Hi from Montana

[Sarmo]

hi everybody,

i am new to this forum, moving over from Reef Central. i recently took down my 500 gallon reef display tank and after a short break i want to start a Large fish only freshwater tank. i've had Africian's and a small community tank for years. now i want to go big fish. i'm thinking asian arowana, south americian cichlids (1 or 2), catfish and a Pleco.
i'm going to need help and suggestions as i am new to big fish.l

rob

 

[C L O W N K N I F E]

Welcome

Theres so many fish that can live permenantly in a 500g...I wish I had a tank that big lol

Heres to name a FEW that you may be interested in,

-Any arowana (Silver, Asian, African, Black, Jardini)
-Knifefish (CK, RoyalCK, GoldCK, AlbinoCK, Aba Aba Knife, any other Knifefish)
-Buttikoferi
-Peacock Bass
-Sturgeon
-Gars
-Lungfish
-Chinese Banded Sailfin Shark
-Bichirs
-Leporinus
-Datnoids
-Fire Eel
-Pacu
-Oscars
-Pangasius
-Piranhas
-Payara/Armatus
-Iridescent Shark
-Large Tinfoil Barbs
-Flagtail Prochilodus
-Red Tail Catfish, Tiger Shovelnose Catfish, Lima Shovelnose Catfish, Slobbering Catfish? - These May Get Too Big
-Giant Gourami

 

[Red Devil]

welcome to mfk.. cannot wait to see this great tank set up.. but take your time.. learn and explore what you like best... make no mistakes.. we are here to help... nice to meet you.

 

[Sarmo]

thanks for the welcome. i would love to make no mistake but time has taught me "try not to make a mistake" and that's why i'm here i have a lot of reading to do. starting with filtration....
thanks for the list, i have some home work to look all those up!! is there a list of compatible big fish or is it just who won't fit in the others mouth???

 

[C L O W N K N I F E]

thanks for the welcome. i would love to make no mistake but time has taught me "try not to make a mistake" and that's why i'm here i have a lot of reading to do. starting with filtration....
thanks for the list, i have some home work to look all those up!! is there a list of compatible big fish or is it just who won't fit in the others mouth???

It is pretty much just those who won't fit in the others mouth.

 

[Egon]

It is pretty much just those who won't fit in the others mouth.

There's a little more too it than that but basically this is correct. I have a large Black Aro. (The main focal point/fish of my tank.) Aro's are jumpy skittish fish and tend to kill them selves in panic runs to the tank lid. To prevent and/or limit this behavior I have found success with "dither fish" Fish that swim a lot and are always moving and always jumpy. The Aro sees this as normal and doesn't panic when I turn the lights on or enter the room. Knock on wood so far this "theory" has worked for me.

On another note I have a RTGG (Red Tail Giant Gourami) that hates silver fish. My Black Aro is silver! My Bala Sharks (very large dither fish) are also silver. The RTGG distributes the "love" between all the fish. I have been known, after a few beers, to have my filet knife out when the RTGG is going after the Black. LOL Some day...........

Drop us a note when your ready to stock that monster tank of yours. We can help you with growth rates, compatibility, diet requirements and so on. Your starting out better than most of us with a 500 gallon tank. To be fair most of us are a bit jealous, but after you post up some pics we will come around. Maybe...........

 

[Sarmo]

"Drop us a note when your ready to stock that monster tank of yours. We can help you with growth rates, compatibility, diet requirements and so on. Your starting out better than most of us with a 500 gallon tank. To be fair most of us are a bit jealous, but after you post up some pics we will come around. Maybe........... "

still working on filtration. tring to decide if i should drill the tank for a better overflow. the tank only has 2 holes made for 3/4" bulk heads and they are on the ends at opposing the top corners. bad design but now is the time for me to change it if i need to.

so what is the deal with asian arowanas? can't have in the US?

i do have a quickquestion about growth rates- is there any way to keep clown loaches with a knife or arowana? i plan to start with all small fish and watch them grow. from looking at your 450 post that catfish grows so much faster than clowns that it would have to be added years later..... or the loaches would be a snack my wife would hate that!!!!

 

[Egon]

Asians Arowanas - Illegal in the US

Overflow question - Look into Glass-holes.com for an overflow that will work for you. I own a couple of them. If you’re not opposed to drilling your tank then this is the way to go. I would keep the current 3/4 holes for pump returns and then add a very large overflow near or at the center of the tank depending on the tank upper support bracing.

Growth rates - Clown loaches are tough but very slow growers. Arowanas are surface feeders and typically wont cruse the bottom for food. However, big fish eat little fish and you may have a loss every once in a while but it will work over all. I would say yes the Aro will work with the clown loaches and many people are doing it right now without issues.
Clown knife fish with clown loaches - no
Other knife fish like black ghost will be fine with the loaches.
Check out Datnoids, they are very slow growers and would look great in your tank.
My Niger cat is a monster but very gentle. Also it's obviously well fed and this keeps down aggression.

 

[Sarmo]

Glass-holes is a great company. i have drilled my cross braces (1 1/4" thick, 2 layers) with one of their bits so that i could have Seaswirls at the top center of my tank.
to do the overflow, i'd have to drill an end of the tank. have you ever done that? i mean with the glass verticle, not laying flat? how would you keep the bit and glass cool? i thought of just having someone spray with cool water from a spray bottle or have fan blowing. maybe both?
i'm getting close to having a plan for the filtration finalized.
here is what i'm thinking
1-sump with bioballs and filter cloth. have the overflow come down onto a flat plate with multiple slotted holes cut into it. put some sort of filter cloth on the plate. the water would drip through that onto the bioballs. most would be above water but if power went out they would get covered since the return pump would be off. (bacteria shouldn't die)
2- have the aquaclear canister filter hooked to a mag 18 in my sump to help polish the water, if needed. use a 100um cartridge and maybe carbon.
3- use my tunze 6200's at the bottom just above the gravel bed to keep detritis in suppension and directed towards the overflow. i have to have the overflow at one end. should i put the tunze at the same end or opposite end? i was thinking the same end because the water would flow along the bottom, hit the end and be directed upwards and back the way it came? does that make sense or am i thinking wrong?

i need to order bulkheads and a new glass-hole bit.

 

[Egon]

Never drilled on the side of the tank like that on glass. I did it with an acrylic tank and my wife sprayed the bit to keep it cool.

1) Sounds good
2) Will work but maybe overkill. FYI: I like over kill filtration
3)Anything to push the water near the gravel around is good. Test an area for a while and move the tunze and test another area until you find a good location.