I got out of the hobby about 5 years ago and am looking to start back up another fw tank. My last tank was a 90 gallon reef tank that consumed a ton of cash. I am looking to stay with FW at the moment to keep the overall costs down. I have raised the following at one point or another: Cobra Snakeheads, Payara, African Tigerfish, Wolf fish, Black Pirahna, Silver Arowana, FW barracuda. The cobra's and aro were probably my two fav's. I live in a state that allows me to get most anything, I just need the source to find it (our 1 local LFS sucks). 
Here are my two choices. I can either go with a 156 gallon (60x24x25) or a 180/210. I like the 156 as it will fit perfectly in my dining room area which is easier to watch. The 180/210 will go downstairs in my computer room which would be more comfortable to watch, but won't get seen by company etc.
I am really having a tough time trying to figure out a stock list. I don't know which would be more exciting, a community tank or solitary. It seems like a waste to me to have one fish in a large tank but I've never done it so it might be alright. I hate bare tanks so it will have a black/tan sand substrate and plenty of plants and driftwood.
While I believe that most consumer tanks are too small for larger fish I am not "nazi" enough to feel that the largest fish I can have in my tank choices are 3" cichlids.
Here are some of my ideas. Those who have gone this route please feel free to share experiences and let me know if behavior or tank sizes will limit this. I am not after the most aggressive fish, well that is definitely a plus, I prefer fish that are more active. My wolf fish bored my to death. Probably my favorite fish for activity was any of my triggers. Those things never stop moving.
Solitary tank) Black mask elongatus, Rhom, Xingu, Silver Aro, Black aro, Abu (really like this one), Fahaka/Mbu.
More than one) Silver aro and black aro. 2 Snakeheads, 2 Rhom's (just kidding, lol), Dorado's, ???????????????
Community) Caribes, Paraya, ?????????????????????????
Thanks guys.
Here are my two choices. I can either go with a 156 gallon (60x24x25) or a 180/210. I like the 156 as it will fit perfectly in my dining room area which is easier to watch. The 180/210 will go downstairs in my computer room which would be more comfortable to watch, but won't get seen by company etc.
I am really having a tough time trying to figure out a stock list. I don't know which would be more exciting, a community tank or solitary. It seems like a waste to me to have one fish in a large tank but I've never done it so it might be alright. I hate bare tanks so it will have a black/tan sand substrate and plenty of plants and driftwood.
While I believe that most consumer tanks are too small for larger fish I am not "nazi" enough to feel that the largest fish I can have in my tank choices are 3" cichlids.
Here are some of my ideas. Those who have gone this route please feel free to share experiences and let me know if behavior or tank sizes will limit this. I am not after the most aggressive fish, well that is definitely a plus, I prefer fish that are more active. My wolf fish bored my to death. Probably my favorite fish for activity was any of my triggers. Those things never stop moving.
Solitary tank) Black mask elongatus, Rhom, Xingu, Silver Aro, Black aro, Abu (really like this one), Fahaka/Mbu.
More than one) Silver aro and black aro. 2 Snakeheads, 2 Rhom's (just kidding, lol), Dorado's, ???????????????
Community) Caribes, Paraya, ?????????????????????????
Thanks guys.
