Looking for help/suggestions from you lads

[robmcd]

The time has come and the opportunity for a monster setup for a sweet deal has found me!! Im getting a 240 with all the trimmings from a close MFK friend of mine. The biggest tank I have as of now is a 100g and 3 60gs. Because I have these relatively ''small'' tanks I have been only able to keep 1 adult pike to a tank, and with the 240, I want to try to change this. So, I am asking you folks for some input on what crens I should get to have a group of 3 or a pair. Im not really into the common fishshop pikes Im seeing around here (X1s, johannas, or venz). Im thinking more like some cobras, cinctas, lentics, fires, or other sharp looking lugubris types. Im gonna throw in at least 1 festae, 1 black nasty (n. hatiensis), 3 prochilodus,1 distochodus , a couple of oddball plecs (1 royal and 1 snowball or common)all of which I am currently raising( all juvenile ). Also want to get a couple of Hoplarchus psittacus (true parrots, I think thats what theyre called, and thankyou Pnut and scat for turning me on to these guys). Also, can I possibly add a single c. vittata to this mix? Just curious and want to hear what y'all think. Oh yeah, I dont think this tank is gonna be planted. If I do, It will be minimal. Thanks in advance for all your replies. And if anyone knows where I can get some crenicichla celidochilus, holler at your boy...

 

[sicxspeed]

Geez Rob, a 240, thats good stuff man. With an 8 foot tank, im assuming you should be able to throw in a group or a few types as they will have plenty of space to swim. That is going to be very nice.

 

[saltydog_1]

with the festae and black nasty i would say true parrots are out, but ya never know maybe yours are docile? i would also hate to throw a couple of 75 dollar pikes into the murderous mix. how set are you on these tankmates? btw cobras, marms, lents get my vote. gl

 

[robmcd]

with the festae and black nasty i would say true parrots are out, but ya never know maybe yours are docile? i would also hate to throw a couple of 75 dollar pikes into the murderous mix. how set are you on these tankmates? btw cobras, marms, lents get my vote. gl

Cmon Salty, you know its all about pikes first! The festae and black nasty are just projects of mine , but they sure do look NICE!! Pikes- for sure, parrots- gotta find them first, Prochilodus- mandatory. I hate to add any african to an SA tank, but my distochodus is just such a handsome fish, it litterally looks like it takes batteries its so colorful.
My lentic was in a 240 with all of the nastiest big cichlids you can think of, a couple big festae, a haitian (I think), all sorts of big parachromis (no dovii), huge viejas' etc., and she was top dog in there. In fact that is the reason polomax sold her to me, cuz she puttin a beating on all those badasses and shredding their fins. My festaes are 4'' now and so far really mellow, my little hait is 3.5'' and only hurts and kills its siblings (started with 7, have 3 now). I have them in a heavily planted tank with a couple of juv svenis (which really dislike each other at this point. so much for the pairing) and they dont even mess with the plants. Maybe I got a mellow batch or they just take after their keeper. My bro Ruck fules has a pair of beautiful cobras in a 300 with nothing but asstd big parachromis and they do great. Thats sort of my inspiration. We shall see though. I know this much for sure, Ima have those pikes lined up asap, not wait around for a crenicichla miracle like some dudes we know..... jk salty

 

[Greenaveli]

I would saw a Cincta and 2 Cobras. From what I have seen from the Cinctas they keep to themselves and the Cobras are suppose to be pretty calm. I have 5 small pikes in the tank now and its fight night. I hate it but they will be seperated soon. GL

 

[Taz2478]

cobras pretty calm??? only if they get beat down 1st or come to an agreement.

whats the specs on the 240, wide or tall???

I'd try to get a pr of somethin. so you'd get 5+ of 1 and hope for a good pr.

mix wise, I'd go Marm, Cincta and Atabapo (any of them). If anyone gets some in Xingu III. or get one of those lent/strigata pikes people have gotten.

Parrots have been on alot of list so not that hard to get. just gotta check prices.

GL and cant wait to see it... oh yeah, no plants

 

[robmcd]

cobras pretty calm??? only if they get beat down 1st or come to an agreement.

whats the specs on the 240, wide or tall???

I'd try to get a pr of somethin. so you'd get 5+ of 1 and hope for a good pr.

mix wise, I'd go Marm, Cincta and Atabapo (any of them). If anyone gets some in Xingu III. or get one of those lent/strigata pikes people have gotten.

Parrots have been on alot of list so not that hard to get. just gotta check prices.

GL and cant wait to see it... oh yeah, no plants

The dimensions are standard 8'x2'x2'. Where my 100 and numerous 60s are aquatic gardens of sorts, a planted 240 is like a friggin botanical park. That would take a lot of $ in lighting and substrate just to get started. Im already looking at 400$+ in livestock. I would be all just doing upkeep on it if I really planted it, so Im thinkin a nice HUGE root section of driftwood as a centerpiece (maybe the 40lb piece that I have in my hundy), with some floating plants like watersprite, a jumble of branches in one corner and maybe a little patch of jungle vals or a big ass bush of rotala from one of my 60s (it grows sooo thick and lush in it. Looks like an Amano tank Im told). Basically minimal plants, I know, totally unlike me. Ima do it all *****in this time and not settle for anything less than what my specs demand. JK, but I do plan to drop some jaws with the scaping and fish in this one. Kinda like its gonna be my crown jewel of tanks so far. I wanna be the white Takashi Amano of the large cichlid world!!!
Aim high, land low...... I gotta slow my roll..............
Thanks for the input taz.

 

[Bsixxx]

Wowzers homie finally getting a big tank



well i like your thoughts and plans on setting this thing up, all your fish are small right now right? if so you have a really good chance of making it work, well longer than if they were mid adult sized fish.

anyway i wish you good luck man and hope fully i can see it when its done

and I always have my doors open incase you have a fish that doesnt work for ya

 

[fish speaker]

I take offense at being called a PACU!!!!

Ha! That's what I felt like when I logged on a while back and saw that I was a "convict"!

 

[robmcd]

damn homie finally getting a big tank



well i like your thoughts and plans on setting this thing up, all your fish are small right now right? if so you have a really good chance of making it work, well longer than if they were mid adult sized fish.

anyway i wish you good luck man and hope fully i can see it when its done

and I always have my doors open incase you have a fish that doesnt work for ya

Just wait till I drop a fat pike on you young cuz. Itll change yer views on the fish you keep. Ill put money on it!!! Ima probably need your help with the whole overflow/sump thing. Im a sump rookie...