First time on the website. I insulated my garage and I’m working on a 7’Lx3’Dx2’H plywood tank. Slowly getting back into the hobby. So right now I’m considering what to stock the tank with when it’s finished. Fish that interest me are Fahaka Puffers, Datnoids, Distichodus Lussoso, or Chinese Red Perch. I’m not saying I’m planning on keeping them together but I’m just listing options that I like. Can any of them live comfortably in that size tank? Which of them would be the most rewarding to keep? And if you have any other cool stocking ideas let me know. Those options are just some I saw online that look interesting.
Building a New Tank
- Thread starter cocoapuff
- Start date
Nice! Great dimensions on this build. Let's see some pics ASAP!
I have never kept those fish so cant speak too much but I believe a fahaka would love that tank. Heard they don't tolerate tankmates though even in a large tank. But you'd be better off starting a thread in the "other fish" subforum where more puffer keepers might comment.
Best of luck with your progress. Keep us posted.
I have never kept those fish so cant speak too much but I believe a fahaka would love that tank. Heard they don't tolerate tankmates though even in a large tank. But you'd be better off starting a thread in the "other fish" subforum where more puffer keepers might comment.
Best of luck with your progress. Keep us posted.
Thanks for the reply my friend. I have all the materials ready. I already scheduled a vacation during the holidays so I can build it. Also even if it’s not among the fish listed, I am totally open to suggestions for stocking so if you have any recommendations let me know
Excellent. I'm trying to put one together by the end of the year as well, I usually build all glass though.
I'm interested in your materials and design. Don't be shy about posting your progress cause we like to know what works and what doesnt.
I'm a loach fanatic atm. That tank would be spacious enough for me to seek out and invest in a group of Leptobotia elongata. They are a cool water, large growing, predatory loach and have become slightly more available and affordable lately.
Thanks! I just googled some pictures and they are stunning! I may consider a group of them. A cool water aquarium is something that I’m willing to try especially since my garage stays at around 70 even during winter and summer. I’ll try to get some pictures of my materials and I’ll definitely post my process.
Sounds cool! Welcome to the forum! I'm biased because im really into CA/SA cichlids right now but those dimensions would be perfect for something like a carpintis or Festae tank. Not as exotic as some of the fish you mentioned though.
II went through a long loach phase years back, very cool fish family, but I missed the elongata, i thought clowns were mostly the only giants available. Not that I ever had a tank big enough for either.
II went through a long loach phase years back, very cool fish family, but I missed the elongata, i thought clowns were mostly the only giants available. Not that I ever had a tank big enough for either.
My past experience with fish keeping was actually with SA/CA American cichlids. I’d love to get back in to them eventually but I want to try something new. There’s a lot of space in my garage for future setups too so maybe I’ll try breeding some centrals down the line!
Although not exactly “part” of the tank, this is how I insulated my garage. Keeping your garage cool in the summer and warm in the winter is vital to actually being able to keep a tank in it. On the image, you can see the double reflective sheet on the door, but underneath that is also a 3/4in styrofoam board to further insulate the garage. This is also done in the attic and it keeps the garage in a comfortable temperature. Now I live in central California where it doesn’t actually get too cold, but it does reach over 100F+ on the summertime. That wasn’t an issue for me ever since I’ve insulated my garage and now it’s basically room temp. The floor is just regular cement so I won’t have to worry about the foundation holding up whatever size tank I put in there.
This sounds all good but it can get expensive to fully insulate the garage. The garage door alone would probably be around $100, but I also had to insulate the attic. Also, the insulation on the garage door made it significantly heavier so I also had to get a stronger motor for my garage door opener. If you want to buy or build a big tank, it may be better to just add some supports to your foundation to help support the weight. However there isn’t much space to put my tank inside my actual house, at least not one of that size. I also have quick access for water here and I could easily do water changes or even set up a drip system. I was going to insulate my garage anyways, so it isn’t too bad. Of course, if your garage is already well insulated then absolutely go for it.
This sounds all good but it can get expensive to fully insulate the garage. The garage door alone would probably be around $100, but I also had to insulate the attic. Also, the insulation on the garage door made it significantly heavier so I also had to get a stronger motor for my garage door opener. If you want to buy or build a big tank, it may be better to just add some supports to your foundation to help support the weight. However there isn’t much space to put my tank inside my actual house, at least not one of that size. I also have quick access for water here and I could easily do water changes or even set up a drip system. I was going to insulate my garage anyways, so it isn’t too bad. Of course, if your garage is already well insulated then absolutely go for it.