Fish For My 200g?

Hey,
Are discus hard to care for?
 
Kinda. They require very specific water conditions. I think there a Beginers Discus article stickied somehwere around here....
 
The discus is 2nd best idea next to my aro idea lol. They require very frequent water changes of large quantities so if you are willing to do that make sure you have a python to make your life easier. Also EXTREME filtration. I've never had them and this is why. Arowana also needs real clean water, one time I slumped a bit on doing water changed for a few weeks and it hid on the bottom all the time. no later than five mins after i changed the water was he back up there. I have heard conflicting reports of putting arowana with an oscar, arowana are really a rather peaceful fish that do not like to be stressed out much and an oscar being a cichlid is by nature a little more aggresive or territorial. Some plants that would be good for a SA Bio would be swords you could get some awesome looking swords because size of the tank wouldnt really be as much of a limiting factor... i'll look into that some more and get back with ya
 
Hey,
Thanks, are saratoga related to arowanas? cause we can get them but they pricey, bout $300au for one bout 40cm.
 
Discus do need frequent w/c's, but with that large of a tank and a good wet/dry added on to it...you can get away with w/c's once a week. Just stock no more than 20 discus in there and you will be fine. The secret for longer time between w/c's are #1 a good filter...such as a wet/dry, #2 normal stocking densities of 1 fish per 10 gallon rule, #3 a pH at 7 or below...when the pH is below 7, discus can go a little longer without a w/c. Discus really arent that hard. I mean, my first fish ever were discus and I havent killed one yet, lol. Besides, when they get to adult size, they would look impressive in a large tank like that. PM me if you want more suggestions/help in deciding to go with discus.

-Ryan
 
Arowanas are very cool but you probably won't be able to keep in a 200 for more than a year or two, i would think. Depends on the type. My friend had a silver, and it was really cool, but it went from 4" to about 9" in like 6 months. They have one at the New England Aquarium thats over 4' long. They get enormous. The asians stay smaller and are much cooler looking, but they still get 3-4' long. Way too big for a 6' tank, IMO.

As far as the oscars go...that silver, when it was small, started off with 4 oscars, about 2" each. They were like a little wolfpack, they'd prowl around and beat up anything that moved. The arowana was quick but it had a lot of nipped fins, and a few missing scales from jumping into the hood. I finally got him to get rid of the oscars and the aro was much happier.
 
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Asian Aros do not grow 4' you information is incorrect I believe. Im pretty sure that the only arowana capable of reaching sizes like that of which it doesnt even happen much in captivity is the silver. Blacks dont even get as large as silvers. The recomended tank size for a silver arowana from most people on other forums specializing in predators is a 180g. A 200g would be plenty big enough. If you have ever had or watched an arowana for a while you would know they can practically bend their bodies in half. Silver arowanas grow REAL fast at the begining until they reach about 20 inches or so and than they dramatically slow down. Asians I believe I recal reading grow fast until they reach roughly 12"? I could be wrong and I will get back with you on that and how big asians get.
 
min size 6x2x2ft except a silver which will need 6x2.5x2.5ft min

saying the size in gallons is a waste of time as its the lenght and widths that counts
 
I have kept a silver aro in my house, the friend that owned one was my roommate. I realize they are flexible, just IMO I wouldn't want to keep a 3' fish in a 2 foot wide tank.
 
Hmmm well with this tank ive decided to go discus but ive been talking with friends who have built aquariums and im now savign to build a tank approximetly 6ft (L) x 4ft(H) x 2ft (W) it will fit very nicely in my lounge room along a certain wall.
 
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