Proposed 220 gallon stocking

[gm72]

Okay, so the tank is coming home today. Fishless cycle will take place then it's stocking time! Filtration will be a single Eheim 2260 to start with another added as the fish grow.

Definitely going in (already have them and they need a larger home)
2-gold tinfoil barbs
2-common pleco

Definitely want
1-oscar
1-leoporinus

Questioning
1-Jack Dempsey
More Tinfoil Barbs?

Any and all suggestion/comments/etc. are welcome!

[cocoa_pleco]

youre good with the JD and barbs.

just watch with the plecos, my leoporinus seems to like to go after my plecos eyes, he almost killed my first one but i bought a 6" one and he leaves it alone

[sailor]

How about a school of 6-8 larger size clown loaches? They look impressive in a school.

[Lady Hobbs]

:19: :19:

You have got to be about excited to death. I am excited for you!

[gm72]

I am completely excited, yes! I have the filter, heaters are on order, pool sand will be the substrate. I have two large pieces of driftwood that have been soaking for about 2 weeks to get rid of some of the tannins.

Cocoa, I'll watch the leoporinus. The leoporinus will be purchased at about 3" or so, the plecos are about 9" and 12".

So, what does everyone think about this stocking:
2 common plecos
2 gold tinfoil barbs
2 silver tinfoil barbs
1 oscar
1 Jack
1 leoporinus

Edit: Sailor, I do have 4 clown loaches in a 55 but they are likely stunted (early fish keeping mistake). Not looking to add more to a different tank, but I agree that they are beautiful in a large group.

[cocoa_pleco]

stock sounds fine.

my first pleco was 3" so that probably explained the eye picking, a 9" and 12" should be able to run away if the leoporinus attacks

[gm72]

The tank layout I have in my head will allow at least 3-4 good hiding spots for the plecos.

[cocoa_pleco]

sounds good, my current pleco stays safe under my driftwood and rocks, noone bugs him

[gm72]

One pleco I have makes his home in this giant penn plax brand castle I have in a 55. I'll move it down to the new tank for a few weeks when I move him just to decrease stress from the move but it will then be removed in favor of more natural decor.

[jbeining75]

You might wanna school those tinfoil gm they are schooling fish.....

And get a ladder and a wetsuit to clean the tank...lol

[cocoa_pleco]

a pair of tinfoils are fine, i have 2 in my 90g and theyre content with eachother

[gm72]

I know the tinfoils are schoolers. I do have a pair of golds now and they are very content. At one point I actually tried to add more and they killed the others outright.

[ruthlesskiller]

the layout sounds nice but your gona have a bit of prob cleanin the substrate, maybe u shd consider an undergravel filter?

[gm72]

Undergravel filters are really a thing of the past. They clog easily, are inefficient, and generally cause more problems than they solve. That being said however, thank you for the suggestion. You're right. Cleaning this beast will be a challenge.

If all goes according to plan there will be little vacuuming necessary. Substrate will be sand and the flow of water should push just about everything toward one of the sponge prefilters.

[ruthlesskiller]

i thought some waste will be on the substrate and "sink" ?the filter cant be THAT powerful can it?

[gm72]

With the use of sand there really isn't anywhere for the detritus to sink. It presents as a solid surface.

The filter is very powerful, an Eheim 2260. I will be supplementing with a power head if I don't get the desired effect.

[tropfish]

sounds good GM. Post lots of pics as you set it up, i can't wait to see it.

[sailor]

A well placed powerhead or two can take care of any dead spots.

[gm72]

That's what I'm thinking exactly.

I'll get some pictures up this weekend!

[jbeining75]

Yeah I'd stick with the ole trusty canister and powerhead trick. HOB's on the back if needed to increase flow........ Fluval FX5 is a great canister... I had that and two Aquaclear 110's running on my 220 in Hawaii..... Stay away from the undergravels you got the right idea gm......

[gm72]

I'm thinking I'll probably add a second canister as the fish grow. I want to stay away from HOBs on this tank just because I really want it as close to the wall as possible.

[Halelorf]

a second canister would be fine. I want to see some pics of this beast when it's up! thumbs2:

[Algenco]

have you considered USJ? under substrate jet, basically a grid of 1/2 pvc under the sand with 45 degree elbows strategically placed.
The output of the cannister is connected to the pvc , the resulting flow helps to keep detritus suspended until the filter can get it

[gm72]

That's a great idea, Gene, but with using sand as a substrate wouldn't it be a constant sand storm in the tank?

[Algenco]

That's a great idea, Gene, but with using sand as a substrate wouldn't it be a constant sand storm in the tank?

No, the elbows should just barely clear the sand. A lot of folks use them in Mbuna tanks with sand. I would use grade 20 pool sand though, it's larger grain than play sand.

You don't glue the pieces of pvc and the elbows can be turned to eliminate dead spots, you can insert short peices of pipe to clear the sand.

This will give you an idea, but I would do it "closed loop"

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[sailor]

There are a lot of different DIY USJ on line . I am definately do one when I eventually set up my 240 .