Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Calendar
Go Back   NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds > Community Forums > Lounge

Notices


Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 08-06-2011, 12:49 PM   #1
V
Stalker
 
V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,082
iTrader: (12)
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.
V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2011, 01:45 PM   #2
Jersey Mike
Power Member/NJFBOA Bookie/Moderator
 
Jersey Mike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: North Jersey = Best Jersey.
Posts: 4,435
iTrader: (12)
Social Networks:

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.
__________________

1995 Firebird... Stock-ish.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LS1ow View Post
Good. He microwaved my phone 6 years ago, i hope his intake erupts.
Jersey Mike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2011, 05:02 PM   #3
The_Bishop
 
The_Bishop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Hackettstown, NJ
Posts: 1,668
iTrader: (3)
Aquariums are expensive and labor intensive, just be ready for the maintenance.
__________________
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 View Post
I can appreciate a dream but this person needed some real friends.
The_Bishop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2011, 10:43 AM   #4
Savage_Messiah
2007 Member of the Year
 
Savage_Messiah's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Seabrook, TX
Posts: 14,281
iTrader: (1)
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Bishop View Post
Aquariums are expensive and labor intensive, just be ready for the maintenance.
Quote:
Originally Posted by V View Post
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.
...
__________________
WF=DF

Kommandant
of the ACL (Anti Canadian League)

Quote:
Originally Posted by LTb1ow View Post
Junk the pos, spend the money on beer, acquire headache.

Same result cept this headache doesnt last months.
Savage_Messiah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2011, 11:52 AM   #5
The_Bishop
 
The_Bishop's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Hackettstown, NJ
Posts: 1,668
iTrader: (3)
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 View Post
I can appreciate a dream but this person needed some real friends.
The_Bishop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2011, 02:49 PM   #6
Fleetwiz
 
Fleetwiz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Vernon NJ
Posts: 363
iTrader: (0)
Animal House in Butler is closed. You may want to check out Absolutely Fish in Clifton...one of the better fish stores in NJ
Fleetwiz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2011, 06:08 PM   #7
Lt1_8U
 
Lt1_8U's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: north jersey
Posts: 1,680
iTrader: (3)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fleetwiz View Post
Animal House in Butler is closed. You may want to check out Absolutely Fish in Clifton...one of the better fish stores in NJ
great store, tons of stuff and the people there will help you with anything you need
Lt1_8U is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2011, 07:34 PM   #8
V
Stalker
 
V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 12,082
iTrader: (12)
ok cool, ill check out that store next time i get to NJ
V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-08-2011, 12:20 PM   #9
mtg6486
12 Second Club
 
mtg6486's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Paramus
Posts: 898
iTrader: (1)
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.
__________________
STS Turbo with Intercooler, FAST 90/90 Intake Fuel Rails, Yella Terra 1.7 Roller Rockers, Comp 918 springs & Pushrods
mtg6486 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-09-2011, 10:27 AM   #10
usp55
 
usp55's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Sewell, NJ
Posts: 1,044
iTrader: (2)
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.
__________________
1971 Firebird Project

Last edited by usp55; 08-09-2011 at 10:29 AM.
usp55 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-10-2011, 08:37 AM   #11
Raist103
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 326
iTrader: (5)
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.
__________________
92 TY 500RWHP 93oct. Safe Street Tune
87 GN Low Mile 10.4 @ 128
11 CTS V 12.0 @ 116 stock. mow modded
Raist103 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

  NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds > Community Forums > Lounge


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

» Sponsor List














All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:51 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.