180 gallon stock idea

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
B

Brad.croft

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 6, 2018
20
7
3
28
Hey guys this will be my first large fish tank and I just got a standard 180 gallon tank. I'm going to run a FX6 on it with a thin layer of black sand. A medium size piece of drift wood and some dragon stone, in the far back left corner. So my stock idea is
1×Oscar
2x Hujeta Gar
1x Lima shovelnose catfish (Sorubim lima) I was reading a 180 is min for one of these
2x tea cup sting Ray's I was also reading a 180 is min for these kind of ray
1x pinecone pleco (Pseudorinelepis sp. (L095))

I'm just wondering if my tank can A)take the bio load, B) is it an acceptable tank size for this stock and C) how will the fish interact?
 
The rays I'm going to say no to, the oscar and pleco will be ok size wise, the hujeta gars should be ok, but I'm not sure 2 is a good idea based on aggression (though I do not have experience with hujeta gars so I can't really say), the shovelnose catfish will be fine in there too, but I think it may require an upgrade once it gets fully grown (not necessary, but it would be better)
 
white specter crayfish said:
The rays I'm going to say no to, the oscar and pleco will be ok size wise, the hujeta gars should be ok, but I'm not sure 2 is a good idea based on aggression (though I do not have experience with hujeta gars so I can't really say), the shovelnose catfish will be fine in there too, but I think it may require an upgrade once it gets fully grown (not necessary, but it would be better)
Click to expand...
The cat is the main reason I've gone so big for mt tank, I love shovelnose but this is as big as I can go. I'm fine with no rays, would a ornate bichir or fire eel be okay?

I have a very little bit if experience with those gars, they arent a true gar and are far less agressive and Ive seen them kept up to 4 in a 125, o I think as long as the cat or the oscar want a taste I should be okay there. Any suggestions for other bottom dwellers?
 
The 180 is too small for stock list and Tbh the bioload would be extremely hard to maintain. Most Ray keepers have their aquariums on a drip system. I also would suggest a sump over a canister filter. Welcome aboard
 
  • Like
Reactions: PYRU
Brad.croft said:
The cat is the main reason I've gone so big for mt tank, I love shovelnose but this is as big as I can go. I'm fine with no rays, would a ornate bichir or fire eel be okay?

I have a very little bit if experience with those gars, they arent a true gar and are far less agressive and Ive seen them kept up to 4 in a 125, o I think as long as the cat or the oscar want a taste I should be okay there. Any suggestions for other bottom dwellers?
Click to expand...
ornate bichir might be a bit big (they get 20-24 inches), but shouldn't be any real issue, senegal bichirs would be more than fine though. If you are really set on a shovelnose catfish then a lima shovelnose catfish would be your best bet and it would be fine in there for quite some time, it would take years for it to get that big (IF it does, some may not, all genetics really). So all in all definitely no stingrays, some senegal bichirs would do more than ok in there, a lima shovelnose catfish may get a bit big for a 180, but it will take awhile for that to happen (if it does), a lima shovelnose is like an oscar in a 55 gallon, you can get away with it but it'd far from ideal.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Brad.croft
tlindsey said:
The 180 is too small for stock list and Tbh the bioload would be extremely hard to maintain. Most Ray keepers have their aquariums on a drip system. I also would suggest a sump over a canister filter. Welcome aboard
Click to expand...
Wow I dont think I'll do rays then, but I really want the lima cat, its the main reason I went as big as I can
 
white specter crayfish said:
ornate bichir might be a bit big (they get 20-24 inches), but shouldn't be any real issue, senegal bichirs would be more than fine though. If you are really set on a shovelnose catfish then a lima shovelnose catfish would be your best bet and it would be fine in there for quite some time, it would take years for it to get that big (IF it does, some may not, all genetics really). So all in all definitely no stingrays, some senegal bichirs would do more than ok in there, a lima shovelnose catfish may get a bit big for a 180, but it will take awhile for that to happen (if it does), a lima shovelnose is like an oscar in a 55 gallon, you can get away with it but it'd far from ideal.
Click to expand...
Okay, I'll look to see if I can upgrade in the future, but for sure I wont do rays. Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom