3 Trichogaster chuna (Colisa sota) honey gouramie
2 Triportheus angulatus giant hatchetfish
12 Tropheus moori kaiser 2
12 Tropheus moorii red saddle flame
2 Vespicula depressifrons wasp fish
2 Wallago leerii wallago
3 werneri threadfin rainbows
3 Xiphophorus helleri swordtails red

[Wieg]

:WHOA:wow

[crazyfins]

what do you have in the tank?

[Wulfonce]

I think its safe to assume... this guys loaded! :jaw:


Simply amazing! I'm speechless.:eek:

[I'mHooked]

Shi*.

[mr.reef24]

great setup

mr.reef24

[Faby94]

we have 35000 gallon swimming pool LETS TRANSFORM IT into somethin as tht incredible Fishroom...Great Job!

[Zebra]

:WHOA::WHOA::shocked::shocked:OMG! That is a fish room for you! It might as well be a public aquarium!

[superleggera123]

dude.. ur n inspiration to all of us mfkers...
a new vid of the 50k would be awesome

[arapaimag]

In the summer a few hobbyists (Jeff, Scot, Richard and Michael) went into the tank to do a little maintenance and catch a few fish. The Brycons were becoming a problem when feeding the other fish so they and the barbs, were caught and placed in outdoor ponds. In time some were given away and the rest were put in the 52K in October with the help of Eric, Jeff, and Jocelyn. The Distichodus shenga, 1 Distichodus sexfaciatus, and Giraffe catfish were placed in the 52K at the time they were caught from the 15K.

When in the 15K tank Jeff and Scot also applied POR 15 rust paint to the steel support beams and cleaned the glass panels.

The water was lowered 4 feet to catch the fish and then raised as they painted and cleaned the glass.

[dimfer]

always a treat to read your update. thanks.

[cmoyers]

Awesome!

[arapaimag]

Here is a picture of a 40" plus electric eel Jeff moved for me that day into a 540g from the 225g he was in when the pic was taken. I bought the eel in 1999 as a nine inch baby from Sean and Oliver Lucanus when they owned Biotope Imports Inc. (Oliver now owns Below Water).

[forsaken]

are you god?

[arapaimag]

No.......

But I'm out of rehab........and in denial (George Carlin)

[arapaimag]

A few more pictures of the day we were catching the brycons etc.
There were a total of 7 volunteers that day. Scot, Jeff, Michael, Richard, Nikki, Brad and Lori. Some of the pics are not great but ...........

[arapaimag]

A few more taken that day

[wr450]

In this project, I designed and built a second mini mega tank in my main fish room in my basement. It is a lot smaller but I like it very much. My mini mega tank is also L shaped. The long part of the L is 28 feet, the short part 18 feet. the front to back of the long part is 6 feet for the first six feet then widens to 10 feet, The front to back of the short part of the L is 10 feet, The tank water height is about 6 feet. It holds around 15,000 gallons.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_020.jpg

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_001.jpg

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_003.jpg

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_004.jpg

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_005.jpg

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_007.jpg

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_009.jpg

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_010.jpg

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_011.jpg

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_012.jpg

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_013.jpg

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/mfkarticle/15k/building_mini_mega_15K_019.jpg





Please note that none of this article or pictures can be reproduced or used in any article or story without my verbal and written permission.
Very nice. We talked at K/W show/auction you said I could find you here.
cheers Phil wr450

[arapaimag]

Are you the dirt bike rider from St Catherines?

[fishman256]

Nice as always. Great update.

[arapaimag]

Thanks to everyone for the kind words.

Any of you going to the Ohio cichlid Extravaganza this weekend?

[arapaimag]

Ad Konings just sent an email on the netbusters in lake Malawi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC0S_...ayer_embedded#

[arapaimag]

Maybe this one will work to see Ad's video

http://cichlidpress.com/smgfund/smgfund16.html

[arapaimag]

To all the MFK members at the Ohio Cichlid Extravaganza I want to say it was great meeting and talking with all of you and I hope you all made it home safely.

[ajaxleon]

Arapaimag, really is a dream your tank, ¡¡Congratulations!!.
Happy New Year for all!!

[thepwner70]

That looks like my fish tank

[arapaimag]

There are a few well known hobby fish on a new list requiring permits to be brought in to Canada soon. I don't know if Canadians are aware of this new legislation

guppies
goldfish
angula angula eel
walking catfish
dwarf gourami
zebra danio
koi
glass knife fish
blue catfish
channel catfish
barramundi
chinese emperor
golden orfe
nile tilapia
giant gourami (goramy)
marble goby
rosy barb
nile perch
spotted scat
discus
archer fish
blue (3 spot) gouramie
snakeskin gouramie

also I noticed the wels catfish which I have studied for many years but never purchased because of my wallago leeri which would never allow it to live in my big tank.

If these fish require permits to bring in their prices will skyrocket. Also there is the chance that permits will be denied.

I really don't know why these restrictions are coming. I don't know of anyone dying from being infected by his guppy. Though I have met a few people I now realize suffer from mad guppy disease.

[arapaimag]

Another of my crowded tanks

My Mbu puffer video 1 jan 27 2010 www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsDjcfrGMpg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsDjcfrGMpg)

[fishman256]

Another of my crowded tanks

My Mbu puffer video 1 jan 27 2010 www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsDjcfrGMpg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsDjcfrGMpg)

He/she seems so well behaved. Has there been any trouble?

[arapaimag]

He/she seems so well behaved. Has there been any trouble?

I have never actually seen the mbu attack another fish on purpose. However the cichlids do get in his way at times when eating and I'm sure he has injured some by accident.

[scriving]

you got any chili red arrows

[ExoticGREEN]

Thats really Awsome tank :0

[Draken]

how big is your silver?

[ziggyboy3d]

Wow unbelievable! this is all I dream about, having a massive tank with all my favorite fish that I can swim with! some day.... just got to get out of college first.

[arapaimag]

how big is your silver?

Not sure the 2 biggest are probably about 36 to 38"

there are 2 that size

Might be in the tank on the weekend catching a few fish to go into the 52,000 because they are eating all my small plecos.

[arapaimag]

you got any chili red arrows

Had one and a few super reds but just no luck in keeping them.

Lost them between 1 year and 10 years.

Can't kill my red tail golden aro's though and have one in the 15,000 and another in the 52,000. Might put them together on the weekend. I also have a green aro.

[arapaimag]

Wow unbelievable! this is all I dream about, having a massive tank with all my favorite fish that I can swim with! some day.... just got to get out of college first.

It's a great hobby try and do it before dec21 2012 though.

[Soul chile]

WOW! that's all i can say.... WOW!

:drool::popcorn::headbang2

[deeboi]

just curious, i haven't gone thru the whole thread, but how do you catch a fish in that monster of a tank? a pool net?

[silverfox532]

thats a huge tank!

[arapaimag]

just curious, i haven't gone thru the whole thread, but how do you catch a fish in that monster of a tank? a pool net?

Just go back to post 335 and you will see that I remove about 10,000 gallons or so and you can see 4 friends got in the tank with large nets.

We are actually going in the tank tomorrow and I have already lowered the water in anticipation. I have 7 people helping. 4 in the tank and 3 outside moving the fish to the 52,000 or holding tanks.

I refill the tank in about 1 hour by just taking a bit of water out of my big tank (the 52,000) and putting it in the 15,000.

[arapaimag]

Well my friends went into the tank today after I drained it down to about 20" of water
and they caught, measured and transferred to the 52,000:

2 Paratilapia aurem the smaller was 20"
the larger was 23" (1" longer than my old Parachromis dovii)
2 Pterodoras granulosus the smaller was 25 3/4"
the larger was 33" (and weighed more than 30lbs)
2 Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (South American Silver Arowana) the smaller was 36"
the larger was 38 1/2"
2 Notopterus chitala (clown knife) the smaller was 26"
the larger was 27"
1 Scleropages formosus (red tail golden asian arowana) *proposed to be changed to Scleropages aureus 28"
1 Scleropages formosus (green) * also called the Silver asian. 26"
1 Lepisosteus oculatus 34 1/2"
1 Hemibagrus wyckii 24 1/2"

As well they caught 9 Amphilophus citrinellus ranging in size from 6" to 12" and 1 Hemibagrus nemurus (Gold) all of which were placed in a 180g holding tank.

This reduced the fish (over 20") in the 15,000 that were possibly killing and eating the under 8" plecos that are needed to keep the glass clean.

So far the Wallago has not been seen to eat any of them in the 52,000.

After the fish were caught I refilled the 15,000 t within 15" from the top in a matter of 3 hours by sending the water required from the 52,000 and now am refilling the 52,000.

I want to thank my friends who helped me Terry Clements, Noel Nathaniel, Simon Luffman, Anthony McAslin, Jeff Mountjoy, Richard and Nikki Coffron.

[arapaimag]

Made a you tube video of Simon and the guys catching the Hemibagrus wyckii and measuring him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fpDdu9wJbA

Not much feeling in hands today so not a great job editing.......sorry

[scriving]

Had one and a few super reds but just no luck in keeping them.

Lost them between 1 year and 10 years.

Can't kill my red tail golden aro's though and have one in the 15,000 and another in the 52,000. Might put them together on the weekend. I also have a green aro.

i really like the greens for some reason

[arapaimag]

i really like the greens for some reason


Good choice I find my green really has a great personality too.

[arapaimag]

Here is the link of the Pterodoras granulosus being caught in the 15,000 and moved to the 52,000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anToGbLArm0

[fishman256]

Very nice.

[2Jacked]

I could only dream to have a tank that beautiful. You have a rare thing going on and it is awesome. I am looking forward to seeing more pics as you progress.

[arapaimag]

I could only dream to have a tank that beautiful. You have a rare thing going on and it is awesome. I am looking forward to seeing more pics as you progress.


Glad you enjoy the tank and welcome to MFK.

[doubledragon]

To all the MFK members at the Ohio Cichlid Extravaganza I want to say it was great meeting and talking with all of you and I hope you all made it home safely.

Do you go to the Extravaganza every year? I stopped in for a little bit just to pick up some fish off of someone.

Hope to meet you next year.

[doubledragon]

It's a great hobby try and do it before dec21 2012 though.

Just caught the tail end of this thread. Can't wait till I have more time to go through the whole thing.

What is dec21 2012?
I hope it's not something I don't want to know.

[arapaimag]

Do you go to the Extravaganza every year? I stopped in for a little bit just to pick up some fish off of someone.

Hope to meet you next year.

I try to go to either the ACA or/and the OCA (Extravaganza) each year depending on my health. So maybe I will see you at either in 2010.

[arapaimag]

Just caught the tail end of this thread. Can't wait till I have more time to go through the whole thing.

What is dec21 2012?
I hope it's not something I don't want to know.

According to the Mayan and Totec civilizations of Mesoamerica their calendar December 21, 2012 signifies the end of the "Great Cycle" of more than 5,000 years and the conclusion of the world we know and the beginning of the next.

The return of Quetzalcoatl.

The Mayans correctly predicted that the Earth, Sun and the center of the MilkyWay would be aligned on Dec 21 2012. This could/should cause a polar shift.

The result of which would mean a new world for the people who survive.

These days an approaching or imminent "End of the World prophecy" has taken on the Styrfoam ambience of a cultural cliche.

Depending on our beliefs and transcendent emphasis of our patriarchal religions it is left to each of us to consider the validity of their predictions.

In the mean time I put aside the world denying ambience, global warming and bio-extinctions and enjoy my fish.