Rookie looking for advice

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
The yellow tail cuda are similar to these red tail
 
So what do you consider a huge tank then so I could make that happen? I'd be willing to go up to a 150 gallon tank, but I don't think I could do 200-300 with my living space.

it really depends on the fish you want, obviously the bigger the better.
The issue with predatory is they want to eat other fish so they will if they get the chance.
For your tank even though they aren’t predators you could have a school of hatchet fish for the top, a decent size gang of tetras for the middle and some corydoras for the bottom. For the centre piece fish some type of acara or rainbow cichlids would look good.
Most likely some will say it will be overstocked but with a decent filter and strict water change discipline I reckon you could do it.
 
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it really depends on the fish you want, obviously the bigger the better.
The issue with predatory is they want to eat other fish so they will if they get the chance.
For your tank even though they aren’t predators you could have a school of hatchet fish for the top, a decent size gang of tetras for the middle and some corydoras for the bottom. For the centre piece fish some type of acara or rainbow cichlids would look good.
Most likely some will say it will be overstocked but with a decent filter and strict water change discipline I reckon you could do it.
I rekon you're right. I've noticed with the filter I have for my 55 gallon tank it is complete overkill but it allows me to almost be lazy and not have to do water changes till every 2-3 weeks without any problems. With an overkill filter and an abundance of fish as long as water changes happen frequently I'm sure my pets would be all good. That's just from my early experience though with what I currently have. I know I'll have to do way more water changes as we both said as long as I have a great filtration.
 
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I rekon you're right. I've noticed with the filter I have for my 55 gallon tank it is complete overkill but it allows me to do almost be lazy and not have to do water changes till every 2-3 weeks without any problems. With an overkill filter and an abundance of fish as long as water changes happen frequently I'm sure my pets would be all good. That's just from my early experience though with what I currently have. I know I'll have to do way more water changes as we both said as long as I have a great filtration.
That’s not true about the filter. Filters do nothing for nitrates and that’s the reason for water changes. Your filter hosts your nitrifying bacteria that converts ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to much less toxic nitrate, but there is no bacteria that removes nitrate which does become toxic at levels over 5-20ppm depending on who you ask. I keep mine under 10ppm.
 
That’s not true about the filter. Filters do nothing for nitrates and that’s the reason for water changes. Your filter hosts your nitrifying bacteria that converts ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to much less toxic nitrate, but there is no bacteria that removes nitrate which does become toxic at levels over 5-20ppm depending on who you ask. I keep mine under 10ppm.

Good to know! I honestly thought the bio media in my canister + gph actually lessened the nitrate resulting in less water changes needed. Maybe I've been lucking out though with no deaths in my tank.
 
Get a decent liquid test kit like api master test kit and check your parameters frequently until you get a feel for how often wc are necessary. Clear water doesn't mean clean water, and nitrates are what we can easily test for but wc also remove a lot oyu can't see or test for, micro particulates and hormones from the fish themselves, which if high can stunt their growth, etc. Usually newer tanks with younger fish can go longer between wc than tanks with full grown adult fish or heavily stocked tanks, but the liquid tests only takes a few minutes and teaches you a lot.
 
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