Options for 150g rebuild

[WhistlingBadger]

Hey, kids. We're coming into year four on the rainbow tank build, and the clients are ready for something new. So, I'm planning on rebuilding this summer. It's a 150 gallon with great lighting and filtration. The clients asked me to give them about five options to choose from, and in a tank this size, the sky's the limit. The only real caveat is that our town has very soft but slightly alkaline water, so I don't want to go with hard-water options. Constantly goofing with water chemistry is too much work for a tank I don't live with.

Here's what I'm thinking.

Option 1: Keep the same basic stocking (assorted rainbows, emerald brochis, panda garra, zebra loach, one or two other things; see link in my sig) but rebuild with new substrate and less venerable plants. My least favorite option, as I really like trying new things, but sometimes you stick to the devil you know. This setup works, and it has made lots and lots and lots of people happy over the years, so if they want to keep it I'm good with that.

Option 2: Cool-water, Wyoming native/semi-native. A tank this size could easily accommodate a school of bluegills or pumpkinseeds as centerpiece, filled out with some native minnows and bottom feeders. We could even house a few young trout if they want to spring for a chiller.

Option 3: South America. School of angelfish, a couple kinds of medium-ish tetras, lots of ottos, cories, maybe a pair if bristlenose and rams on the bottom.

Option 4: Southeast Asia. Moonlight gouramis and/or snakeskin gouramis; a couple types of barbs/rasboras; two-spotted cats; panda garra.

Option 5: Central Africa. I am just beginning to research this region, but the Congo/Stanley pool waters house some truly amazing-looking fish.

Option 6: Softwater community combining any of the above, choosing for beauty and behavioral compatibility rather than region of the world.

Option 7: Large and/or predatory fish. I always prefer a bunch of small-medium fish to a few big ones, but I must admit that keeping a few chompies would be fun.

Oops, that seven options, and I haven't even thought about it that hard yet. See my problem? So what do you think? If you had a 150 to stock and someone else was footing the bill, what would YOU do?

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I think kids (I think I remember you saying this was in a doctor office?) would enjoy option #1 the most. However, the native Wyoming option sounds really cool. (#2)

 

[AquaBarb]

#6 for me because it was to hard to choose from #3 #4 and #5

You did a great job with the Rainbow tank so ill be interested to see what you come up with this time around

Keep us updated

 

[OliveFish05]

Any one of those options sounds AWESOME. Personally, if it were my tank, A South American Discus tank would be what I would do, but angel fish would look nice too, probably easier to care for as I have heard discus are more advanced. My favorite kind of tank is one where there is activity on all levels, such as Cories on the bottom, tetras in the middle, hatchetfish on the top, and then an attention grabbing centerpiece fish like discus or angel fish, or in my case I got an Electric Blue Acara.

 

[Boundava]

Option 4 (from experience, lol) will be active and engaging. Gourami are curious and personable. Add some large botia loaches and a school of larger rasbora, danio or barbs. You can do all female to cut down on agression.

 

[itiwhetu]

The Severum tank I had in a restaurant was a big hit because you don't need to get close to it to see the fish and it is low maintenance, Severums aren't fussy.

Severums having fun

This is mum dad and the kids. This was a 250 liter tank the Severums spawned multiple times and always managed to raise a few. When I sold the set up there were 30 Severums plus the two Jewel Cichlids you can see in the photo.

www.fishforums.net

 

[madmark285]

For the native or large predatory tank, will feeding be an issue?

I agree with itiwhetu, you can see large fish from a distance. I like the idea of a school of Angels, they look very majestic while swimming together.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I really like the look of severums. But I read that they dig a lot and eat plants. True? Those would both be deal-breakers for me.

@madmark285 and @Boundava I agree that a school of angelfish or large gouramis cruising around would be very relaxing and beautiful. I'll probably pitch those options hardest.

 

[Fishfinder1973]

The native option for me.

 

[Boundava]

I really like the look of severums. But I read that they dig a lot and eat plants. True? Those would both be deal-breakers for me.

@madmark285 and @Boundava I agree that a school of angelfish or large gouramis cruising around would be very relaxing and beautiful. I'll probably pitch those options hardest.

Well if you need to sell the gouramis feel free to use my videos.

 

[itiwhetu]

I really like the look of severums. But I read that they dig a lot and eat plants. True? Those would both be deal-breakers for me.

@madmark285 and @Boundava I agree that a school of angelfish or large gouramis cruising around would be very relaxing and beautiful. I'll probably pitch those options hardest.

Severums like to move things around to suit themselves. I had a pair that moved a rock that was about 2kg from one end of the tank to the other, when I put it back they moved it again. I then left it where they wanted it. They will dig a bit, that is kind of fun really. As for plants, I grew giant Val along the back wall behind rocks to big for them to move, they were happy with that, and would only chew off pieces that annoyed them. Severums have real personality, like Oscars but only half as aggressive.

 

[Wills]

5 for me if you're not paying for the fish go for some Schoudenti Puffers, few types of Congo Tetra - there are the regular ones and also some called Golden Congos I've seen around as well which are stunning and a red type too. Some Synodontis Catfish for the bottom and maybe some of the smaller African Headstanders?

Wills

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Thanks for the input, everybody. I'm going to give the dentist my original options and let her decide. I'll let you know what happens.