266 gal setup Rio Orinoco biotope

[totoro]

Greetings everyone,

I ordered about a month ago an acrylic tank from local Finnish aquarium maker, with the measurements being approx l 6 x d 2.6 x h 2.2 (185 cm x 80 cm x 68 cm). That is making 226 gallons (1006 liters). I ordered the stand from the same maker, it is made by local metal shop from stainless steel. In the few weeks they will arrive but I still have a lot planning to do! The filtration will be done by Eheim 2260 and maybe I will try building a sump filter with a pvc overflow, I saw very good looking build on Youtube. If the sump does not work I will just get another 2260. In the spring I bought used 3d stone background, other decoration will be fake stones (bought from a private person in Germany) and lots of driftwood. The front will be open and the bottom will be fine sand, maybe some leaves. Light will be dimmed and "spotlight" like. I am in the middle of inner fight with the plants, I used to love plants but with the dim light there is not so much to choose from, maybe some grasses or lotus plants. There is not much plants anyway in the Orinoco, maybe more on the wet season. Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), Cyperus haspan or Utricularia subulata would be interesting to grow out of the tank!

My aim for the tank would be a biotope from upper Rio Orinoco, the area I have in mind is upstream from the crossing of Rio Meta and Rio Orinoco. I already have some fish from Orinoco: three Altum angelfish Orinoco (Pterophyllum altum Orinoco), Parapleco (Ancistomus sabaji) and Blue phantom pleco (Hemiancistrus sp L128). I would like to know how big fish I could consider to this tank, all I know I will be getting more altums. I have been thinking of eartheaters (Satanoperca mapiritensis/jujupari, Biotodoma wavrini or Geophagus abalios/winemilleri), more plecos (would L153 be too big, 40 cm? and maybe Rinelolicaria/Farlowella). I have used Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) as my source when searching for species from that certain area. I intent to make the tank harmonic and I don't want it to look too full, so I will be choosing only one species of eartheaters with altums, but I really would like to have more plecos there. Other choice would be some Corydoras (ie concolor), but then I would need to think about the eartheaters, maybe Orinoco eartheater would be the safest option with Cory cats? I have read that Satanoperca and other big eartheaters might try to eat them with bad ending. For plecos I will create more current to one end of the tank.
Any advice, tip or opinion is appreciated!

 

[totoro]

Update: The tank and the stand arrived at last yesterday, any more height on both and they would not have been able to fit in. The paint on the doorframes got scratched a bit as they came inside. Two strong men (and a woman aiding) carried them so the acrylic material really is making a difference, my 600 liter glass tank needed five people in total to get it inside. I had some time to arrange the aquarium yesterday, tried to put up lights but I still need to fix it. I almost managed to complete the decoration and was able to fit the 3d background. I camouflaged some terracotta tubes for plecos and fitted a huge branch I found from nearby forest in. I am still thinking of the plants and the stocking. I have always found Heros species beautiful and interesting, would a group of Heros liberifer suit together with Altums angels? Maybe I would skip the eartheaters, even though I love them as well, as I would like to have some Corycats. So, atm I would be planning to have a groups of Altum angels and Heros liberifer, Corydoras concolor and some plecos to the bottom. Hemiodus gracilis might also work in this stocking. As for plants, maybe one or two species to the bottom and some vivarium plants above, as the biotope habitat I am trying to copy is quite ascetic on plants. I will put some pictures of my progress later on.

 

[illumnae]

I used to have a similar sized Orinoco biotope style tank. I experimented around and kept altum angels with uaru fernandezyepezi as the main feature fish. I love eartheaters and tried keeping both Satanoperca daemon and Geophagus winemilleri. The Geophagus are fine with corydoras, but one of the Satanoperca once it grew large tried to eat a ram cichlid, which is about the same size as corydoras. I like keeping eartheaters as they keep the sand clean. Heros can get aggressive once breeding so if you really want that fish, I suggest just keeping one so no pairs will form. Finally, consider some Mesonauta to fill the upper levels of the tank.