75 gallon stocking suggestions

[cpirnie3]

Hello boxers,

75gallontank004.jpg I recently picked up Donald's 75 gallon oceanic rr stand and canopy. I am going to paint the stand and canopy to better match my living room. And i need to give it a good vinegar bath to remove some of the salt, as I'm going to be doing freshwater. I'm going to be running a wet/dry with a good turnover, so I should be able to handle a pretty good fish load. So in the mean time, I'm trying to decide what to do with the tank. I've got a 29 gallon up and running with 6 congo tetras, 3 green corys, and a bristlenose pleco. I could add these fish to the new tank and add on, or I could keep the 29 as is, and take the 75 in a completely different direction. I'd like to keep fish in the tank that will not outgrow it as I'd like to keep these fish their whole lives. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[Airjammer]

Wild caught Geos!

[cpirnie3]

Wild caught Geos!

I see from your sig that you're thinking of geos for a 75. Do you have a geo hook up? Willing to share? :)

[Airjammer]

Extreme fish and pets usually has some good ones in for a reasonable price.... Or I could hook you up with plenty of red jewels!

[mnemenoi]

Do an oddball African riverine biotope

6-12 Congo Tetra
3-4 Ropefish
1 Elephantnose
3-4 African Butterfly fish
3-6 Cameron vampire shrimp
The list is really endless and could include
African Arowana, African Knifefish, African Barbs or Tetras, Ctenopomas...

[cpirnie3]

Extreme fish and pets usually has some good ones in for a reasonable price.... Or I could hook you up with plenty of red jewels!

Interesting. I've never been to Xtreme. Next time I'm in Htown, I'll have to stop by. And I may hit you up for some jewels in the future! Thanks! Also, how do you keep the jewels happy in large groups? I thought they were one of the most aggressive fw fish available.

[cpirnie3]

Do an oddball African riverine biotope

6-12 Congo Tetra
3-4 Ropefish
1 Elephantnose
3-4 African Butterfly fish
3-6 Cameron vampire shrimp
The list is really endless and could include
African Arowana, African Knifefish, African Barbs or Tetras, Ctenopomas...

Mnemenoi - thanks for the idea - it is very interesting and far from anything I've done in the past. I'm going to spend some time thinking on this one. Could be really cool if done right. I already have a bunch of driftwood. I've never run peat before, and i'm pretty sure I would need to for many of the fish you mentioned to keep the ph down and the tannins flowing. Have you ever used peat?

[Airjammer]

I keep the Jewels overstocked, so the can't breed. I haven't really had any aggression issues. I added a pair of Red top trewasse, and a pair of peacocks a week ago and no issues. I am planning on adding a bunch of other Malawi's, and removing those two pair, bit need my others to grow out a little more.

[Airjammer]

I have had a pair massacre a whole tank when they had fry. I thought I had all. Males, but one female slipped by

[cpirnie3]

I have had a pair massacre a whole tank when they had fry. I thought I had all. Males, but one female slipped by

Ouch! That would suck! So cool that you can make it work. Best of luck with the Malawis!

[mnemenoi]

Mnemenoi - thanks for the idea - it is very interesting and far from anything I've done in the past. I'm going to spend some time thinking on this one. Could be really cool if done right. I already have a bunch of driftwood. I've never run peat before, and i'm pretty sure I would need to for many of the fish you mentioned to keep the ph down and the tannins flowing. Have you ever used peat?

I have only used a PH reducing substrate before with distilled water (Brightwell Rio Escuro), but have plans on an Amazon Biotope with low light. I was pondering the idea of using peat and exactly how it could be done without being terribly messy and realized Eheim makes a peat filter media. Its not too overpriced ($10) and I think using that in combination with driftwood and distilled/RO water should achieve the effect without the hassle of bagging peat in the filter. I myself like the idea of a heavily tannined Amazon biotope, but I'm sure that purigen would knock out the coloring in the water if you preffered.

[cpirnie3]

Mnemenoi, thanks for your reply. I like the idea but I don't know if I can swing the distilled water or RO water. Not to mention buying the peat over and over. Although the eheim packaging is tempting. I could still rock the rope fish as they like the 8ish ph that we have. I like them and actually had one in one of my first tanks as a boy. I showed my wife a pic of one last night and she made a stink face. Lol. So we will see.

Any other suggestions boxers?

[cpirnie3]

I like clown loaches, but they will outgrow the tank. I was also thinking african cichlids, but I don't want a cookie cutter tank. Any thoughts?

[Airjammer]

I think you could do an all male peacock tank and not be "cookie cutter". Would make a beautiful show tank. Whatever males you happy is most important. Just my $.02

[Airjammer]

*makes