150 gallon long

[Aaron]

A coworker offered to sell me his 150 gallon long setup for $200. I had a look at it and it seemed somewhat shallow it is about 6' long so obviously there isn't a whole lot for depth. I've been planning a cichlid setup for sometime and the price with stand and filters etc can't be beat but will the tank be o.k?

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I would think it would be fine. About how deep is it?

I'm sure a nice Tang community would be awesome! Have many shelldwellers, maybe some calvus, some Julis....fish that usually hang towards the bottem and are really rock dwellers.

Thats a great price though.

 

[Aaron]

I'm not sure on the exact depth since I didn't want to appear to scrutinize it too much I didn't bring a tape measure with me. I mainly gave it a quick once over for leaks or signs of patching (he is a coworker that doesn't mean I trust him 100% ) . It seemed as deep as a standard 20-gallon maybe an inch or so less. It would be ideal for Columbian sharks were I so inclined.


I'm not sure what to do with it yet. On the one hand Africans would be great but I'm also toying with the idea of apistos. I just don't know enough about dwarf cichlids to decide fully yet. I've heard that the dwarf species are territorial as well so if I go that way will I end up with an empty tank as a few fish stake out large pieces of territory?

 

[iridescentkid]

discus man awsome fish i got 1 last week there awsome man ill post pics soon

 

[Cichlid-Man]

Apistos are a thought. Since they do tend to like hanging near the bottem. They show off great color and are very cool fish. You could have a number of pairs in there at the same time and might even get to witness each protecting their broods from the others. Might be able to squeeze some top dwellers in also, maybe some cardinal tetras?

Discus would rather have the aquarium higher....or deeper. So i wouldn't shoot for that.

 

[iridescentkid]

ya oh and by the way c-man did i ever post pics of my new discus i bought???

 

[Cichlid-Man]

No you didn't, i always love to see discus pics

 

[SpanishGuy111]

Six feet long?

You want Severums.

18" of depth will be plenty. They get up to 12" and are one of the most gorgeous, intelligent fish imaginable. more beautiful than discus, more intelligent than oscars, more personable and affectionate than convicts. The best fish in the business.

I'd kill for the space for a pair.

If I were in your shoes I'd run to the store for them

 

[Aaron]

I don't really have the space to set this up either but how could I pass it up?!

Once I pick it up and get it cycled I'll worry more about what to put in it. It's funny how when I may finally have the chance to get a nice big setup I don't know the first place to begin.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

They get up to 12" and are one of the most gorgeous, intelligent fish imaginable. more beautiful than discus, more intelligent than oscars, more personable and affectionate than convicts. The best fish in the business.

Very much an opinion More beautiful than a disus?! :O :O

I wouldn't do anything like severums, disucs, or angels just because of the long tank and its not high. I think your apisto idea is a good one, maybe even some rams. Or a lake tang cichlid tank.

 

[Orion]

Tanganyikian setup. You could get away with a several interesting rock species, open sand dwellers, and probably even get some jumbo cyps to throw in there. It would make a very livley and beautiful setup. And 6 foot is a good amount of space to work with teritories too.

 

[Aaron]

Drat! My "better half" has vetoed my African tank suggestion! Orion's idea of rock species and sand caused a brilliant flash of inspiration in my mind, which as usual my woman shot down. Just like she shot down my idea to quit my office job and become a helicopter bush pilot. Lousy realistic women...

She is fully backing the apisto idea but wants to add our two firemouths and convict that we already have as well as a large school of neons (because they look cute) and a few more convicts. This seems to me like it could be some trouble but I have to live with her.

So will this work or are there any ideas for something similar that will not waste my money and appease the Mrs?

 

[blueturq]

DO NOT add the convicts and the firemouth with your Apisto's and neons, they will be destroyed. Your neons will be eaten too.

I am assuming that your wife isn't sadistic so i'm sure she'll understand

 

[Aaron]

Not sadistic but stubborn. She likes community tanks with lots of sparkle and action. She wants a huge school of neons darting from end to end with lots of plants and no imagination.

I prefer species tanks or biotopes right now I don't have either. If I could cook for myself this wouldn't even be an issue.

Maybe we could compromise and get dozens of neons and some piranhas? I think they inhabit the same region....

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I'd say its possible to have some apistos, convicts and firemouths. It is indeed a 150gal. Don't pack them in and i don't think you'd have a huge problem. Firemouths don't tend to be trouble makers anyway, unless picked on. Live, let live attitude. You convicts would prob. be your biggest problem as far as aggression.

What about rams, apistos, and maybe a few firemouths. Maybe some larger tetras? A couple fancy plecos would be cool also.

Or, if you want large schools of neons (i reccommend cardinals myself, they seem hardier and show more color, then just shoot for Rams, Apistos, and the tetras. And maybe a couple of fancy plecos. A large tank such as this would look awesome with lots of cardinals schooling around. Plus some Apistos poping in and out towards the bottem, flashing their colors. You could shoot for a few pairs of apistos.

 

[Aaron]

I'm not even going to mention cardinals to her. I am just plain sick of tetras! I'll buy the less hardy neons and after she is done scooping out the last one I'll speed on over to the lfs and buy something I like.

I don't really hate tetras I've just really fallen for cichlids. It's a way more interesting hobby when you have fish that seem to have some awareness that they exist. Watching my convict dig himself a home really sealed the deal for me.

 

[Desi]

I like your attitude Aaron. Thats why the platties in my mbuna tank are officially "ditthers" (truth is my cousin think they are "cute".... groan...).

If compromise fails and leads to aggresive negotiations; perhaps you can resort to putting your girlfriend in the tank.. with the piranhas.. lol (really; just a joke poeple I have nothing against Aaron or his partner)

 

[cbock]

Originally posted by Aaron
If I could cook for myself this wouldn't even be an issue.

a few weeks ago, i went thru a similiar thing with my wife over our new tank. at the time, i joked with her about the same thing.

this made my day!