Local Biotope Tank

[Daudzegier]

I plan on building a 125gallon biotope similar to that of the Upper Tennessee River, specifically around the Fort Loudon Dam area (Near Knoxville). My plans are to have a few Pumpkin Seed, Bluegill, Crappie, and one or three striper white bass. From what I understand though is that these fish are very messy. Unfourtunaly, these fish make tasty snacks out of most of the bottom feeders, like crawdads and snails that would help to keep everything clean and tidy (It's how the larger bream like pumpkinseed and bluegill got their nick name of "Shellcrackers".) Also, all the catfish that are local to the area grow up to average sizes of over 20 inches. I just can't bring myself to put a fish that needs to get that big in such a small aquarium. Does anyone have any insight on a bottom feeder that wont be turned into a snack by the all the fish I plan on having?

 

[WeeNe858]

put in lots of cover and vegitation dont over stock and keep the fishes well fed.. and give the craws a try... they ushually come out at night anyways... and as far as local fishes go..... catfish are the only bottom feeders i can think of

 

[dorkfish]

Lots of filtration, 50% weekly water changes, don't overfeed (weel atleast try not to) and again don't overstock. Should be fine.

 

[fballguy]

Sounds good, but I would leave out the bass.

Don't get crawfish either, they will get eaten. Crappies and bass especialy love crawfish.

I don't know if you have them where you are, but yellow bullheads are a native catfish that is small enough that you could do 1 or 2 in that tank.

 

[WeeNe858]

what type of filter do you plan to run?

 

[Daudzegier]

Yellow bullheads hmmm..... ill see if they are in the east tn area....

My filter i was planning was gonna be a masssive wet/dry i was gonna hand build out of a 30 gallon aquarium i have just stiing around from a disasterous atempt at my sisters snake.

 

[WeeNe858]

couple of tips..

make the filter pads accesible and cheap
lots of bioballs
strong pump

 

[slowlyburn]

What is that supposed to mean?

 

[BucJason]

crappies bluegills and bass ?? Hey !! You stole my idea :joke:

 

[Daudzegier]

Oh that brings up another question... is there a rule of thumb of how many gallons of bio balls tthat i need to use in my trickle filter? Like is it one gallon of bioballs for every 10 gallons of aquarium or something?