First off, I have been researching my favorite fish. Every time I have a question about Bichirs, Google has turned me to this forum (literally every time lol). So I figured Why not join?
I use the term paludarium loosely. Idealy I am looking to get an Aqueon 210. The top 5-7 inches or so will be the "land" feature. Given the size of the background I am making, It will roughly take 3 inches off the width and accounting for substrate depth it comes out to about 140-150 gallons with a large footprint for bottom friendly fish (still leaving around 20" of water volume from substrate to land feature). So here are my questions
1. How would bichirs do with large plants such as a few amazon sword, valisneria gigantea (sorry for spelling) and large leaf anubias such as coffefolia?
2. Next, the Bichirs! I want around 3 18" (adult sized) Bichirs that are moderately peaceful with large tank mates of equal size. I would love to have an Ornate but have heard they are too aggressive for certain tank mates (see 3.). So I have settled on Endlicheri Bichir and I would like to have 2 other species that play nice and are comparable in size.
3. Tank mates that occupy the footprint of the tank. I would like a BGK and suggestions lol. I have thought about equally sized plecos perhaps even reedfish but would like experience or opinions on the matter.
4. Tank mates that would occupy the mid to top of the tank. I Just don't want cichlids, Looking for suggestions that would be safe with the bichirs that are around 12". Smaller than the Bichirs but still big enough to not be lunch or bullied. I will have a few large caves for the more nocturnal tank inhabitants built into the background.
5. The substrate under the 50-54" Land shelf will likely be pool filter sand and the other 1.5'-2' will be Black Diamond Blasting Sand. The latter is the substrate the majority of the plants will be in.
Bonus Question, Anyone have any good ideas about inhabitants that would use the land without going in the water? Or a suggestion that would use a small lake on the surface instead of the shoreline to their imminent demise lol.
Any experience, questions, opinions or criticism is welcome. Thanks in advance for just reading all that and for all of the unknowing help this forum has provided me.
I use the term paludarium loosely. Idealy I am looking to get an Aqueon 210. The top 5-7 inches or so will be the "land" feature. Given the size of the background I am making, It will roughly take 3 inches off the width and accounting for substrate depth it comes out to about 140-150 gallons with a large footprint for bottom friendly fish (still leaving around 20" of water volume from substrate to land feature). So here are my questions
1. How would bichirs do with large plants such as a few amazon sword, valisneria gigantea (sorry for spelling) and large leaf anubias such as coffefolia?
2. Next, the Bichirs! I want around 3 18" (adult sized) Bichirs that are moderately peaceful with large tank mates of equal size. I would love to have an Ornate but have heard they are too aggressive for certain tank mates (see 3.). So I have settled on Endlicheri Bichir and I would like to have 2 other species that play nice and are comparable in size.
3. Tank mates that occupy the footprint of the tank. I would like a BGK and suggestions lol. I have thought about equally sized plecos perhaps even reedfish but would like experience or opinions on the matter.
4. Tank mates that would occupy the mid to top of the tank. I Just don't want cichlids, Looking for suggestions that would be safe with the bichirs that are around 12". Smaller than the Bichirs but still big enough to not be lunch or bullied. I will have a few large caves for the more nocturnal tank inhabitants built into the background.
5. The substrate under the 50-54" Land shelf will likely be pool filter sand and the other 1.5'-2' will be Black Diamond Blasting Sand. The latter is the substrate the majority of the plants will be in.
Bonus Question, Anyone have any good ideas about inhabitants that would use the land without going in the water? Or a suggestion that would use a small lake on the surface instead of the shoreline to their imminent demise lol.
Any experience, questions, opinions or criticism is welcome. Thanks in advance for just reading all that and for all of the unknowing help this forum has provided me.
