Large Tank Planning

[TetraBotia]

We will be adding on to our house, hopefully, in the next 18 mos. I am hoping to add an in wall monster tank- 250-330 gallons- with a service room (about the size of a hallway) behind it.

For the most part, I have the thing mapped out in my head. It will be a continuation of the same fish I have worked on getting to know over the last 8 years- mostly American Characins and Botia, some other loaches, some oddballs here and there (bamboo shrimp, hillstream loaches, pygmy frogs, Amano Shrimp) some corys, True SAE, etc...

I have been trying to decide what "large" fish to put in the tank, that "fit". Keep in mind, heavily planted.

Discus are probably not going to work, as much as I would like to do that. I don't think I can run the temp up as high as they like without affecting some of my more unique fish (hillstreams for example)...

So - I consider Gourami's, maybe... I was hoping for something bigger than the main population of Tertra's, but peaceful (won't eat my fish)... My experience with Gourami's has been that they can be testy.

So- any ideas on this, and other big fish (Silver Dollars?) that would work...??? Looking for not only suggestions but some personal experience here and there too.

I was thinking maybe 4-6 pairs of mated Gourami's... or just 4-6 males of different species so I don't have the mating fights...

Ideas? Tips? Other fish? Or- is anyone doing Discus with great color and health at around 76 degrees F and intense lighting? I may/probably will be able to provide some shaded areas...

 

[Roan Art]

If you want some dollarish big fish, you could take a look at the Red Hook "Silver Dollar" Myleus rubripinnis which grows about 8". In your tank it might go 12"+. Have to make sure you get the right ones, though.

Just a thought, but I had envisioned at some point having a huge tank like that with with brackish Mono Argentus and Mono Sebae as the center pieces with some other compatible brackish types. Could do a LARGE mangrove root decor with rocks and stuffs.

Just a thought.

Roan

 

[TetraBotia]

Could do a LARGE mangrove root decor with rocks and stuffs.

Just a thought.

Roan

Definitely going to have a stump/root appear as it is in a bank... other big rocks, and good peices of African Driftwood. The bottom will be far from flat, and I am going to probably spend a week or two working on the aquascape layout before water even goes in it, then another 2-4 weeks rapid cycling the thing and putting in plants... I want it to appear as though you are looking from underwater at a streambed and bank...

I just can't wait to someday have truly large shoals of fish... I hope to have 150-200 neons alone.

 

[Roan Art]

Geez, that would be awesome.

I really really wish there was an Aquascaping Designer program out there -- like the gardening ones? But tailored to fresh and marine -- different lighting so you can see which effect you like the most, different substrates, plants compatibility, fish etc.,.

My programming sucks or I'd take a wack at it. Someone code this

Roan