Chi_Cichlid
Aquarium Advice Activist
Hello Fellow Fish Lovers!! 
After countless hours of reading through forums, mainly this one of course,
and extensive research online and watching basically every YouTube video out there, I have decided that I want an all male show tank. After seeing these beauties at my LFS, I knew I had to get some of these bad boys!
Now I know a 6ft tank would work best for these guys, but I ultimately decided on a 4ft tank due to size constraints at my place. Also, I was able to grab a brand new 75g (48.5 x 18.5 x 21.2), with a stand, glass tops, and a regular T8 strip light. I had the option to upgrade my lighting to a Finnex Ray 2 LED fixture for $80, (2 rows of 7k), so of course I did that. I may use the Finnex for my planted 55g community, and use the fixture that's currently on that tank, which is a 3 Bulb T5HO Catalina fixture for the 75. Thoughts?
All in all, I ended up paying just under $500 for everything. Now I know I could have found a used tank with the same setup (minus the light fixture), for cheaper, probably not by that much, but I wanted everything to be new, for sanitary purposes, so I opted to go this route.
Now for the fun stuff. I broke this part up into sections for easier reading.
COSMETICS/AQUASCAPE:
I plan to put on a black background. I'll either paint it on, or I'll just use trash bags cuz I'm lazy haha.
I plan to use roughly 70-80lbs of pool filter sand, unless someone here thinks I'd be better off using all 100lbs. The sand comes in 50lb bags. If I don't use all the sand, I may use the remainder for a 10g QT tank.
I plan to use river rock, as this will closely resemble their natural habitat, however, I may use different rocks depending on what's available at my local landscaping place. Anybody have any suggestions for rocks I can/should use?
How many lbs of rock do you think I would need for a 75g?
FILTRATION:
This tank will be running an AquaTop CF500 canister filter, and I will be moving my AC110 HOB from my 55 planted community tank. I also plan to grab a sponge filter to use for my QT tank, which I will leave in the 75 and pull out when I need to. If I do this, do I need to clean the sponge filter before putting it back into the 75?
Basically, if I use the sponge filter for my QT, and need to medicate, then wouldn't this negatively affect the 75 when I put the sponge filter back in? I do have an Aqueon QuietFlow 30 and QuietFlow10 laying around, so I could use either of those instead.
I will also add a powerhead, for more surface agitation, and because these guys just seem to enjoy the flow.
Now for the most important part........
STOCKING!
I made up a list of fish I would like to try and keep (1 male each). Please let me know your thoughts, suggestions, or concerns that you may have. Any fish not listed, that you think I may like, and can work, please let me know as well!
I plan to order fish online, so any recommendation on vendors would be much appreciated. Or, if you have fish you are looking to sell, LET ME KNOW!
*All scientific names may not be correct *
75G SETUP
I know this post is REALLY long, so thank you for taking the time to read through it all! Also, thank you in advance for your advice/support.
I will be sure to add pictures throughout my build!
After countless hours of reading through forums, mainly this one of course,
and extensive research online and watching basically every YouTube video out there, I have decided that I want an all male show tank. After seeing these beauties at my LFS, I knew I had to get some of these bad boys! Now I know a 6ft tank would work best for these guys, but I ultimately decided on a 4ft tank due to size constraints at my place. Also, I was able to grab a brand new 75g (48.5 x 18.5 x 21.2), with a stand, glass tops, and a regular T8 strip light. I had the option to upgrade my lighting to a Finnex Ray 2 LED fixture for $80, (2 rows of 7k), so of course I did that.
I may use the Finnex for my planted 55g community, and use the fixture that's currently on that tank, which is a 3 Bulb T5HO Catalina fixture for the 75. Thoughts? All in all, I ended up paying just under $500 for everything. Now I know I could have found a used tank with the same setup (minus the light fixture), for cheaper, probably not by that much, but I wanted everything to be new, for sanitary purposes, so I opted to go this route.
Now for the fun stuff. I broke this part up into sections for easier reading.
COSMETICS/AQUASCAPE:
I plan to put on a black background. I'll either paint it on, or I'll just use trash bags cuz I'm lazy haha.
I plan to use roughly 70-80lbs of pool filter sand, unless someone here thinks I'd be better off using all 100lbs. The sand comes in 50lb bags. If I don't use all the sand, I may use the remainder for a 10g QT tank.
I plan to use river rock, as this will closely resemble their natural habitat, however, I may use different rocks depending on what's available at my local landscaping place. Anybody have any suggestions for rocks I can/should use?
How many lbs of rock do you think I would need for a 75g?
FILTRATION:
This tank will be running an AquaTop CF500 canister filter, and I will be moving my AC110 HOB from my 55 planted community tank. I also plan to grab a sponge filter to use for my QT tank, which I will leave in the 75 and pull out when I need to. If I do this, do I need to clean the sponge filter before putting it back into the 75?
Basically, if I use the sponge filter for my QT, and need to medicate, then wouldn't this negatively affect the 75 when I put the sponge filter back in? I do have an Aqueon QuietFlow 30 and QuietFlow10 laying around, so I could use either of those instead.
I will also add a powerhead, for more surface agitation, and because these guys just seem to enjoy the flow.
Now for the most important part........
STOCKING!
I made up a list of fish I would like to try and keep (1 male each). Please let me know your thoughts, suggestions, or concerns that you may have. Any fish not listed, that you think I may like, and can work, please let me know as well!
I plan to order fish online, so any recommendation on vendors would be much appreciated. Or, if you have fish you are looking to sell, LET ME KNOW!
*All scientific names may not be correct *
75G SETUP
- OB Peacock Hybrid
- Aulonocara Baenschi Benga/maleri – “BENGA/YELLOW REGAL/SUNSHINE” NOT SURE IF I WANT ONE OF EACH OR JUST THE BENGA. I HEARD THEY ARE REALLY SIMILAR. TRUE OR FALSE?
- Aulonocara Sp – “DRAGON’S BLOOD”
- Aulonocara Mamela – “LEMON JAKE”
- Aulonocara Maulana- “BI-COLOR 500”
- Protomelas Spilonatus – “SULFUR HEAD”
- Protomelas Fenestratus – “TAIWAN REEF”
- Protomelas Taeniolatus – “TANGERINE TIGER”
- Aulonocara Jacobfreibergi - “EUREKA RED/GERMAN RED”
- Aulonocara sp. "RED TOP LWANDA"
- 3-4 Synodontis Multipunctatus/Lucipinnis/Petricola (only one species)
- 1-2 Plecos (Bushy/Bristlenose, Clown etc.)
- Cynotilapia zebroides (not sure if he will be compatible) - and I know he is from different part of the lake. Just LOVE the coloration of these guys.
I know this post is REALLY long, so thank you for taking the time to read through it all! Also, thank you in advance for your advice/support.
I will be sure to add pictures throughout my build!
