Newbee

[neil holmes]

Hi everyone.

I have posted in the newbie section and someone suggested I should also look in this area.

I have been keeping fish for a number of years and have recently brought a large tank to upgrade.

It is 79 x 24 x 24 inch - 197 US gallon - 164 UK gallon (745 litres). I am planning on setting up and cycling it for 2 to 3 weeks before placing any fish in.

Before I place the water in it to cycle, I want to look at aquascaping and planning it properly and would appreciate options/recommendations.

This is what I would LIKE to keep in the tank (but someone may spot a problem):

Pleco, featherfin synodontis, angels, yoyo loach, corydora - Already have these in a smaller tank.

I would like discus and the possible issue is a fire eel! What other fish should I consider?

I realise the discuss would require higher maintenance but having read various threads and websites, a main issue I can see is substrate. I have read that juvenile discus are best raised in clear bottom tanks whereas the fire eel likes to burrow (and the loaches like to play and dig it)

There seems varying suggestions on caves and hiding places, bogwood, rocks, plants etc.

I do not want to rush in and make an expensive mistake or tae on something that will always give me issues.

Thanks for any guidance given.

Neil

 

[TexOscar1]

If you had the resources you could grow the discus out in a bare bottom tank and add them to the larger tank.
The list looks good other than the fire eel, I don't know much about the eels, but they do get quite large and may try to snack on some of the other fish. Discus are gorgeous fish but yes higher maintenance, may just use your first list as far as stocking until you are more comfortable with the tank.

Deco ideas range - basically it's what you like, if it were me though - I would look at driftwood with a few rocks, more of a planted substrate with lower maintenance plants.

 

[neil holmes]

I think I will give the discus a miss for the time being, maybe in the future. I went to our city aquarium today and saw some nice Geophagus and my wife liked them to which is always a bonus Think I will be looking at Geophagus, Clown Loach, Plecos, Angel fish, Fire eel, featherfin synodontis, YoYo Loach (Pakistani Loach), Rams, Guarmi. Are there any obvious issues with this mix of fish and are there any other suggestions. I just have to work out stocking levels in a 200 US Gallon tank

 

[ShadowP]

I think I will give the discus a miss for the time being, maybe in the future. I went to our city aquarium today and saw some nice Geophagus and my wife liked them to which is always a bonus Think I will be looking at Geophagus, Clown Loach, Plecos, Angel fish, Fire eel, featherfin synodontis, YoYo Loach (Pakistani Loach), Rams, Guarmi. Are there any obvious issues with this mix of fish and are there any other suggestions. I just have to work out stocking levels in a 200 US Gallon tank

Your smaller fish will become food for the geophagus, that includes your rams. Always consider the full adult sizes of the fish you intend to keep, and always use stocking levels based on full adult sizes... not current juvenile sizes. Also take into consideration, the agressive or passive nature of each species considered for mixed species tank setups.

 

[neil holmes]

As well as the rams, what do you class as smaller fish? I am still planning and want to get it right which is why I am spending so long before even setting up m tank which is looking sorrowful being empty but I want to sort out my fish list and then the substrate to match. I have read other people keeping Oscars, JD's etc but want to explore various options. My very large pleco, yoyo loach, featherfin synodontis and 2 large angels will be transferred from one of my current tanks.

 

[ShadowP]

As well as the rams, what do you class as smaller fish? I am still planning and want to get it right which is why I am spending so long before even setting up m tank which is looking sorrowful being empty but I want to sort out my fish list and then the substrate to match. I have read other people keeping Oscars, JD's etc but want to explore various options. My very large pleco, yoyo loach, featherfin synodontis and 2 large angels will be transferred from one of my current tanks.

They should be fine. The Julii corys might have a problem too, though my 4 Julii get along fine with my 9" dempsey. But the dempsey was only 2 1/2 inches when I first put him with them. He learned not to eat them and even struck up a symbiotic relationship with them... they swirl up pellets from the bottom that he missed and he eats them. He also protects them now from any other larger fish until they learn to leave them alone too.

 

[neil holmes]

I have decided to go down the geo route with my pleco, loachs, synodontis, angel fish and a single fire eel. I have been doing a lot of reading and there are lots of different geo. I and my better half (wife) love brightly coloured or contrasting fish and am looking for some recommendations as you will all know much better than we. We are looking for a peaceful/ semi peaceful tank and therefore fish that will co-habitate with each other without too much hassle. I have also seen photo's of JD (especially like the electric blue JD), severum, blue acara and Oscars (although I have read that Oscars can be troublesome). I also would like some recommendations about stocking levels, our tank is 200 us gallons 7foot x 2foot x 2foot. I realise that these fish get big and would not want to overstock the tank.

Thanks for any help/guidance given.

 

[neil holmes]

I have just filled up my tank with water to start cycling it for a few weeks. I have 2 fluval 405's for filtration and wondered what people would recommend for the filter basket media and stacking order? Having problems getting them to pump properly at the moment but have new parts on their way (the guy I bought the setup from had them working). I have read there could be issues with airlock etc so will get them both running asap to get the cycling on its way.

Also if I am leaving it for 2 - 3 weeks to cycle, is it worth putting any bacteria boost or such stuff in the tank?

 

[Benno87]

It's frowned upon by some, but I've always used med-large comet goldfish and Seachem stability daily to cycle my tanks. Just seems to kick start the bacteria cycle and make the process a lot quicker. Have heard a lot of people dis agreeing with this method though but I figure they gettin looked after much better than 90% of the rest of comet gold fish sold by stores lol, according to Seachem to you can have fish in the tank while cycling and using stability( I would no way ever even risk trying this with anything other than comets though, especially prized cichlids lol). The goldys don't seem to care anyways and eat, poop and swim around non stop lookin for food.


Please take it easy on me guys, hahaha

 

[convict360]

I love the simple but effective combo of driftwood, with anubias tied on. If you are new to plants and wood types, anubias is a very hardy plant with free floating roots that don't need buried in gravel, usually seen in broad leaf forms.

They look fantastic, can be tied onto anything; though driftwood is very attractive and tends to sink the easiest out of most available woods. I'm also a big fan of duckweed, but its very messy after a while and clogs filtration.