resetting up 150g tank

[slacker88313]

hello all, I haven't been on this site for the past 3 or 4 years now. I moved into an apartment that didn't allow fish tanks, and now that I've moving into a new house, I will be able to set up my 150g tank again after all this time.

I am torn between how I want to set up the tank and I'm seeking input, suggestions, and opinions. I want to have the tank be relatively low maintenance (i.e. no saltwater, no daily cleanings), with no live plants, and I don't want to use my high power fluorescents. I already have all of the filters and pumps and lights and test kits and whatnot needed for a 150 gallon, although I'm sure the test kits might have expired by now. But I won't set the tank up until August so I have plenty of time to decide what to do.

My first choice would be to set up the tank with clown loaches. I've had them before and really enjoyed their activity level and personalities. If I got loaches, how many should I get (8-10?), and should I keep other fish with them?

My second choice would be a pure rock and cave environment, with only African cichlids. I don't know much about the compatibility of the different cichlids, so I wouldn't know necessarily which ones to get. I have my eye on the kribensis chichlids. My fiance and I like cichlids for their color and variety, and because their environment doesn't require any live plants or the like.

Input?

 

[HEADIN]

Wow with a tank that size u could house almost anything. Ur options are endless.

Wat sort of dimensions is it? What a focal point that will be once you have it up and running.

If you are kribs and dwarf cichlids in general you could really go to town and get a good variety of diff species.

 

[nanu156]

Cichlids I like cichlids.

Ok so here is the low down on cichlids, if you go regular african you are pretty easy to stock in a tank that size they like crowding and if you figure 2-3 fish per gallon holy heck you could easily house 50-75 fish!!!

They are hardy, but are sort of aggressive, well no they are aggressive that being said with that kind of numbers (50 fish) some weaker fish will get picked off.

Kribs are sweet, as are rams and a few other cichlids that are primarily community fish. However it sounds like you want variety so I would suggest going with mumba and haps.

Really what you get will be closely related to what you can find at least initially, the only readily available species of African i would not suggest are kenyi, they are just too aggressive.... Way too mean... wish i didn't have them in my tanks to be honest.

 

[Dan Steveo]

Agreed with nanu, cichlids can be very rewarding in activity and colour.

 

[nanu156]

I mean they aren't the only option and are tricky on the aggression side but yeah you can do so much with that tank. But yeah africans rock google the fish on my stocking list there are some cool ones to start out with.

 

[misterking]

If you wanted, you could do clown loaches with kribensis, just be sure to provide hiding places. Clowns do like plants in the aquarium however and tend to be easily stressed without, have you considered artificial?

You could do something awesome and moody with this tank.. I'm picturing lots of wood and branches, sand substrate, big shoal of congo tetras, a few kribensis and the clowns.. would be awesome. You do have almost endless possibilities with a tank that size and I'm very very jealous.

 

[slacker88313]

Thanks for the inputs, its given me some things to think about.

If I do go with loaches, I will use artificial plants in the tank, with lots of caves for them to hide in. I have experience with loaches, and know what to expect with them.
I really don't have any experience with cichlids, and will have to read more about them over the coming months. We aren't setting up the tank until August, after we get settled into our new house.

 

[nanu156]

basically the key with cichlids is hiding places (although they only hide when they are being perused) good food and a PH over 7. They like it around 8 (crushed coral helps buff the water if you are advanced enough to mess with PH) but honestly tap water in most places will do just fine.

you should check out a cichlid club. here is what i could find online I would contact the guppy people betcha they can point you in the right direction for the cichlid or general tropical club

Local Aquarium Club Directory

clubs are a great place to buy awesome livestock.