New tank plan

[Dieboldly]

so I’m thinking about taking my 125 gallon tank (that is cycled and been up and running for a year now ) and turn it into a friendly community tank with plants and fish. I really like the archer fish but not sure if it’s the best choice for what I’m searching for. I want a community tank where all fish can swim peacefully and look great! I would like to have plants in the tank too. Especially some hairgrass or something carpet like on the ground. I do have a co2 injector and ph monitor. So with all this said,
What kind of fish would be best for this tank? What PH would the water need to be to have the plants survive?

My goal is to plant the plants first and then add he fish. Maybe a few cardinal tetras for now just for color.

If you have a community tank, I would love to see some pics!

 

[JK47]

so I’m thinking about taking my 125 gallon tank (that is cycled and been up and running for a year now ) and turn it into a friendly community tank with plants and fish. I really like the archer fish but not sure if it’s the best choice for what I’m searching for. I want a community tank where all fish can swim peacefully and look great! I would like to have plants in the tank too. Especially some hairgrass or something carpet like on the ground. I do have a co2 injector and ph monitor. So with all this said,
What kind of fish would be best for this tank? What PH would the water need to be to have the plants survive?

My goal is to plant the plants first and then add he fish. Maybe a few cardinal tetras for now just for color.

If you have a community tank, I would love to see some pics!

Sounds awesome. I’ve always love tanks with massive schools of the same fish. A big school cardinal tetras and a big school of sterbae corydora is the perfect community for me. Post pics what ever you decide please

I can’t speak to the pH needs of the plants. I kill them

 

[Dieboldly]

Sounds awesome. I’ve always love tanks with massive schools of the same fish. A big school cardinal tetras and a big school of sterbae corydora is the perfect community for me. Post pics what ever you decide please

I can’t speak to the pH needs of the plants. I kill them

Not sure when I’ll actually do this. I currently have a 12” vampire fish in the tank. Either I sell him or wait till he passes. I herd they only live 6months-2years in aquariums. So far he’s an a year.

I want to put a massive piece of drift wood in the middle too. I think that would look great.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Not sure when I’ll actually do this. I currently have a 12” vampire fish in the tank. Either I sell him or wait till he passes. I herd they only live 6months-2years in aquariums. So far he’s an a year.

I want to put a massive piece of drift wood in the middle too. I think that would look great.

vampire payara? they will actually live longer than 2 years and grow 2-3 times the size your fish is already given the right environment. you usually only see them in large tanks, 500 gallons+.

i would think about rehoming the fish in the near future. you should be able to sell one that size but I've seen people have trouble getting rid of them once they get 2'+.

but im on board with the community idea. you can do a lot with a 125. south american communities are my favorite. cardinal tetras are on the smaller side of tetras though so if you want a bunch of them i would stay away from larger growing community cichlids like severums, chocolates, even larger geophagus because they will be eaten eventually.

 

[Dieboldly]

vampire payara? they will actually live longer than 2 years and grow 2-3 times the size your fish is already given the right environment. you usually only see them in large tanks, 500 gallons+.

i would think about rehoming the fish in the near future. you should be able to sell one that size but I've seen people have trouble getting rid of them once they get 2'+.

but im on board with the community idea. you can do a lot with a 125. south american communities are my favorite. cardinal tetras are on the smaller side of tetras though so if you want a bunch of them i would stay away from larger growing community cichlids like severums, chocolates, even larger geophagus because they will be eaten eventually.

Thank you for the advice! I was just going off of what I read on the web about the payara lol. I have attempted to sell him and no one seems interested lol

 

[Backfromthedead]

Thank you for the advice! I was just going off of what I read on the web about the payara lol. I have attempted to sell him and no one seems interested lol

yes they are a bit of a specialty fish. my theory is that most payara die after one or two years because they beat themselves to death on the walls of their outgrown tanks. same thing happens to a lot of arowanas. they just need a ton of open space to accommodate their speed, size and twitchiness.

not too long ago somebody was trying to sell his at like 28" for a long time. i think he ended up donating it to seaworld or something.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Just an FYI on the archer fish, I’m pretty sure they need brackish water as they get older and the plants will not do well in brackish water, nor will other non-brackish fish.

 

[hibackgoldaro]

if you search on youtube..theres a youtuber that has a massive 800g tank with hundreds of tiger barbs/clown loaches and archer fish...one of the nicest setups i've seen ever i think that didn't have asian arowanas...

 

[Fat Homer]

Just an FYI on the archer fish, I’m pretty sure they need brackish water as they get older and the plants will not do well in brackish water, nor will other non-brackish fish.

Actually there is a 100% freshwater archerfish... just cant remember its scientific name right now...

 

[jhook]

if you search on youtube..theres a youtuber that has a massive 800g tank with hundreds of tiger barbs/clown loaches and archer fish

I believe that you are talking about Cory’s tank from Aquarium Co-op. That’s an awesome tank. All of the movement from the tiger barbs would drive me insane though.