What to house in cold water.

[Racersk]

My friend is getting his pond up and running, so I will be getting rid of quite the bioload, 3 huge Shubunkins, 9-10" each x3, and 2 smaller, but still big comets, @ 7-8". He isn't getting my bronze goldfish, and common pleco. This tank will be at or around 70*, so the pleco should/has been doing well.

Once I remove this load, I want to convert this into a predator tank for cold water. The goldfish aside, what species should I be looking at? I did find a bowfin type of fish that was marked as cold water, but I can't find info online for this species. If the Bowfin type fish is small enough, what do you think the chances are I can keep the one goldfish I have left in this tank?

I will be moving the other 2 pleco's I have into this tank eventually, and the goldfish to a pond, mine or my friends...so as long as whatever is in there doesn't actively attack plecos I'll be good.

Suggestions? Other than the 'Go fishing and stock your tank.' responses.

 

[Racersk]

Oh, it is a 90 gallon tank, 48x18x24 and 20" water depth using sand substrate.

 

[knifegill]

Bowfin is the king. Totally fine in a 90 for a few months at least. After that, you can just build an indoor pond.

But I also like our local green sunfish. Very aggressive and personable.

 

[Younglin]

I'm going fishing soon for my cold water tank. I think it would be awesome to have a tank of local caught fish.

 

[Racersk]

What size do the typical sunfish get? I want a monster minimum 10" fish, like your O Aaron..

 

[Racersk]

Also, Knifegill, what is the name of that fish At Petpourri in the back with the most aggressive fish, there are 2 separated in a 55 maybe that are marked as cold water. These are the fish I am looking at getting as long as they leave my pleco's alone...

 

[knifegill]

The rainbow wolves? I don't think they are coldwater.

Look into pumpkinseed sunfish, Shawn. Good heft and personality, best to get a small one and pellet train it early.

 

[warmouth]

Oh, it is a 90 gallon tank, 48x18x24 and 20" water depth using sand substrate.

If you get a green sunfish or Pumpkinseed, they get big enough you could also put a Stonecat or Yellow Bullhead in the tank with it or even put in some Golden Shiners or Yellow Perch as dither fish.

 

[Racersk]

I'm really considering the Bowfin idea, there are a few at the LFS in Everett, sure enough, all are in cold water. My one hangup is my pleco's. I have 3, 2 of which (11.5" common and 8-9" chocolate) are being housed in this tank, I want to leave them there, but this might be an issue with a 6"juvenile bowfin.

I need some real world experience with the species for sure. This tank will not get below 65* so my information I have researched indicates a compatible temprature range for larger plecos. Not ideal, but the best of the tanks available and Zeus (big plec)seems to be as active as always...not to sure of the current goldfish residing in his house currently but he's eating and pooing normally...

 

[Racersk]

Oh,knifegill, sunfish look too much like cichliads(sp?)...Not as impressive as your wild Oscar for sure(in your avatar, that is an 'O', right?).