Something interesting or pretty for a 6 foot 300 gallon tank?

[Omrit]

My tank has unusual dimensions being tall but only 6 feet long. Because of this I felt a little hesitant about adding many popular monster fish since the advise with those is usually "at least 8 feet of space".

Currently I have a rainbow wolf fish, chocolate cichlid, starry night cichlid, severums, silver dollars, and a few other smaller cichlids. People see my tank and are definitely not impressed usually asking where my oscars, peacock bass, and arrowanna ect are at. My family thinks the fish are lame as well and want me to buy stuff like parrot cichlids not the true parrots but the man-made ones with the weird mouths and they generally like the short-body fish or colorful fish.

I also found my tank dull, but I thought the fish getting bigger would change things. Even with some of my fish having come into their adult colors (and having a larger size of course) , I must admit the stock is on the boring side. My fish have subtle beauty that I do appreciate, but I also understand my families criticism that the tank is boring especially to the eyes of a non-fish lover.

I currently have a fire eel growing in another tank that I plan to add later. I was thinking maybe a larger pike cichlid would be good too, but the last pikes I ordered turned out to be a species of dwarf pike so I am a bit hesitant to order more.

Starting to think I should re-home some of my stock and switch to a central american focused set-up, but I didn't go for them originally because I thought a 6 foot tank would be a bit cramped for the big pretty(and usually mean) central american species.


I am just conflicted so was hoping for some insight.

 

[duanes]

Funny, I'm just the opposite.
When I see people with designer colored oscars, or even arowana, I tend to think "everybody has those" (what's the point?)
And when I see Franken fish like BPs and short body and other deformed cichlids, my reaction, is "you might as well keep goldfish, rather than subject cichlids to the same abuse goldfish have been subjected to for thousands of years.
Back when goldfish were developed, the only way to see fish in ponds was to torque out shapes, and have enough color to see them from above.

What size are your fish now.
I've had beautiful Paratilapia hit almost 15"

The one below was only half grown when the pic was taken.

And severums and chocolates get as big as dinner plate, as adults.

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

My tank has unusual dimensions being tall but only 6 feet long. Because of this I felt a little hesitant about adding many popular monster fish since the advise with those is usually "at least 8 feet of space".

Currently I have a rainbow wolf fish, chocolate cichlid, starry night cichlid, severums, silver dollars, and a few other smaller cichlids. People see my tank and are definitely not impressed usually asking where my oscars, peacock bass, and arrowanna ect are at. My family thinks the fish are lame as well and want me to buy stuff like parrot cichlids not the true parrots but the man-made ones with the weird mouths and they generally like the short-body fish or colorful fish.

I also found my tank dull, but I thought the fish getting bigger would change things. Even with some of my fish having come into their adult colors (and having a larger size of course) , I must admit the stock is on the boring side. My fish have subtle beauty that I do appreciate, but I also understand my families criticism that the tank is boring especially to the eyes of a non-fish lover.

I currently have a fire eel growing in another tank that I plan to add later. I was thinking maybe a larger pike cichlid would be good too, but the last pikes I ordered turned out to be a species of dwarf pike so I am a bit hesitant to order more.

Starting to think I should re-home some of my stock and switch to a central american focused set-up, but I didn't go for them originally because I thought a 6 foot tank would be a bit cramped for the big pretty(and usually mean) central american species.


I am just conflicted so was hoping for some insight.

Just saying, you can't go wrong with a school of colorful Discus with some cories, dithers and maybe a few other fish. With the mention that the tank is tall and long...I mean thats the perfect discus (or angelfish) tank. Plus, you can have some fun with unique aquascaping.

If you want to do a more active tank, depending on how hard your water is, a massive yellow lab tank could also work. Stack up some serious rock work and make plenty of hiding holes for the mbunas.

Check out this video by KGTropicals, I think it is the best Mbuna setup I've ever seen:

Also check out the videos by the CichlidBros. They have a lot of great videos on aggressive colorful African cichlids.

 

[Irecruitfish]

Everyone is always in awe of an arowana

 

[Omrit]

Funny, I'm just the opposite.
When I see people with designer colored oscars, or even arowana, I tend to think "everybody has those" (what's the point?)
And when I see Franken fish like BPs and short body and other deformed cichlids, my reaction, is "you might as well keep goldfish, rather than subject cichlids to the same abuse goldfish have been subjected to for thousands of years.
Back when goldfish were developed, the only way to see fish in ponds was to torque out shapes, and have enough color to see them from above.

What size are your fish now.
I've had beautiful Paratilapia hit almost 15"
View attachment 1536689
The one below was only half grown when the pic was taken.
View attachment 1536690
And severums and chocolates get as big as dinner plate, as adults.

I think my starry night cichlid is very beautiful. I love my chocolate cichlid as well, but to the mind of people who love red parrot cichlids they aren't anything special. I also think it is a "framing" issue, they just don't stand out among grey/brown fish the way they do among more colorful species or by themselves.

Ideally I want to add something that really stands out. I actually went to the fish store today and did the exact opposite despite posting this thread. I brought home an all black catfish(black lancer) much to everyone's dismay. I think it is awesome looking but not to the eyes of a non-fish fanatic I reckon.

The short body fish I don't really have anything against, but I think they aren't classy hence I didn't cave and add them yet. I feel my current fish are "classy" and the short body fish are just goofy.

Just saying, you can't go wrong with a school of colorful Discus with some cories, dithers and maybe a few other fish. With the mention that the tank is tall and long...I mean thats the perfect discus (or angelfish) tank. Plus, you can have some fun with unique aquascaping.

If you want to do a more active tank, depending on how hard your water is, a massive yellow lab tank could also work. Stack up some serious rock work and make plenty of hiding holes for the mbunas.

Check out this video by KGTropicals, I think it is the best Mbuna setup I've ever seen:

Also check out the videos by the CichlidBros. They have a lot of great videos on aggressive colorful African cichlids.

My water is a little on the hard side, but the real issue with discuss is I live next to the railroad. When the trains come by it makes Discuss pop around because they are so jumpy, only fish I have ever seen have this problem. Besides I ideally I want something to add to my current set-up although I am kind of open to totally new suggestions.

 

[Deadeye]

Have you thought of any types of dither fish?
Something smaller and colorful will catch the eye of the observers while you get to keep looking at your favorites.
Just curious, what’s the tank scape like? Sometimes all it takes is the right setup to make even drab fish look good.

 

[Kayden]

For a tank that size you pretty much have two options to impress the uninitiated. I think the most impressive tall tanks o see are planted with altum angels or discus. Pretty much anyone can appreciate the color and beauty.
the second one i find is a crowd pleaser is a pair of large, hyper aggressive “wet pet” cichlids. My choice would be some jags or festae. But you can go with any large cichlid and people will be so impressed the fish follows their finger. And especially enthralled when they breed.
At the end of the day tho we set up our tanks for our own enjoyment. So don’t base your dish choice of what someone else is telling you is cool or even what is popular or rare. One of my favorite tanks is choc full of ugly mutt livebearers. It’s all down to personal preference

 

[Omrit]

Have you thought of any types of dither fish?
Something smaller and colorful will catch the eye of the observers while you get to keep looking at your favorites.
Just curious, what’s the tank scape like? Sometimes all it takes is the right setup to make even drab fish look good.

Example of a colorful dither fish that a large chocolate cichlid can't swallow?

For a tank that size you pretty much have two options to impress the uninitiated. I think the most impressive tall tanks o see are planted with altum angels or discus. Pretty much anyone can appreciate the color and beauty.
the second one i find is a crowd pleaser is a pair of large, hyper aggressive “wet pet” cichlids. My choice would be some jags or festae. But you can go with any large cichlid and people will be so impressed the fish follows their finger. And especially enthralled when they breed.
At the end of the day tho we set up our tanks for our own enjoyment. So don’t base your dish choice of what someone else is telling you is cool or even what is popular or rare. One of my favorite tanks is choc full of ugly mutt livebearers. It’s all down to personal preference

The tank is for my own enjoyment, but at the same time it takes up 1/4th of the room and I do share the house with others so them at least somewhat liking it is important to me.

I love Festae, but two fish in a 300 gallon is not what I am looking for right now.

 

[Deadeye]

Example of a colorful dither fish that a large chocolate cichlid can't swallow?


The tank is for my own enjoyment, but at the same time it takes up 1/4th of the room and I do share the house with others so them at least somewhat liking it is important to me.

I love Festae, but two fish in a 300 gallon is not what I am looking for right now.

Larger rainbowfish like bosemani maybe?

 

[FINWIN]

My tank has unusual dimensions being tall but only 6 feet long. Because of this I felt a little hesitant about adding many popular monster fish since the advise with those is usually "at least 8 feet of space".

Currently I have a rainbow wolf fish, chocolate cichlid, starry night cichlid, severums, silver dollars, and a few other smaller cichlids. People see my tank and are definitely not impressed usually asking where my oscars, peacock bass, and arrowanna ect are at. My family thinks the fish are lame as well and want me to buy stuff like parrot cichlids not the true parrots but the man-made ones with the weird mouths and they generally like the short-body fish or colorful fish.

I also found my tank dull, but I thought the fish getting bigger would change things. Even with some of my fish having come into their adult colors (and having a larger size of course) , I must admit the stock is on the boring side. My fish have subtle beauty that I do appreciate, but I also understand my families criticism that the tank is boring especially to the eyes of a non-fish lover.

I currently have a fire eel growing in another tank that I plan to add later. I was thinking maybe a larger pike cichlid would be good too, but the last pikes I ordered turned out to be a species of dwarf pike so I am a bit hesitant to order more.

Starting to think I should re-home some of my stock and switch to a central american focused set-up, but I didn't go for them originally because I thought a 6 foot tank would be a bit cramped for the big pretty(and usually mean) central american species.


I am just conflicted so was hoping for some insight.

I'm a bit confuzzled...what exactly are you looking for in fish? Are you getting a setup for yourself or based off other people's opinions? I'd say think about your own preferences. Do you like all bottom dwellers? Or surface? A combination of all levels?

Types of fish you gravitate to
Thick/chunky
Long/Lean
aggressive or not?
Dither type or wet pet?

Also background, substrate and decor can enhance or minimize colors in fish!

Everyone has different tastes in fish, that's what keeps the hobby interesting and alive. It's YOUR tank. Don't be overly concerned with what others like or don't like.