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08-06-2011, 12:49 PM
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#1
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,082
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Anyone knowledgable about freshwater aquariums?
Ill looking to get a freshwater aquarium in about 2 months
it will be in the 50-55 gallon size
The main fish i want is the Redtailed shark, (2 of them) and I'm trying to see what other fish will co-habitate with them peacefully. In total, i'd like about 8 fish.
Some online sites say the redtails get along with other fish of similar size as long as they are the sole sharks. Their max size is about 4inches so i'd be looking for fish that get to about that size as well.
We had a fishtank years years ago but just had goldfish that grew up to almost 5". so i know the basics of caring for fish including heaters filters etc.
any advice or suggestions is appreciated.
edit: one online guide said these following fish are compatible with sharks(the freshwater kind whioch i know arent "true" sharks)...
Barbs, Danios/minnows, gouramis, loaches, placos, rainbowfish
Last edited by V; 08-06-2011 at 12:54 PM.
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08-06-2011, 01:45 PM
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#2
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Power Member/NJFBOA Bookie/Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: North Jersey = Best Jersey.
Posts: 4,435
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I've had a ton of different set-ups ranging from a 55-gallon salt-water system to a small 10 gallon of un-heated, freshwater, gold fish. For the last few years, my main tank has been a 55-gallon freshwater system of African Cichlids. I like this set up because it's maintenance is simple, the fish last years, they're come in a variety of colors, grow in size and don't cost much. However, they're very territorial and can get aggressive, so they can't be mixed with other fish. I've lost count of how many there are in that tank now--the one fish just keeps reproducing 2 at a time every 6 months or so.
I unfortunately don't know much about Red Tailed Sharks, but it sounds like you know the basics of tank set-up. I'm sure you could find tank temperature, food, and other info online. If I could make a suggestion, it would be to take a drive down to The Animal House, on Rt 23 in Butler (in the shopping center with the Burger King) and talk to the owner. I forgot his name, but for years I went there for all my aquarium needs (after getting a lot of mediocre advice from other sellers) and this guy must have went to school and studied marine ecology or something because he knows everything there is to know about aquariums, fish, they're behavior, tips, tricks, whatever. I found he's trustworthy & extremely helpful. Give them a call before shooting down there though, as I haven't been there in years (I've had no need to, he helped me set my tanks up so they have been running flawlessly without so much as a hiccup for the last two-three years)
Good luck, Paul.
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Originally Posted by LS1ow
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08-06-2011, 05:02 PM
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#3
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Hackettstown, NJ
Posts: 1,668
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Aquariums are expensive and labor intensive, just be ready for the maintenance.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackbirdws6
I can appreciate a dream but this person needed some real friends.
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08-07-2011, 10:43 AM
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#4
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2007 Member of the Year
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Seabrook, TX
Posts: 14,281
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Bishop
Aquariums are expensive and labor intensive, just be ready for the maintenance.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by V
We had a fishtank years years ago but just had goldfish that grew up to almost 5". so i know the basics of caring for fish including heaters filters etc.
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...
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WF=DF
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Junk the pos, spend the money on beer, acquire headache.
Same result cept this headache doesnt last months.
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08-07-2011, 11:52 AM
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#5
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Hackettstown, NJ
Posts: 1,668
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Goldfish =/= sharks. Will have different requirements.
__________________
1998 Z-28 - SLP lid - Ported TB - LS6 Intake - Dynatech SS headers/Catted Y - Magnaflow Exh - 3.42 - Yank SS3600 - UMI weld-in subframe connectors, Adj LCA, Adj PHB, Q1A TA - Bolt-in Relocation Brackets - Strano springs - Koni shocks - 17" C6Z06 wheels - 326HP/335ft-lbs - 12.35 @ 110.41
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackbirdws6
I can appreciate a dream but this person needed some real friends.
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08-07-2011, 02:49 PM
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#6
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Vernon NJ
Posts: 363
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Animal House in Butler is closed. You may want to check out Absolutely Fish in Clifton...one of the better fish stores in NJ
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08-07-2011, 06:08 PM
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#7
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: north jersey
Posts: 1,680
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fleetwiz
Animal House in Butler is closed. You may want to check out Absolutely Fish in Clifton...one of the better fish stores in NJ
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great store, tons of stuff and the people there will help you with anything you need
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08-07-2011, 07:34 PM
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#8
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Stalker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,082
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ok cool, ill check out that store next time i get to NJ
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08-08-2011, 12:20 PM
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#9
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12 Second Club
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Paramus
Posts: 898
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fishtown usa in ramsey is another good store i worked there for a few years when i was a kid and they always had good stuff. the owners name is Evan and he is very knowledgeable. i find absolutely fish is very good as well but they can get pricey with some of there stuff.
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08-09-2011, 10:27 AM
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#10
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sewell, NJ
Posts: 1,044
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I havent had a freshwater tank in years, moved over to salwater reef only, aggressive only, and even a pico 2.5gal desk coral tank. Any question with that stuff i got it. Had lion fish, eels, anemones with breeding clown fish , LPS coral, SPS, crazy exp lights and skimmers, you name it i had it. <-money pit!!
From what I remember though the red tails are semi aggressive, however as long as they are the only "shark" in the tank and as long as the other fish are about the same size you will have no issues.
Are you set on the 55gal? Just from my experience I hate the 55 dimensions. I'm assume you going to have some sort of driftwood and some plantlife in the tank? If so the lack of depth (IIRC its 12-13") which doesnt give you much of a foot print to work with. Harder to to clean as a result of being crampt with any sort of decorations. Also the min for those sharks is the 50gal, why not just go bigger with atleast a 75 (IIRC 16-18" deep) or the perfect 90. Craigslist will have a ton of tanks for sale for a fraction of what they cost new also.
Last edited by usp55; 08-09-2011 at 10:29 AM.
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08-10-2011, 08:37 AM
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#11
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 326
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if any of you fish guys need a tank i have a bunch in the for sale section.
it got to be to much work with a 180 salt, 150 turtle, 125 reptile 90 fresh, 55 fresh and 40 turtle.
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