New 6Ft Tank, Finally.

[Brunell4070]

Many questions!

So, i finally got the 6ft 125us gallon tank, now have a lot of questions.. hah. I have never had a tank bigger than 55 gallons, and have never used a canister filter. Would one fx5 be able to handle this tank? will be stocked with messy CA/SA's. Of course it would be no big deal to throw 1-2 HOB's on the back.
Are canisters tough to set up? I mean i am no idiot, but are they easy to get the hang of? What about heating, does the 5w per gallon rule still exist?

I plan on using simple playsand as substrate, unless convinced otherwise. Still unsure if i want to try live plants of just get it over with and go with plastic. For driftwood, i live near a state park / great lake. Can i just take some pieces from there, clean, and boil them?

As for stocking. It is still a little up in the air. But it will be something like this.
1 Oscar
1 JD
1 Texas
1 Salvini
Convict Pair
6 SD's
Some type of bottom feeder.. need suggestions please.

Anything else i could put in? I know, that is pretty darn full.
I know there is a decent amount of aggression in the tank, but IME oscars and JDs arent so much aggressive, as they are defensive. The texas or salvini may antagonize a little bit, but with the other fish being much bigger than the salvini im hoping it wont do anything serious.

Well, i can't think of anything else off the top of my head, any advice appreciated.

 

[hihi100202]

common plec as the bottom feeder?

 

[Brunell4070]

rather not as they are pretty ugly, get huge, and produce a ton of waste.

 

[foley69]

common plecs don't get too big usually max out at a foot its the gibbiceps plecs that gets to around 2 foot as for bottom feeders why not bang a few pictus cats in or a decent syno such as synodontis angelicus they look top when they get to about 6" plus

 

[foley69]

You could also add a trio of geophagus sp. Tapajo's. Or daemons
Are probably some of the nicer ones

 

[Wills]

You could also add a trio of geophagus sp. Tapajo's. Or daemons
Are probably some of the nicer ones

I wouldnt but Geos in that mix, dont think they would be able to handle it. The only one that could work would be the Brazilinesis and even then Im not sure.

Im not too familiar with the fish you have listed, but what I do know is that all of them have a reputation of violence so maybe be careful with that. I think its mainly the Sal and the Tex that I look at and think hmmmm what can you put with them?

I would agree with the Synos and Plec suggestion. If you dont like commons there are tons of other ones that can work for your tank, how about something like an L14 (depending on your budget) - pretty awesome fish.

Also with the Cons I would consider putting in only one and try and get a male, if you get them from young and the cons start breeding they could easy take out other fish, Ive heard of them taking out adult oscars before as well. Though that said they are used as "dithers" for CA tanks quite often for things like the Tex and Sals.

Have you considered any of the slightly rarer CA cichlids? Just wondering because the ones you list are really common but there are some kind of alternatives to what you have listed that are a bit more special? Just a thought.

Wills

 

[Brunell4070]

Thanks for the suggestions, i will definitely look into those catfish. I have never had one, think they would be nice. As for the geo's, do you think they could possibly be bullied by the cichlids?

 

[BigFairy]

You may need to look at at least two externals.

I know my eheim 2228 pro is supposedly meant to be good enough for a 600l tank, but it struggles with my 5 foot 400 litre.

 

[Brunell4070]

You could also add a trio of geophagus sp. Tapajo's. Or daemons
Are probably some of the nicer ones

I wouldnt but Geos in that mix, dont think they would be able to handle it. The only one that could work would be the Brazilinesis and even then Im not sure.

Im not too familiar with the fish you have listed, but what I do know is that all of them have a reputation of violence so maybe be careful with that. I think its mainly the Sal and the Tex that I look at and think hmmmm what can you put with them?

I would agree with the Synos and Plec suggestion. If you dont like commons there are tons of other ones that can work for your tank, how about something like an L14 (depending on your budget) - pretty awesome fish.

Also with the Cons I would consider putting in only one and try and get a male, if you get them from young and the cons start breeding they could easy take out other fish, Ive heard of them taking out adult oscars before as well. Though that said they are used as "dithers" for CA tanks quite often for things like the Tex and Sals.

Have you considered any of the slightly rarer CA cichlids? Just wondering because the ones you list are really common but there are some kind of alternatives to what you have listed that are a bit more special? Just a thought.

Wills

Yah, i was actually thinking whether it would be possible to use like 6 jewels or 6 FM's as dithers for my CA/SA cichlids, just thought that'd be cool. just wishful thinking im sure sure.

But what special CA cichlids were you referring to?? I'm not familiar with them i suppose.. but definitely open to suggestions, i am no way stuck on that stocking list.

 

[holidayinn]

125 gallon, what are the dimensions?

 

[Brunell4070]

just the standard 6ft, 125 tank. if i remember correctly 72x18x24? dont quote me on that though.

 

[foley69]

tbh i woulnt worry about the geo's get them at a reasonable size in comparison to the other fish then you will be fine tapajo's would be best bet and get a group of at least 3 the more the merrier.

and a group of thorickthys ellioti would a better alternative to firemouths as they are a lot more stunning and harder to come by. Mine have just recently laid eggs so if they are ready by the time you begin to stock might be able to sort you out with a nice group of 6.

 

[holidayinn]

Nice size Tank!! The only thing that would be of slight concern, would be that the Oscar will grow much quicker then the other fish.

 

[Wills]

tbh i woulnt worry about the geo's get them at a reasonable size in comparison to the other fish then you will be fine tapajo's would be best bet and get a group of at least 3 the more the merrier.

and a group of thorickthys ellioti would a better alternative to firemouths as they are a lot more stunning and harder to come by. Mine have just recently laid eggs so if they are ready by the time you begin to stock might be able to sort you out with a nice group of 6.

I really have to disagree with getting redheads and mixing them with Texas and Salvini they will just get ripped to shreds. But the other CA I was talking about were things like Veijas there are quite a lot of them. Sajicas could do quite well in that community as well. As said with the ellioti they would be nice but not as dithers as they are not as tough as FMs T.Aureus could work in a similar way to the ellioti as well.

Have you looked at Green terrors? That could be quite nice

 

[foley69]

i will have to disagree with your disagreement as i have kept red heads quite happily with more aggresive cichlids for example a JD, a PAIR of convicts and there was no problem size wise they was all similar maybe give or take an inch.

most people disagree with putting the more aggressive cichlids with fairly peacful ones but each cichlid has its own personality so its hit and miss tbh.