setting up my big tank - who will be safe?

[Amaroq]

If i were you id put in something big like maybe a few more big cichlids like a Green Terror and Jag or maybe put in a Arrowana of some kind, or mayb even a few Rays
The Clown Loachs will be ok but make sure you get atleast 3 of them, they get quite large not to big for your tank at the moment though and they will destroy any snails you might ever get, but one more thing about clown loachs they take FOREVER to grow so buy the time your Oscars are adult size the Loach might be 3 inchs depending on how big you get it from the start.
I have no expierence with Catfish but they can be pretty, another fish you might look into getting is a Royal/Clown Knife fish they around 24 inchs but have the ability to get around 28 i do belive, but theyd be fine.

Your biggest worry at the moment should be the Oscar growspurt there gonna hit or are in where they grow about a inch a month for about 6 months i think, also if you need a link to a good sight for Oscar you can try www . OscarFish . com great site for info. So be warry of your Oscars booming in size and eating everything depending on size. For a safetly measure i would say anyfish wider or taller then 2 inchs should be safe from the Oscars, also one more thing if your Oscars pair up and start spawning i would expect to lose a fish a or 3...

Also one more thing! How do you intend to filter that bad boy?
Anyways,
Good Luck!!
AQ

 

[ali12345]

I am just pondering my filter- it is an undertank sump 5ft long x 3 ft wide x 18" high. Never had a sump before so it is a big step! Got to decide on media.
Alison

 

[Amaroq]

I would say a sump if your best bet and most likely cheapest one at that! For Bio-Filteration i would go with Lava Rock its amazing the surface away they hold and its quite cheap, you will most likely find it at a gardening store.
For Mechanical i go with many layers of sponges ranging from hole size largest holes at the front smallest at the back so in easy terms.. Course then Fine.

I have no expierence with sumps but im pretty sure they take in water from one side and down to below the tank to the sump, water travels through all your media and go's back in the tank.

Another idea for Mechancil filteration might be those pool skimmers put that the very end of ur sponges and that way u can just take it out and whipe off the gunk that would get through and stuck on it, you could also use that as your "wall" to seperate the Mech filter from the Bio filter, now to my knowlegde i belive you want the most Bio filterations you can get so maybe split the tank 2 feet Mech 3 feet Bio.

I would suggest a powerhead for pulling water into the sump and another for pushing it out, but im sure you already figured that much out by yourself

Good Luck
AQ

 

[X24]

go to the diy section, there are a lot of articles on sumps. you'll either need your tank drilled or use an overflow, and then you'll just need 1 return pump, not 2 powerheads.