Tank for a home daycare

[JASONW]

Greets all!

I am new to the forum but like it already.

I am setting up a home daycare for my wife and have purchased a 120 gal aquarium. I have hard well water and the 10 gal with 4 fish seem to do well. Alive more than 2 yrs.

I plan to do a freshwater setup and already have 4 plugins and a sink very near to the tank. I would like to do some plants with the fish but not sure which ones 1) would like the hard water and 2) which ones will not eat the other.

I have built a wall with a hole in it for the tank so all of the stuff like the filters and whatever is hidden.

I am looking for ideas......

Thanks all!!!
Jason

[cocoa_pleco]

hardy plants like java moss and java fern wont mind the hard water. as for fish, youre limited to cichlids and livebearers, unless you slowly acclimate other fish besides cichlids and livebearers in which you would be okay.

what substrate are you looking for?

[JASONW]

I kinda like the white stuff. Substrate is not my specialty. I dont like the standard aquarium gravel you find in the stores.

[Lady Hobbs]

I have hard water and have no problem keeping fish. My angels even spawn in this water every 3 weeks.

Lots of bogwood in the tank will help soften your water as well as running peat pellets thru the filter but it really depends on how hard the water is if it's even needed to be softened.

You should really get a test kit if you haven't one yet and do a test of your pH (and also hardness) to see what you have for sure. That will also determine what types of fish might be best for you to have. If you have a high pH (8+) you'd probably best get cichlids. Large cichlids will tear up plants but the smaller ones do fine in planted tanks.

I don't do too hot at keeping plants so will leave that area for someone who knows more about it.

[JASONW]

I would kinda like to stay away from cichlids. I bought one and it about killed a goldfish 3x it's size. It got moved to a different setup and picked on a channel cat and got eaten....

I like the color of cichlids but how do you deal with a bullie in a tank?

Good lesson for the kids....hehe

[*Sarah*]

I would kinda like to stay away from cichlids. I bought one and it about killed a goldfish 3x it's size. It got moved to a different setup and picked on a channel cat and got eaten....

I like the color of cichlids but how do you deal with a bullie in a tank?

Good lesson for the kids....hehe

There are some "Peaceful" cichlids out there, but usually it's best to keep Cichlids with Cichlids...that way they all bully eachother.

Here's a site with a lot of Cichlid info I've been reading up on:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

and an interesting compatibility chart:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

We're possibly going to make our 100 gal into a Cichlid tank:c3:

[kimmers318]

Since it sounds like this tank is going to be a centerpiece in a daycare setting may I suggest having at least a couple different types of fast active fish? I have some barbs in a 20 gal long and my nephew just loves their activity level....as does the new puppy! The older kids love to watch me feed my larger puffers, it never fails to amaze them how fast they can devour their food.

[JASONW]

Thanks!

I will look into the barbs and puffers. I am still new to all this as far as a large tank.

It will be a centerpiece and hopefull a naptime (at least for me) tool for the kids. That's my story I told the wife.....

Love the help!
j

[nanaglen2001]

Have you ever looked at those Rainbow fish????

Very colorful, reasonably peaceful, they like hard water, dont bother plants.

I would say, absolutely perfect for you. You find them from very small up to about 6-8 inches.

[Rocky06fx4]

Have you ever looked at those Rainbow fish????

Very colorful, reasonably peaceful, they like hard water, dont bother plants.

I would say, absolutely perfect for you. You find them from very small up to about 6-8 inches.


I agree, If you have a bunch of schooling fish it is something of beauty especially with that tank size thats probably the best way to entertain the kids.
I personally would get two Oscars cause I swear they show off in the tank roflmao.


Please Original poster watch these movies I have found to help you make your mind. It shows the setup of a large size tank and tell me what you think.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
THEN theres the Cichlid set up which you hafto choose one or the other... Like earlier posted if you want cichlids do those type of fish only.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

(PSST Oscars are cichlids too) Don't let anyone know I told you *wink* *wink* PLUS the kids can pet them! look at this movie!
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

The oscars doing tricks movies!
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[cocoa_pleco]

uncertain had a good idea, the oscar! mines starting to beg for food and make his eyes big. lol

the rainbow fish idea is cool too

[zackish]

Before you start reading about fish and deciding you what fish you want, cycle your tank.
You can go by sticky threads in the top of the beginner section and general forum section.
A lot of plants like hard water so that shouldn't be a problem.
Now I don't know what kind of lighting you have on your tank but if you could share it with us that would be great. Giving such a large tank I am pretty sure you have pretty low lighting in regards to being able to support plants. So therefor some beginner plants you may like are:
Java Fern/moss
amazon sword
water sprite
wisteria
anubias
pennywort
some people say combamba works well in low light setups but....it's up to you to try.

[cocoa_pleco]

cabomba is fairly lowlight. my 55g has only 60W and the cabomba flourishes

[SkarloeysMom]

hopefull a naptime (at least for me) tool for the kids. That's my story I told the wife.....


LOL! That's the whole reason I started back in keeping fish! I thought my active 2 year old (at the time) would get some kind of calming effect from watching the fish. I was grasping at straws. He barely even looked at them until just recently (he's 4 now). Some kids just can't even slow down long enough to take a look. But whatever! I keep the fish for me anyway.

Hope your 120g has that calming effect you're looking for at naptime! Maybe that size tank will have the wow factor that will draw all the kids interest. Oh and get yourself some flood insurance!:ezpi_wink1:

Welcome to the forum BTW!

[Chaindriven]

Welcome to the Aquatic Community. Give your aquarium's biological filter time to catch up with the bio load that the new fish introduce. Having a 120-gallon tank, you should be fine. I would add small groups maybe six at a time of schooling fish. Any of the schooling fish should be wonderful and the children will enjoy them. Perhaps, your set up will even help them catch the fish-keeping bug. Be careful to have compatible tank mates. Good luck it's nice to have you aboard.

[jeffs99dime]

welcome to a.c.

[tropfish]

welcome to the forum! :22:

[JASONW]

WOW!

You all have given me a lot to think on. I will look into each suggestion carefully.

I will cycle the tank before adding any fish.

My lighting is 2 sets of florescent bulbs.

I will put a acrylic sheet between the kids and the glass.

I will definatly lookinto rainbow, oscars, barbs and puffers.

I will post pics when I have something to look at, right now it's a hole in the wall.

Thanks again!
j