walmart tank and compatibility question

[rubysoho]

Ok, so with aquireing two sun cats (Horabagrus brachysoma), I am going to need a bigger tank within the month (or they'll start eating my smaller stuff). So, I might be getting a used tank from someone, but I need to hear back from them about if they still have it. If the don't, would buying the 55gal kit at walmart be horrible? My 10 gal tank is a wally world kit and the filter is still running fine, I haven't had problems with my heater, etc... I'm thinking about a low light tank with low light plants and silk plants for decoration so lighting won't be a factor. Plus the sun cats are stressed in brightly lite tanks and since this tank is mainly for them (they are so spoiled!) I figure it might as well be exactly what they want. Also, I'm on a college kid's budget so it fits (and my stand will be a DIY... well, I know some kids in a "shop class" who can make me one ...now I'm the spoiled one) my pocketbook nicely. Is this a good option or should I try and stretch it to get something better? I would order online (accept the tank) so I could get stuff cheaper, but it might take longer and I'd risk the two sun cats outgrowing my tank/seeing other fishies as a tastey snack. (none of this will be an issue if I can still get that used tank).

Alrighty, on to my second part (sorry I am such a talker). Compatibility. Here are the fish I am thinking about putting in with the 2 Sun Cats. These are fish I just happen to like, but I don't know 100% on compatibility, although I beleive the basic needs of pH, temperature, etc... are met.

*1 or 2 Angels
*Blue Rams (how many? I plan on having multiple levels of hiding so they shouldn't be bothered by the sun cats at night because they mainly stick to the bottom)
*1 firemouth (or do they need to be in groups?)
*a schooling fish?? (I would not add some fish from above because I think I'd be over stocking if I got some schooling fish)

Basically, I want a tank with lots of personality and that doesn't look empty. So any other suggestions of fish will be gladly taken, just remember smaller fish are a no-no because my sun cats will soon reach 6 inches in the next 3 months AND anything that can fit in their mouth is seen as snack food. In a few years they will probably outgrow the 55 gal, but I'll deal with that then. Thanks so much guys!! Just so you know, you guys rock and I love this site!

[krap101]

hmm. i usually prefer not to buy the tank sets from wal mart. just my lil suspicion...

okay 29 gallon at walmart 90$

everything seperate

tank/hood 60$
heater 12$ ebo jager 150
filter 29$ emperor 280

i forgot something but it came out to like 120ish. personally id prefer the satisfaction that i picked out top of the line for the price stuff. and knowing the quality before jumping into this lil "starter set". for most people they had to upgrade the filter/heater because they were kinda low quality. other people were satisfied. its your choice...

[rubysoho]

yeh, I forgot to mention that I was going to add on another filter as well. Oh, and it is the 55 gal set that I'm going for, I don't know if that will affect your pricing, but at walmart the kit is $159.00

[Meredith]

I think it probably depends on the walmart. I bought my 55 and stand from walmart and I have had no problems. The filter is working great for now, I will eventually get a better one, and I have some plants in there that must be low light because they are growing like crazy. The heater is even pulling its weight, but I will be putting in an additional heater before winter comes around just incase. I would say give it a try.

[rubysoho]

thanks for telling me about your experience. So anyone have ideas on compatibility??

[grimlock3000]

The heater is even pulling its weight, but I will be putting in an additional heater before winter comes around just incase.

Do yourself a favor and just do not use that Wal Mart heater. There have been a bunch of discussions about the Wal Mart tank combos on this forum. The general concensus is that well more than half of the heaters fail, and when they do, they usually stick ON, not OFF.

[rubysoho]

thanks for the warning grimlock, I'll go ahead and snag a better heater from my LFS (I feel horrible going to walmart for this, but my LFS owner is trying to sell me the most expensive stuff he has!)

[grimlock3000]

thanks for the warning grimlock, I'll go ahead and snag a better heater from my LFS (I feel horrible going to walmart for this, but my LFS owner is trying to sell me the most expensive stuff he has!)

Buy the heater online

[rubysoho]

yup, been shopping between classes (it is so tempting when I have a boring professor and a computer in front of me!!). So, anyone have ideas/suggestions on the compatibility of the fish I listed above? I don't want any problems

[poppab02]

I have 3 Wal Mart tanks that have been up and running for close to 3 years and no problems--29 and 2 10's. I actually found a good deal at Petsmart on my 55. The tank and lights were $100 but they had a box there with a combo pack for 55 gallons that included a penguin 330 biowheel and a better heater than Wal Mart has in their combo pack along with all the other goodies typically in the Wal Mart Combo and the combo was $60. Thus for the same price I got a much better heater and filter. I bought my 55 early this year so I can't guarantee they still have it or anything but I figure it's worth a shot. Oh, yeah and I bought the Wal Mart stand for the 55 and have no problems thus far.

Personally though, I would definitely scour all the classifieds and check garage sales everywhere in your area and if there are towns close to you check there as well. You can find tanks for about a third of the cost alot of the time.

[rubysoho]

Personally though, I would definitely scour all the classifieds and check garage sales everywhere in your area and if there are towns close to you check there as well. You can find tanks for about a third of the cost alot of the time.

been there, done that since beginning of summer. no luck so far. I looked up stuff on the petsmart website and they weren't cheap at all (and included less than what walmart had), but I am going to drive down to the nearest town with petsmart just in case. Still waiting to hear back on that used tank too (I beleive they are in the process of moving so I don't know when I'll hear from them). Thanks everyone who have left comments so far!

[poppab02]

I knew that they didn't have that combo pack listed online at petsmart. I probably should have said that.

As for the fish compatibility, do sun cats really grow up to 18"? If so, you're definitely in for another tank upgrade and it definitely changes what type of fish you should put in the tank. I would not put 3 types of cichlids together though.

Rams are going to be too small IMO when the sun cats are full size to keep with them. Angels and Rams are peaceful whereas Firemouths are much more hit and miss and are very likely to be agreesive when mixed with other cichlids.

If you are going to do another tank upgrade to around a 150 I would plan a somewhat semi agressive mix of SA cichlids. Blue Acaras, Firemouths, Severums I think would all look great and aren't some of the ultra aggressive of the SA cichlids.

In a 55 I would probably go with angels and some mid size schooling fish.

Rams can sometimes be fussy with water conditions and I would just stay away from them as they can be aggressive during spawning and if you are going to buy Rams you certainly want to buy them as a breeding pair.

Well that's my 2 cents and you can take it for what it's worth.

[rubysoho]

thanks poppab02. I've been researching sun cats all summer and yes they get up tp 18 inches. However, they won't out grow the 55 gal for a couple of years. When they hit 8-10 inches, they will be moved. Also, I may be finding them a better home when they are bigger and healthier. My water perams are perfect for the rams (and I keep them very clean), so if I didn't get the firemouth (because I really don't want aggressive fish, I'm dealing with an angry male betta and that is enough for me!) would they be ok? Since the rams will reach 3-4 inches, they won't be considered food until long after it is time to move the Sun Cats (which are just barely 2 inches now).

Okay, forgetting about the rams real quick, what mid sized schooling fish would work in place of the rams with the angels? Is there anything with nice color? Thanks again!

[urville]

well my 10 from walmart was fine enver had any problems, recently bought an all-glass kit almost the same thing only everything was made by all glass, except the filter which is Whisper. i can tell you that in most kits the heater is rated for a tank just under the actual size of the tank. walmart kits are by aqua culture, and include usually tetra and other products, at least the heater was tetra.
the walmart 29 here is 94.90 the 55 is 158.88
the all glass kits at my lfs were 29-79.95 55-120.98
they have all glass aquariums they make into kits using name brand stuff but WHOA the prices.

oh, one more thing just an fyi, if you go into petsmart and put together a kit of your own it can include name brand components and they give 10% off the total, at least the local one here does, i would go all out and uy a canister and test kit... its still not very cheap if you ask me.
but a good place for cheap prices, except tanks over 30 that are glass, try
www.thatfishplace.com

[poppab02]

Well, I can't be of much help with the larger schooling fish as I have little to no experience. About the only thing I can suggest is some Giant Danios. I do know though that most fish won't school effectively in anything under about a 100 gallon.
If you're looking for some great color and activity in your tank I would definitely look at loaches. I love Clowns and YoYo's and they definitely school together and are great looking. They are pretty tolerant of most water conditions IME as well. It might be too many bottom and mid level water fish though. If you do try loaches remember that they grow very slowly and thus you'll want them to be of decent size when you buy them(I would say abou 2.5"). Somebody else can probably give you more info on larger schooling fish as my expertise is more in the cichlid/barb/loach/puffer area.

[rubysoho]

Good news, after all your helpful input (thank you, thank you, thank you!), I got word back from the person and I will be getting their used tank. Woohoo! So, that problem solved. Sorry guys, I didn't think they'd still have the tank because they were suppose to move sometime around now and they had put their tank up for sale a few weeks ago.

poppab02 - loaches are really cool, and if I didn't have these two sun cats, I'd certainly get them. However, I really want the sun cats to be my only bottom dwellers because they will be growing a good bit and although all my research tells me they are peaceful, I don't want to risk it until I know for sure. Plus they like having a good bit of space to move in the tank. So that is why I am looking for fish to settle in the middle and top areas of the tank. I don't necessarily have to have schooling fish, and if fish normally don't school until they get into the 100 gal, then that is no big deal. Hmmm... so far here are the defenants on the tank (I think ):

*2 sun cats (16 inches before removed)
*1 angel (6 inches)
(total 22 inches)

what about the larger species of rainbow fish (that grow to 4 inches). Would 5 or 6 of these be too many for the tank? I think it would put me at around 48 inches, but I don't like just going by the inch rule because some fish are messier than others. Speaking of which, today is tank cleaning day!

thanks again every one!!

[poppab02]

I personally bought a group of Australian Rainbows that did nothing but kill each other, they were worse than my african cichlids. I think it probably was just a fluke experience as I've heard plenty of people brag on them but that's my experience with them.

[rubysoho]

oh wow, I'll make sure I get them from the same tank (to make sure they aren't fighting there first) if I do get them. Thanks!