Hi. I am setting up a 72 gallon fish tank and I am having some difficulty selecting what to get. I am not sure which fish most match what I am going for, and I have several possible setups that I would like opinions on. Thanks.
1. My first assumption was that I get whatever is available at Pet Smart. However, I have noticed some websites sell fish. How price-conscious are they and what are my odds of getting my fish alive? I live in Phoenix, AZ where the temperature today is 98 degrees, the coolest in a week. In another month it will be low 110s every day.
2. I like the look of mbunas, but I also like the look of pictuses. I had a 20 long many years ago with mollies. At some point I bought a pictus and eventually had to give it away because it was jumping around the tank in a way that suggested it was too big for it's space. At some point I had the same issue with a tiny yellow African cichlid that stayed yellow but not tiny. For this tank, I want 1 to three species with a full size of 4 to 6 inches and about a dozen fish in all. I would like a good amount of activity in the tank, and it needs to be fish that are compatible with hard city water (180 ppm GH and 180 ppm KH according to API 5 in 1 test strip).
3. I am thinking I want to use pool filter sand as a substrate with some rocks on top to a depth of 2 inches in front and 4 inches in back, with one of my species being a sand dweller - a pictus if there is a compatible cichlid, or something else with sleek lines and shiny silvery skin. Actually any combination of movement, sleek, shiny and colorful, spread between the lot, will do.
4. I am debating plants.
5. I am thinking several possibilities for decorations. Some combination of:
a) a tankful of rocks
b) a large sunken battleship
c) a pyramid of upside down terra cotta flowerpots
d) alternating flowerpots and slabs of tile (slate?) vaguely suggestive of the Colosseum
Opinions?
1. My first assumption was that I get whatever is available at Pet Smart. However, I have noticed some websites sell fish. How price-conscious are they and what are my odds of getting my fish alive? I live in Phoenix, AZ where the temperature today is 98 degrees, the coolest in a week. In another month it will be low 110s every day.
2. I like the look of mbunas, but I also like the look of pictuses. I had a 20 long many years ago with mollies. At some point I bought a pictus and eventually had to give it away because it was jumping around the tank in a way that suggested it was too big for it's space. At some point I had the same issue with a tiny yellow African cichlid that stayed yellow but not tiny. For this tank, I want 1 to three species with a full size of 4 to 6 inches and about a dozen fish in all. I would like a good amount of activity in the tank, and it needs to be fish that are compatible with hard city water (180 ppm GH and 180 ppm KH according to API 5 in 1 test strip).
3. I am thinking I want to use pool filter sand as a substrate with some rocks on top to a depth of 2 inches in front and 4 inches in back, with one of my species being a sand dweller - a pictus if there is a compatible cichlid, or something else with sleek lines and shiny silvery skin. Actually any combination of movement, sleek, shiny and colorful, spread between the lot, will do.
4. I am debating plants.
5. I am thinking several possibilities for decorations. Some combination of:
a) a tankful of rocks
b) a large sunken battleship
c) a pyramid of upside down terra cotta flowerpots
d) alternating flowerpots and slabs of tile (slate?) vaguely suggestive of the Colosseum
Opinions?
