My New 225 Gallon

[mike37909]

All,
I have been reading this forum for a few months. I have had fish most of my life. My last tank was a 90 reef.
I decided to go large freshwater. This is the biggest tank I have ever had. I sanded the stand it was clear coated oak and I stained it red mahogany and then used some cetol left from my boat to clear coat it. I have doors and a canopy to refinish when I get to it. The tank is sitting on a slab so I feel good about that.
I got two marineland canisters with it a 530 and a 360. One is for up to 150 and the other 100. I plan on adding an emperor 400 or ac 110 later. I put a filter pad from a different tank in the 530 and I have yet to see any ammonia or nitrite. I think the nitrates are going up but still between 0 and 5. I have had fish for a week.
All small
Jack dempsey
Salvini
Firemouth
Jewel
Green severum
Gold severum

I want to get an Oscar and a lima shovelnose. Of course I want an arowana but I have mixed feelings on it. I didn't want to cycle tank with arowana but I hear don't put em with anything until they are bigger. I guess I need a 10 inch one or something.
Thanks for the awesome website. Let me know what you think about fish selection and equipment etc.

 

[sherrod833]

Looking good. Keep the updates coming.

 

[fishnatics]

Looks nice.

 

[mike37909]

Thanks. I took the filter pad from my mother in laws overfed overstocked guppy tank. I guess it has massive bacteria on it because I have not seen any ammonia or nitrite. It makes me wonder if it won't cycle, or it hasn't started yet. My thought is that it is done. My nitrates are going up I think. I will do a test with tank water vs tap water. I have API test kit and it seems to read less than 5 but above zero. Sorry about the redundant pictures I don't know how that happened.
Any suggestions on fish? I was thinking pictus cat. Not a big fan of plecos. I kind of like the clown or black knives. Bichirs seem ugly to me I am sure the wife won't like em.....

 

[jeaninel]

How about some Bala sharks? I have 5 in my 150 and they add nice movement to the tank. They get big though so you might just want to do a small group of maybe 3.

 

[HumanBean]

Large fire eel.

 

[virgil2090]

Clown loaches grow slow,get like 5 or more,they are active on the bottom.u could also get silver dollars or filament barbs for schoolers.nice tank,maybe add some driftwood

 

[mike37909]

Thanks all. My wife found the fake plants you see in the tank. It was 4 bags on clearance for 3.50 each marked down from 13. The jewel was being aggressive so I wanted to decorate and rearrange tank. I don't really like them too much. I definitely need some better driftwood. I am going to get an Oscar for sure. I like the Bala sharks, pictus cats, clown loaches, knives, I think I have a fish problem....

 

[mike37909]

I got an albino oscar and a green terror. My Jewel cichlid is a serious fin nipper and his colors aren't very good. He may be headed back to the petshop. I never knew they were such fin nippers. I had one before and don't remember it happening.

 

[fishnatics]

Bala sharks, pictus, clown loaches and a clown knife seems nice. I would do a school of at least 6 and only 1 knife.