My 150 Gal w/ crazy stock list

[Jess Puff]

Well, here it is...



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Disclaimer: the tank is nowhere close to being decorated the way I want, I just threw in some ornaments so they would have something to hide around. Also, it's a little cloudy b/c I put that whole thing together last night (only had about 4 hrs sleep last night). And he gave me a Rena X3 (which looks to be quite old) but he removed all the media (gees!). So, I threw a couple HOB filters on it and threw in a sponge filter. I hope it's enough to support that huge bioload... I also added some "store bought" bio that I had on hand.

I'm not really sure why this guy had such a random assortment of fish but it's kinda funny that they all get along. I have no idea what he was feeding them. He did mention something about not getting my hand too close to the Oscar's when feeding them goldfish... YIKES! You guys have to help me out... what do I do with all these fish? LOL!

Here it comes:
1). Question, I don't think he had the most healthy tank setup. What general med should I pickup from petsmart to make sure the fish don't affect my other tanks... yes, I'm paranoid. But I have seen a couple of them try scraping the bottom of the tank.

2). What do I fill the Rena X3 with and how do I operate it...help! I've never had a canister filter (and this one doesn't come with instructions HA!).

3). What type of food should I get? There are african cichlids, south american cichlids, and some really random other fish in there. He gave me an almost empty canister of Cichlid pellets. I guess he's been feeding them that.

[fuzzylogic]

1. just add some salt and watch the fish. Just don't mix nets or cross contaminate your other tanks. I have a huge Jack Dempsey and she scrapes on everything. She is perfectly healthy.
2. Did this filter just come off his tank? is it dry now or has it been for days? If so I would scrap all of the media since the beneficial bacteria is probably dead. Id keep the pre filter and you are limetless on options. They make foam and cloths that do all sorts or things. I would probably run carbon in it for about a month and then you can customize it later to suit your personal requirements. For example I would put something in it to promote biological filtration. You can probably find operation videos and how to's on youtube that will help. I just wouldnt overcrowd your media so that it will slow down the flow rate and make sure you fill it with water before you turn it on. Do you have ball valves or a way to close them keeping water inside when you disconnect the filter?
3. Its not uncommon for people to mix those fix due to like water parameters. Your big fish are predators. Good looking Oscars and catfish BTW Id feed them what he was using. maybe some feeder fish and definitely earth worms crickets and bloodworms.

Hoped that answered some of your questions

[fuzzylogic]

found you some terrible videos but they may give you an idea

[Jess Puff]

Fuzz man, you're the best! I'll do the salt (which I added a little already last night). I'm going to keep adding a little at a time. The filter is completely bone dry and he said he usually runs it through the dish washer (which was a red flag for me). Anyways, there is no media in it at all. I need to pick up some carbon. I have some foam I can probably scrounge up and add to it. Might pick up some cheap foam too while I'm there. As far as the fish goes, the oscar, catfish, and pleco FREAK ME OUT! I'm going to have to feed them critters? WHAAA? Someone needs to come to my house and feed them for me. HAHAHAHAHA! I'm such a girl!

[Jess Puff]

Well, I went to petsmart and I bought some carbon, a sponge, and some nitrazorb (I think). We'll see how it goes...

[ree123]

Sounds like a plan. I agree about using some salt and not cross contaminating any items for about a month. I don't recommend treating for any ailments you don't already have though. Just preventative maintence.
BTW...keep that sponge filter going all month too, especially if it was already seeded from another tank.
IMHO, you will need to offer pellet foods along with a few live back yard bugs since you don't know what he has been feeding. Eventually you'll figure out what they'll take. The mix of fish will likely take all you offer though. Oscars don't require goldfish or feeder fish. Bugs like crickets, grasshoppers, earthworms, etc... all work well, and these are all in your back yard and free.
Really nice looking tank !
I love the big Oscars. They have such personality ! I have kept them many, many times.

[Jess Puff]

So I might have messed up already... was I supposed to put the carbon in some type of bag?

[charden]

May 3, 2012 18:15:53 GMT -6 Jess Puff said:

So I might have messed up already... was I supposed to put the carbon in some type of bag?

Yeah I would think so....Ya know Jess that 150 would e great with a sump,,lol

Anyways...what kind of catfish is that?

[davidtcb1]

You will be fine Jess. Just keep doing water changes til the filters catch up. I wouldn't medicate with anything in particular, just water changes. I wouldn't feed feeder goldfish to the Oscars either. Like Rick said, there are plenty of other options. Oscars are prone to hole in the head so just be diligent with your changes and give them plenty of clean water. If you need more help with the XP3, just ask. They are pretty flexible. The water goes from bottom to top, so put your most coarse mechanical media in the bottom tray and then go up from there, ending with a finer floss. A good cheap method is to go to dollar general and buy several round dish scrubbing pads (I call them frog's mouth pads). They fit great in the XP3 and will act as both biological and mechanical media.

[fuzzylogic]

May 3, 2012 18:52:53 GMT -6 davidtcb1 said:

A good cheap method is to go to dollar general and buy several round dish scrubbing pads (I call them frog's mouth pads). They fit great in the XP3 and will act as both biological and mechanical media.

Ditto That's what I have in one of my canister filter's trays

[Jess Puff]

What about the carbon? Does it have to go in some sort of bag?

[davidtcb1]

Yes a media bag. Similar to these.


www.petsolutions.com/C/Aquarium-Media-Bags/I/Media-Bags.aspx

Petsmart will likely have them.

[Jess Puff]

Hmm...is it bad if I ran it for a little while without a bag? Lol! I'm so stupid! I hope I didn't screw it up.

[davidtcb1]

Probably not. You wouldn't want it to get in your impeller, but if you got it out successfully it should be fine.

[Jess Puff]

I am getting a bag from petsmart today and going to try again. Thanks for all ya'lls help!

PS - I have no idea what kind of catfish it is but it creeps me out. HAHA!