Grow out tanks?

[Ohnoitstfloyd]

Hi everybody-
beginner question
I have baby ariana (3.5 ish inches) in a 75 gallon (wide) as well as a 3 inch bichir. Im well aware this is WAY too small, and I'm immediately looking into other big boy tanks. HOWEVER. should I just go big or go home and grab him a forever tank? (300 ish gallons?) or should i exercise the "grow out" tank method? Pros and cons to each method?
And a side question-
I'm looking to one day add a Gar to this tank. Just those three, silver aro, bichir, and gar. Anybody recommend a specific type of Gar? and furthermore. would it be better to add it soon, so they can all get aquatinted while they're small? Thank you!

 

[Bigfishnut]

I personally like to use a grow-out for my monsters. It makes target feeding easier. When your aro hits about 12-16 inches it's time to get it onto something bigger for sure. Any gar will be fine except maybe alligator...too aggressive for your aro. Id get it now.

 

[Ohnoitstfloyd]

I personally like to use a grow-out for my monsters. It makes target feeding easier. When your aro hits about 12-16 inches it's time to get it onto something bigger for sure. Any gar will be fine except maybe alligator...too aggressive for your aro. Id get it now.

I know everybody has a different opinion. But when I get his “final” tank what would you recommend as a good foot print size? I know minimum is a sucky thing to do, and I’ll go bigger, but I’m also curious as to what minimum would be?

 

[Bigfishnut]

8 by 3 would be absolute minimum...

 

[Ohnoitstfloyd]

8 by 3 would be absolute minimum...

That’s about what I was thinking, actually. Nice to know I’m not that far off lol.
I have a 180 gallon tank sitting in the back yard right now. I’m going to get it together, set up a sump, (possibly use his current tank for it. Is 65 or75 for a 180 sufficient? I have both sizes) the foot print for that tank is 7x2x2. How big can he get in that one before I need to start sourcing a very large tank? I want my noodle to be okay, but at the same time these tanks are very large investments, so I’m kinda trying to buy some time. That and I’d like to do it right. Again, he’s just a nugget right now.

 

[Galantspeedz]

I rather get a live forever tank.. less WC would be needed and if I need to target feed or separate the fishes due to fighting I can use a divider

 

[Ohnoitstfloyd]

Noodle and cookie. Noods has since grown about half an inch. (Yeah. I call my aro noods. )

 

[Ohnoitstfloyd]

I rather get a live forever tank.. less WC would be needed and if I need to target feed or separate the fishes due to fighting I can use a divider

I would too. And that’s why I’m saving up for it. But I don’t want kiddo to be stuck in a 75 bc I can’t get my life together.


*editors note, that’s a terrible picture of noodle. Does anybody know what strain of bichir cookie is?

 

[Mugi]

Silvers can get super huge, like 40"+. Your 7'x2' footprint may not be enough when he's full grown. I understand the investment maybe massive for glass/acrylic tanks and I had the same problem but I came across the idea of a DIY Plywood tank and that's what I'm working this summer.

 

[torcombro]

silver aro can grow to 3 foot long. It will need at least 250 gallon tank. You might considering the length and wide when choosing the tank, the longer and wider are better for noodle.
From the picture, i think it is a bichir delhezi