stocking a 400g?

[Diogenes]

Hmmm 20 Square Feet of space. well since you are asking what we think...

Personally if I was doing what you are considering (And I might because I like any ideas that say Monster AND Piranha) I would start out with about 36 Pygocentrus nattereri Fry. and as they grow to adult, pull out any that have been damaged until I had a population of about 12. Might have to sell off a few, or pull out some breeding pairs if they form.

Raise them on Frozen, Pellet, Flake, and graduate up to prepared fillets. I wouldn't feed them live, ever. Once the matured fish were sizable enough, I would add in a very large school of young Tetras, such as Colombian tetras, Von Rio tetras, or Dwarf Red Eye Tetras. Something like 100 in the group.

I would do a sand bottom with an earth tone. Maybe some 3M Grade S Black, Brown, Tan, or Red. Plant the tank Heavily with Brazilian Elodea (Egeria densa). Some rooted, and some floating. Maybe a couple other floating plants, and some Crypts rooted on the bottom.

I'd light it with two Metal Halaids in very large reflectors. The plants chosen would be low light, but I would want the shimmer of the the light against the sufrace turbulence to show on the sandbed. Lots of driftwood with moss.

I just Watched the Planet Earth DVD a few days ago which documented Piranhas in the Wild. Stunning video captured.

Some videos you should watch are:

http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/piranha-feeding-frenzy-bbc-animals/14764679

http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/bathing-with-piranhas/16207123

http://www.mefeedia.com/entry/piranha-devours-a-duck/16207121

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sBWBYN5jvA&feature=player_embedded

woah dude. I'm just imagining that while I'm reading. That would be sublime.

have you guys thought about either purchasing or making a DIY 3D background?

http://www.aquascapeonline.com/prod...mazon Tree Aquarium Background&idCategory=411

I'm just curious because I've never had a tank that large, how do you do water changes on 400 gallons? I guess the bucket method would be out. How long does a python take?

How many S. Geryi could you keep in a 400g?

 

[dmopar74]

Wait... 4 feet wide or tall?

4' front to back, or it will be. right now its 4' tall, cool but useless for me.

woah dude. I'm just imagining that while I'm reading. That would be sublime.

have you guys thought about either purchasing or making a DIY 3D background?

http://www.aquascapeonline.com/prod...mazon Tree Aquarium Background&idCategory=411

I'm just curious because I've never had a tank that large, how do you do water changes on 400 gallons? I guess the bucket method would be out. How long does a python take?

How many S. Geryi could you keep in a 400g?

im going to run a drip system, no water changes. im tired of water changes

 

[Bderick67]

Footprint gets better when laid on it's side. I think you could go with a dozen RBPs. Make the tank planted with lots of folage and maybe you could get away with some small schooling tetras too.

that footprint screams rays and aros

Rays maybe, arowana well, no for the two Southies or African. Asian would be illegal. Jars, don't think you would want to take the chance with a ray. Maybe a lei though tank would be pretty short for a 30" fish.

 

[Diogenes]

I got an idea. How about 1 S. manuelli...

 

[gobucks1]

Personally, i wouldn't do P's in that kind of setup. The footprint just doesn't seem right for a shoal.

 

[dmopar74]

Personally, i wouldn't do P's in that kind of setup. The footprint just doesn't seem right for a shoal.

thats cool, but it shure a hell beats a 125 or a 180 that most people shove em in. yeah its 12" shorter in length, but its an additional 24-30" front to back and 33" tall, once im done with it. a tank im shure any P keeper would love to have for their fish. as the tank sits now it would be horrible though.

 

[jp80911]

my tank is 4'x4'x21" tall, a foot shorter on both length and height. square tank rocks man, it's very unique looking. you can have the tank planted, with lots of feeder/ ditchers (convicts, tetras, etc) and one monster rhom. it'll look bad ass.

 

[DarthRhom]

Find a 20"+ Rhom

 

[Diogenes]

If your going with the single serra idea then you buy the biggest S. manuelli you can find and grow it out in that thing. Nobody has grown a huge mannie in capitivity but a 400g might be big enough and you could still put tetras and stuff in there.

 

[jp80911]

yea, manuelli works too, just have to be careful with it since manuelli doesnt' handle stress very well and can just drop dead on you if too much stress from water parameter or other factors. not to discourage you but just gotta be careful.