Stocking a 160G tank. <First post>

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Ashwin1224

Gambusia
MFK Member
Nov 8, 2011
10
0
16
India
Hi all,

This is my first post here :)
I have been into aquariums since I was 12. Started with a wierd triangle tank, and now I have 5 tanks including a marine tank. I had this particular 160G tank for the past 8 years and it is my largest tank. Earlier it had the regular stuff guppies, angels etc. I started getting into advanced fish keeping with the small tank away from this living room giant, almost ignoring it coz I was partly afraid of it. Now after gaining some experience and motivation from the smaller tanks, I want to do justice to this tank. The dimensions are 66"x19"x30" [L B H].

I am basically alien to keeping monster fish, the largest fish I ever had were 2 Pacus in the same tank and they measured 16" and 18" each. They were great but got too big even for this tank. Since then its largest inhabitant is a 8" pleco. Currently I am smitten by Midas Cichlid,Jaguar Cichlid,TSN, Gars, Oscars, RTC and Bichirs. I am well aware of the oscar, but I have serious doubt if there will be enough accommodation for the others.

Can someone tell me some monsters I can start with?
And, what would be the problems if I keep the above?

Thanx:)
 
If it were me I'd go with a either pair of jags or Midas and some bichirs to fill out the bottom. Im partial to jaguars but that's just personal preference. Oscars will grow large and fast. Once the bichir can fit in the oscars mouth it will be lunch. Red tail cat will out grow that tank just as the pacu's did. Adult RTC can grow around 4 feet if in not mistaken. As for keeping all of the above. If you got them all very small it would work for a little while until things started to mature. The cichlids would fight for territory as they got larger and either the oscar or RTC would end up eating the bichirs.
 
Thanx for the reply :)
I dont want to keep all of them at once, rather I was interested in keeping something from the ones I mentioned. Ho fast do the bichirs grow?
 
Would depend on which species you go with.
 
Ok, which is the fastest growing variety?
I think the senegal is usually available with my LFS.
Also, you have a brandtii in a 10G, is it a growout tank?
 
In my tanks my delhezi and ornates grew a lot faster than my senegals bichirs.

The brandtii is actually in a 40G breeder now. I've haven't updated my sig in awhile.
 
Well then I am thinking of going with a pair of jags, and 2-3 bichir.Not final though
Is there any fish that would grow on in pace with the oscars, that I should check out?
Because I am not particularly fond of bichirs. I would get oscars at around 2".
 
Have you herd of Jack Dempsey's? you could get 2 Oscars and 2 jack Dempsey's. Just watch for aggression though.

If you want jags a pair of jags and a common pleco would max it out. I do not know much about bicher's tough. I do know that they are thin and eal shaped. So bichers would probably be eaten by large cichlids. correct me if I am wrong.
 
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