Starting a New Tank

[zhasan]

Hi Everyone!!

I'm planning to keep mini-monster 90 gallon tank.


Here is the plan:

Substrate: White pool filter sand from Langley By-Water Very thin layer of it.. basically to just cover the bottom.

Filter: 1 Fluval 404 or 2 Fluval 403s - Gimme your suggestion as to what would be a better option. I don't wanna run 2 filter and waste electricity if there is no need.

Heater: 300 watt Eheim? Jagger

Standard T8 light fixture to go on top.

Livestock:

Here is where I'm very confused and decide on something new everyday...

The idea of starting this tank came to me due to an urge of wanting to keep Oscars. Then I wanted to keep some other fish with them. So now here is all that I want to keep but I know I can't keep all of them as Oscars will get big and might want to have a go at some of these.

1 Albino Oscar - small one about 2 inches
1 Tiger Oscar - small one about 2 inches
1 Silver Arowana - Small one
1 Datnoid - don't know what kind... smaller one
2 Peacock bass - small ones
1 Ghost Knife - 2-3 inches
4-6 Geophagus tapakos or altifrons
1 Bala Shark
1 Catfish - don't know much about them... still gotta look for one that may go well with the rest of the stock. maybe you guys can suggest? I've seen some in pics and vids but don't know there names or how much they cost n stuff.

I know thats a lot of fish that I want in there and they are all going to get big soon and grow out of this tank.. I don't know how long it'll take... but I do plan on upgrading to a bigger tank maybe 200-300 gallon in the future say about a year or two maximum.

I want to keep it low maintenance as well. By low maintenance I mean water changed twice or thrice a month. Does that mean I should have very limited stock or just have it over filtered?

Thanks for everyones advice in advance! Looking forward to reading your posts.

I'll be starting up a journal on this tank as soon as I find some time.

Thanks, Zee.

[mikebike]

With that number of fish and the fact that they will grow large I'm going to suggest a Fluval FX5 filter.

Over filtering is a good idea if you don't want to do weekly water changes.

[Elle]

Bala sharks need to be in a school of at least 3, so I would either up the number and have fewer of another fish, or pick another species. I have featherfin cats with my oscars and they do fine as long as they are large enough that the O's don't try to eat them.

Overfiltering x2. Oscars are pigs. You can't get away with 2-3x/month water changes on a tank like you're suggesting. If you want to minimize water changes, I would do a sump setup or even run 2 canisters.

[zhasan]

Hmm, so If I were to add these fish now and say Oscars in a couple of months time then the problem with Oscar's aggression can be limited to an extent right.

Also would 1 fx5 be not equivalent to two 403s? or even a 404 + 403? or should I consider getting rid of these canisters and getting on e fx5? And so If I have this over filtration then I could get away with a 50% water change every 10 days?

[tang daddy]

I would say it all depends on the size of fish and bioload, I would go with an fx5 forsure, bi weekly waterchanges should be fine if the fish are smaller. Also don't go and add 5 fish at a time, I would add them slowly like 1 a month.

[charles]

in a 90 gallon, with the stock list you provided, you will run into trouble even with a FX5 in a 90g.

[April]

I agree. I think you'd have to do a wc every few days and be very careful getting your bio going well with alot of aggressive eaters and poopers. Also...oscars can get runted fast if not fed well and clean water.
Also why buy a 90 and then have to buy a. Bigger tank down the road. Maybe start with a few fish and see how it goes and add more if and when you get your new tank alot of times what happens is people can't afford to upgrade when the time comes...then the filter doesn't keep up...you get a crash. Or w.h.y. And trouble.
Even 5 oscars in a 90 is a load once they grow.



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[zhasan]

Okay so after doing a bit more research and looking at requirements for each fish I'm thinking of dropping Oscars, bala shark and ghost knife all together.

Here is what I'm thinking of stocking in this tank.

1 Silver Arowana
1 Datnoid
2 Pbass
4 Geos
and maybe a pleco or a catfish..

I hope I can get away with 50% water changes every 10 days or weekly if I have to. I'm planning on running 2 304s that I have for now.... what do you guys think? Hopefully I can find a good deal on a FX5 and have that run on my tank.