How to tweak my set up for a poly

[Steven Williams]

I've always been interested in poly's since I was a kid and after reading all the great things everyone on this thread has to say I was wondering if my tank could house a future poly
Right now I have a 150 gallon long with white gravel substrate (I recently took over this tank cause it used to be my dads) There's a huge fake wood decor on one side surrounded by fake plants and on the other side is some reef rock decor and a colosseum which has an opening inside. There's about 205 gallons of filtration from 2 canisters and I have a heater set to 82.
The current tank members are:
1 Silver arowana 15 inches (grow out/rescue)
1 Jack Dempsey cichlid 7 inches
1 blood parrot cichlid 4.5 inches
5 angelfish 2-4 inches
3 Cory catfish 2-3 inches

So I know the corys have to go maybe downsize or new home elsewhere
I'm a high schooler so the budget is around 8-10 bucks since my parents won't let me spend crazy amounts for fish.
The setup has been around for a couple months
The arowana is a year old
The Angels are all around 4 months to 9 months
The blood parrot is 5 years old
The Jack Dempsey is 7 years old
The Cory cats are about 10 months
What do u guys think? Please let me know thanks. None of the crazy poly's I was thinking Senegal or dinosaur whatever is called

 

[moe214]

The copies will probably become a possible snack, even if they don't fit a poly may try and it can either choke or kill the Cory, which is why it's a good idea to either move them to another tank if possible or rehome. I wouldn't worry about the blood parrot to much if it isn't overly aggressive, since it can't do much damage but constant pestering can still cause stress and have negative effects. Now the aro and JD may try to make a meal of a small poly, being on a budget, you'll probably want a Senegal or del, maybe if you can get a deal on a CB endli or ornate than they may be a better option. A del and sen won't grow to fast or to big in general, but with CB their genes aren't great so they may not grow past 8" or they may grow to 12" if you're lucky. I'd worry about the JD more than the aro here. So those are species that are common and can be fairly cheap. If you want save up, and when a good size one comes along go for it. Other wise you may have to grow one out. I wouldn't worry about the Angels due to their shape.

 

[convict360]

J jaws7777

 

[Steven Williams]

The copies will probably become a possible snack, even if they don't fit a poly may try and it can either choke or kill the Cory, which is why it's a good idea to either move them to another tank if possible or rehome. I wouldn't worry about the blood parrot to much if it isn't overly aggressive, since it can't do much damage but constant pestering can still cause stress and have negative effects. Now the aro and JD may try to make a meal of a small poly, being on a budget, you'll probably want a Senegal or del, maybe if you can get a deal on a CB endli or ornate than they may be a better option. A del and sen won't grow to fast or to big in general, but with CB their genes aren't great so they may not grow past 8" or they may grow to 12" if you're lucky. I'd worry about the JD more than the aro here. So those are species that are common and can be fairly cheap. If you want save up, and when a good size one comes along go for it. Other wise you may have to grow one out. I wouldn't worry about the Angels due to their shape.

Okay thanks this was really helpful
I plan on finding the Cories a new home soon
The JD has kinda slowed down these past years because the tank was originally a cichlid community tank with lots of bp an FH a Midas and the JD then I moved out the bp and FH to another smaller tank, the one bp remained since it was weaker than the rest, the Midas has a new home and the JD is still hanging I guess. She's 7 years old though so I'm worried about her she's got impressive colors but even now I notice she isn't as active as she was 2 years ago and her appetite isn't as huge as it used to be. She almost had an infection but I healed her up and now she's just grown in some red. She doesn't have the stamina to keep chasing so I'm gonna try to get a poly around 4-5 inches either save up for a Endli or ornate but my lfs nearby don't have much since they huge chain stores like Petland Petsmart petco I may head down to an actual fish store since I live in Orlando the options aren't huge. I'll pay attention around but I can't order online I just don't like it.
So ur saying my Angels will be fine hope fully I heard some do nip.
Also if I do get one what and how should I feed it, it's a bottom feeder so the food has to make it down right? Rn I have floating carnivore sticks for my JD and arowana, the Angels and bp eat cichlid pellets, and the Cories pick up whatever falls down. I also feed the arowana crickets and mealworms and my bp and Angels occasionally get ghost shrimp. I've however never tried blood worms
This was a long rant but thanks

 

[Steven Williams]

Okay thanks this was really helpful
I plan on finding the Cories a new home soon
The JD has kinda slowed down these past years because the tank was originally a cichlid community tank with lots of bp an FH a Midas and the JD then I moved out the bp and FH to another smaller tank, the one bp remained since it was weaker than the rest, the Midas has a new home and the JD is still hanging I guess. She's 7 years old though so I'm worried about her she's got impressive colors but even now I notice she isn't as active as she was 2 years ago and her appetite isn't as huge as it used to be. She almost had an infection but I healed her up and now she's just grown in some red. She doesn't have the stamina to keep chasing so I'm gonna try to get a poly around 4-5 inches either save up for a Endli or ornate but my lfs nearby don't have much since they huge chain stores like Petland Petsmart petco I may head down to an actual fish store since I live in Orlando the options aren't huge. I'll pay attention around but I can't order online I just don't like it.
So ur saying my Angels will be fine hope fully I heard some do nip.
Also if I do get one what and how should I feed it, it's a bottom feeder so the food has to make it down right? Rn I have floating carnivore sticks for my JD and arowana, the Angels and bp eat cichlid pellets, and the Cories pick up whatever falls down. I also feed the arowana crickets and mealworms and my bp and Angels occasionally get ghost shrimp. I've however never tried blood worms
This was a long rant but thanks

I feel like the tank is already overcrowded is it? I know it will be when the arowana gets bigger but I have some time before then and the JD stopped growing a while ago along with the bp and the Angels grow quite slowly

 

[moe214]

The only fish I see making it overcrowded is the aro. If you get rid of the copies that'll open up space at the bottom for the poly, and as long as your filtration is up to par and you do your weekly wc you should be alright. 4-5" would be thin regardless of species, I was thinking more like 7-9" to avoid predation. You can feed it sinking pellets or chopped up market prawns etc. sinking foods is what you want to aim for. And your JD is done growing lol I've taken that into account, but they have decent sized mouths and are fairly predatory but not bad, but a long slender fish may be enticing so to be safe is why I say you want decent sized bichir.

 

[DMD123]

Seems like the plans all revolve around keeping the arowana. I wouldn't even waste time on a sen. in that tank if you want to keep the arowana. Get a bigger tank to house the arowana and get an endli or ornate to go with him. Of course the cories have to go.

 

[Steven Williams]

Seems like the plans all revolve around keeping the arowana. I wouldn't even waste time on a sen. in that tank if you want to keep the arowana. Get a bigger tank to house the arowana and get an endli or ornate to go with him. Of course the cories have to go.

Ya when the arowana gets bigger I will hopefully have enough for an upgrade 300 gal

 

[Steven Williams]

The only fish I see making it overcrowded is the aro. If you get rid of the copies that'll open up space at the bottom for the poly, and as long as your filtration is up to par and you do your weekly wc you should be alright. 4-5" would be thin regardless of species, I was thinking more like 7-9" to avoid predation. You can feed it sinking pellets or chopped up market prawns etc. sinking foods is what you want to aim for. And your JD is done growing lol I've taken that into account, but they have decent sized mouths and are fairly predatory but not bad, but a long slender fish may be enticing so to be safe is why I say you want decent sized bichir.

The arowana will get a bigger home when the time comes and I'm now looking for a home for my emerald and bronze Cories or I might put them in my 20 gal that's empty idk yet
As for the bichir I'll definetly try to get one and when I do I'll show it to u guys
Thanks

 

[jaws7777]

I have a 150 gal with an ornate and endli 10 ish and 13 ish inches and they kind of make it look small (width wise) imo that aro needs a bigger tank now.