Fish Growing, 125 gal setup

[Mo Betta]

My Peacock bass and my Pacu are out growing the 55 gal. Currently their tank mates are a Geo Brasilia, Blue Acara, and a Black Bar. Everyone gets along well, with the smaller fish being the Bullies. But its time to get a bigger tank up and running. New tank is 72"x18"x24". I want to set this up as a "Amazon" type tank. I realize that the Peacock is going to eat just about anything else in the tank that he can swallow. I cant help it Im a fisherman, bound for the Rio Negro in 2.5 years. I think the Pacu will be fine in the same tank, he is huge.
So my big question for this post is, what type of filtration? Im thinking 2 Fluval 404's one @ each end. What do you think? Bio wheel and 1 fluval? Something better? Any other advice on my tank style , or potential tank mates for these 2 family members?
Thanks in advance, Frank { Mo Betta is my Boat Name} In case your wondering, Im a firm believer in CPR Catch Photograph Release

 

[Terry]

Hi Frank,
Welcome to Aquarium Advice.

I think that your 72x18x24 is only big enough for your Pacu, let alone anything else. My 2ft pacu i had in the shop was in a 72x24x24 and he out grew that and i gave him to the local childrens pet centre in our local park.

 

[Allivymar]

Hiya Mo and welcome to Aquariumadvice

I agree with Terry; the pacu is going to be a big problem. Literally. They get huge as you are noticing, and top out around 3 feet long. A 125 is not going to be enough for one pacu, much less your whole crew. The peacock will top out at about 2 1/2 feet and also is going to need a much larger tank.

Depending on their current size, you may get away with the 125 for a short period of time, but it won't serve your purposes for long. And you'll need as much filtration as possible in the meantime. You'll want 6-10 times the tank amount running thru the filter per hour. The largest Emperor (the 400) and the Fluval 404 won't give you enough filtration (works out to just under 6 x the tank amount per hour), but gives more filtration then the 2 Fluvals (which gives less the 5 1/2 x the tank amount).

And just to give you a visual, this is my nephew in front of a pacu/redtail shark tank in the UK. Keep in mind the pacu is at least 12 inches behind the nephew's head!

And thumbs up on the CPR

 

[Mo Betta]

CRAP................So much for what LFS say. They said they would get big but nothing like whats swimming behind Taylor. Now I really have to get to South America.
Ok so I will only have these guys for a short amount of time, I live near the Scripps Aquarium, I will see if they would like them BEFORE they become too big for the tank and get unhealthy. Until then I have some filtration shopping to do, Thanks for the advice, Wish I would of found this site a few months ago.....
I guess my Pacu will kinda look like this Mola Mola I swam with in the Pic. He was a good 400# and like a puppy dog. Mola PIC is down below. Thanks Frank
Thanks Frank

 

[Thaiboxer]

I'll add that I'm starting a 125 gallon South American tank right now - I've got a Magnum 350 and a brand new Emperor 400, and I'm already planning on getting more filtration...

I think what I have is enough for now, while the fish are small. As they grow though... they sure make a mess! No Pacus for me though, I'm sticking to Oscars and other cichlids that stay under 12"!

Good luck with your Mammoth! er... Pacu!

 

[Allivymar]

Ooooo. You swam with molamolas?? *jealous* And your taking a trip to the Rio Negro in a coupla years?? *totally jealous*

Can I live your life?

And good luck finding them a home! The pic of Taylor and that tank was taken at Birdworld in the UK: they also had an aquarium exhibit and of course I was more interested in that *grin* That tank was their "aquarium busters" tank; they set it up with donated fish from folks who could no longer house them. There were 5 pacus - all 3 - 4 feet long, a 5 foot redtail catfish and an unidentified cichlid that was easily 2 feet long. They had a sign up explaining how they were donated, what happens to these big tankbusters as they grow up and people realise they can't house em anymore, and how they could no longer accept donated fish as even THEY didn't have enough room. Good idea calling Scripps now; you may want to contact other places in case they can't house em. Or, theres always the dinner plate *ducks n runs*

 

[Mo Betta]

I guess if I cant find a taker for the monsters, there is always Fish Tacos........
But he is such a cool fish...........Hope I dont have to eat him, with Wasabi.
Im a little "upset" with my LFS, and myself. Thanks again Frank

Thaiboxer, can you post a pic of your S.A. tank for some ideas?
Allivymar, if you make it San Diego in the summer I will take you to swim with the Molas, they have been a Hazard to Navigation the last couple of years.