In the next month or two, I'm buying a large tank to house datnoids and two smaller snakeheads. I'm setting up with the help of a friend who keeps lots of rare/oddball fish (including dats, snakeheads, arowanas, rays, rare synodontis, etc.). He says I should grab a standard 120 (4'x2'x2'), and that'll be sufficient. I can understand this being enough while they're young, but as they start to max-out, won't I need a larger tank? Some people say I should grab a 180 (6'x2'x2'), which will give them the extra two feet (which will help since they're all going to hit at least a foot).
What would everyone here recommend? Should I do the 120, or the 180? Or should I get something else six feet in length (130, for example), but maybe not as wide?
What would you recommend for filtration? Ultimately I'd like to get two canister filters (Eheim or Rena come to mind), but I've never been a huge fan of Fluval FX5s, which most will recommend. Eheim is a synonym for quality, but I hear grabbing two Rena XP3/XP4s would make an excellent choice, especially for the price.
ALSO, I'd like to have some plants in the tank, such as swords, some java fern, and possibly some others like sagitaria and anubias. Are these choices good or bad? I really like some of the bigger swords, but if there are plants you'd recommend, let me know. If I should skip the plants, tell me that, too! If I go with plants, what kind of lighting would I want for the fish/plants to both be happy. Would T5 or actinics do the trick?
So you know, here's what I'm (ideally) going to stock:
-Datnioides microlepis (x2)
-Datnioides undecimradiatus (x2)
-Datnioides polota (x2)
-Channa bleheri (x2)
I might have a royal panaque and some synodontis in there, as well.
I just want to make sure I get everything right before my first purchase!
Thanks in advance!
-josh
What would everyone here recommend? Should I do the 120, or the 180? Or should I get something else six feet in length (130, for example), but maybe not as wide?
What would you recommend for filtration? Ultimately I'd like to get two canister filters (Eheim or Rena come to mind), but I've never been a huge fan of Fluval FX5s, which most will recommend. Eheim is a synonym for quality, but I hear grabbing two Rena XP3/XP4s would make an excellent choice, especially for the price.
ALSO, I'd like to have some plants in the tank, such as swords, some java fern, and possibly some others like sagitaria and anubias. Are these choices good or bad? I really like some of the bigger swords, but if there are plants you'd recommend, let me know. If I should skip the plants, tell me that, too! If I go with plants, what kind of lighting would I want for the fish/plants to both be happy. Would T5 or actinics do the trick?
So you know, here's what I'm (ideally) going to stock:
-Datnioides microlepis (x2)
-Datnioides undecimradiatus (x2)
-Datnioides polota (x2)
-Channa bleheri (x2)
I might have a royal panaque and some synodontis in there, as well.
I just want to make sure I get everything right before my first purchase!
Thanks in advance!
-josh
