Bichir tank planning

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Hao said:
As for your sand, I think it's do-able. There's a member who used to have bichirs on PFS and they still looked amazing. Look through this thread you'll see Julian270's nice bichirs on the light sand.
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/west-coast-poly.445041/
Click to expand...

I think the person's Teug and Dels look best on that light substrate. It's a tan / nautral mix, though, not whilte PFS like the OP is mentioning. I still think that the upper jaws might be OK on white, but the OP should be aware that it might affect how they look.

I have mine on a sort of lighter, natural-looking mix like peace river and mine all look great. (Delhezi, Polli, Moke, Teug) So I don't think UJs need to be on garnet, but do think that white might decrease contrast / wash out some UJs even. But others may disagree with me too. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Hao
We should find those substrate experiment threads for op....will try later
 
  • Like
Reactions: magpie
I'm curious could I do half the tank as the pfs then do something else for the other half that plants would grow in better (black/red substrate)?
Started looking at that thread and Julian270's bichir do not look all that bad on the lighter substrate.
Just watched that video of the different types, I like the look of Delhezi, and the gold dust.
How do you know how small other fish could be to go with the bichir, if I we're to do one of these others since they are smaller and cap out around 16 and 21 respectively. Would yoyo loaches love of would they turn into a quick snack? Also thinking of keeping in the tank Bn pleco, Chinese algea eater and like I said the Denison barb.
 
I would say no to denisen barbs, chines algea eaters and probably yoyo loaches unless you can get them at adult sizes. But you could try it will probably be ok for a loong time if you get the denisen barbs at larger sizes.
 
jaws7777 said:
I would say no to denisen barbs, chines algea eaters and probably yoyo loaches unless you can get them at adult sizes. But you could try it will probably be ok for a loong time if you get the denisen barbs at larger sizes.
Click to expand...
Denisens barbs would be fine once adult size with del or golddust. Problem is they grow slow and are really expensive to get grown ones. Also may eat your plants. I had a 60 cube that I did 2 different substrates pfs and the red fluorite looked great. The biggest thing is to separate it with a retaining wall. I used a slate/ sandstone type stone I got from a land scape supply that was swirly with multiple colors red tan yellow cream orange, then I bashed it with a hammer and silicone the pieces into an irregular wall. The fluorite part was deeper then the pfs and I tiered the wall to help keep the fluorite off the pfs, I also didn't make the wall straight to make it look more natural. I thought it looked really good. That tank was 24x24x24 I kept front 1/3ish pfs.
 
The denison barbs, yoyo loach, and the Chinese algae eater. I already own. The barbs I have had for almost a year and gotten off ones from people in my community. Also did not know they east plants, I have not seen them so that in my tank. The yoyo are around 6 months+ and the Chinese algae eater I have no clue but it is around 7 inches long.

For the wall you did hoW much taller did you make it so the sand did not go from one area into the other, Would having it stick up 2-3 inches be enough?

I'm guessing if I were to also try and put in Cory cats into the tank they would turn into food real fast.

I'm planning on my over flow to be in the middle back of my tank, how much water movement do bichir like? Just want to make sure that I don't have to high of a flow, or will they not care to much since they hang out closer to the bottom?
 
Algae eater will be fine. Yoyos probably not so much. Corys no. If your barbs are smaller then poly mouths they'll be ok. Not all barbs eat plants. But most do. Yours may be fine.
My pfs was about an inch deep and the fluorite was about 3" deep. I made the wall 3" tall. As the fluorite was heavier I didnt have too bad a problem. Sometimes fish would push it over the wall. I had blue acara and corys in the tank.
As for flow, I have about 1200 gph going through mine polys have zero issues. I'm going to be adding a bit more got a couple weak spots where stuff is accumulating.
 
Thats pretty cool that the chinese algae eaters are that large. I assumed you were purchasing them new amd were at smaller sizes.

How big are your barbs now ? Also assumed they were being purchased new. Cb dels have a ridiculous appetite and if it has good genetics will grow at a decent clip.
 
My barbs are over 3.5 inches currently I would say. I know I have a huge fat one that is closer to 6.
Sorry should have mentioned I'm upgrading, my house is too small to try and keep a lot of the tanks I have. So I have to get rid of my 46 and 60 to make room. I know that I currently have some tetra and guppies, but I am confident that they will get eaten. And probably my harlequin rasbora.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom