Empty 135.... what to stock with??

picked up a 135 in cl couple weeks ago for a whopping 65$ and should be setting it up soon and am conflicted on what to put in it. i have my devil group in hopes for a pair, zonatums, or red isletas, im really thinking about growing a dovii pair or getting some cichla to grow out in there. both of those will need bigger tanks down the road but kinda tempted. really lookiong for a pair of larger ca/sa cichlids. very undecided here

Step out of the box and go with African cichlids. Dare to be different!

I like the idea of the dovii, but it seems you would be in the same boat you were in with the umbee. You just dont have a dedicated tank for a monster pair like that. And with cichla, again a huge tank is required.

I love the RD's, I could see those being a cool breeding project, though the young are not very expensive, so more for fun than a money maker.

Some of the large pike are cool. Seems to be more interest in things like bocourti and pearsei out there also. How about Argentea? Cool breeding project and the babies are pretty expensive normally.

But whatever you decide DO NOT STEP OUTSIDE THE BOX! NO AFRICANS!

DMD123 wrote:I like the idea of the dovii, but it seems you would be in the same boat you were in with the umbee. You just dont have a dedicated tank for a monster pair like that. And with cichla, again a huge tank is required.

I love the RD's, I could see those being a cool breeding project, though the young are not very expensive, so more for fun than a money maker.

Some of the large pike are cool. Seems to be more interest in things like bocourti and pearsei out there also. How about Argentea? Cool breeding project and the babies are pretty expensive normally.

But whatever you decide DO NOT STEP OUTSIDE THE BOX! NO AFRICANS!

true about the dovii and pbass. i got rid of the umbee cause the jags needed a bigger tank and the umbee was just the odd man out really atfter failing at breeding him. the great thing about doviis is they usually have great pair bonds and i would have a year plus to upgrade them and i do have the tank to put them in till they get 18-20 in my 240 if i dont get a larger tank in the next year or so. im leaning about 70% dovii and 30% something from my current pair projects. shoulldnt have taken back the last dovii i had

Dumb ***.

You have lots of time. I bought my female Gold Dovii the Winter of 2010 and she is still only 6". The male I bought from Rapps March 2011 @ 4". He is now about 7". So you have time.

Oh and by the way, I know of a guy with a stunning male and female that have 1/2" fry at the moment.

i was gonna ask if the fry from yours survived. you may have just made my decision for me. would love to grow some from little fry. hmmmmm.

Dorks!






















I kid!!

JimA wrote: Dorks!

I kid!!

We know you do, as do we. Someday I will have some Af tanks. I really want a big Front tank, and when I am ready I will have to do loads of research on them and the different variants, and go from there. Someday . But until then, Im staying in the box.

Speaking of thinking outside the box....
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

so i think i made a decision. Im gonna put the freds in the new tank and move the isletas in the 240 causr the freds spawning are causing trouble and that will give me an amphilophus community in the 240 and the zos can have the 75.

heres a pic of the tank. moved the devil group in the new tank and looks great so far

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Like the wood and I like the rock but you got to be able to come up with something better than a chunk of cinder block for a cave!!

heres my inspiration for the cinder block

Guess it works if your going for that whole South end of Lake Washington look.

JimA wrote: Guess it works if your going for that whole South end of Lake Washington look.

Looks good....except the cinderblock. It's good you want to give caves, & your inspiration is nice, it's more about the shape of the cinderblock that detract from the attractiveness of the tank. Anyhow, keep up the good work!

It really is difficult to find good aquarium decor that is scaled for larger fish. At times I feel like it would be a good business to create nice large scale decor that looks realistic.

There is a place by me called Tacoma Boys. They sell all kinds of pots and lawn deco that would look great in a large aquarium for large fish. Unfortunately spending $300 on a 20" pot or decoration, is a bit outrageous.

that is outragous...

though you have me thinking of someone's live rock diy i read a while ago (pretty sure it was on here). if you want to get crafty - make a frame in the shape you'd like (wood? plastic?) and use a mix similar (if not the same recipe) and assemble in a paper mache like manner to make your large fish cave. has the benefit of being exactly what you want, though i have no idea about cost effectiveness.

Just got an idea to put an old tire in my tank... maybe a boot too!

no trash lake tanks!!