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New to Natives

Started by Guest_CHBGator_* , Aug 19 2008 09:07 PM

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16 replies to this topic

#1 Guest_CHBGator_*

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Posted 19 August 2008 - 09:07 PM

I think I'm in the right spot for this. I guess I should start off with what tank I have to stock. Its a DIY 600G Plywood and Glass tank in my basement. Its a well established tank I just had to remove the inhabitants (South American fish) due to some budgeting for the upcoming winter and a baby on the way. Heating this monster cost me about $40-$50 a month so couple that with an already outrageous home heating bill in the winter and you get the idea. The tank dimensions are (Interior) 8'x4'x2.5' I have an FX5 Canister filter and a 70G DIY sump filter powered by a 2248 gph pump. The substrate is a washed Leveling sand I got from Home depot I picked it because of the color and different sized grains giving it a real nice natural look. I also have some driftwood we collected from the Lake and some good sized rocks. For lighting I have 4x T12 40W GE plant/Aquarium bulbs, I plan on planting the tank with collected aquatic plants and now the hard part and the meat of the question, Fish! What fish could I keep in this tank? I'd like a predator tank but I'm having a hard time deciding, mostly due to compatibility issues. ATM I'm flirting with the possibilities of 1) Gar/LMB and/or SMB or 2)Grass/Red Finned Pickerels and.. dunno. Yes if I go collecting fish I'll make sure to follow local and state regulations fortunately there are a few suppliers within a 2-3 hrs drive from me to get the Fish I come up with. I'll post a pic of the tank in its current state probably tomorrow after it clears up a bit catching fish with a pond net stirred up the bottom a bit and clouded things up. I'd also like to add that I would if possible like some variety in the tank 2-3 different species if not more. TIA :biggrin:

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#2 Michael Wolfe

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North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 20 August 2008 - 08:23 AM

Its a DIY 600G Plywood and Glass tank in my basement. {clipped} I'd also like to add that I would if possible like some variety in the tank 2-3 different species if not more. TIA

Just a crazy idea, but if I had a tank this big and empty I would consider... if you want slower moving water and predators, go with some sunfish, bullhead cats and a pickerel or two. And then fill in with a school of mixed cyprinella and notropis shiners... maybe even you could have a couple of logperch.

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

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#3 Guest_Newt_*

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Posted 20 August 2008 - 10:56 AM

Welcome, CHBGator!

I agree with Michael- if you want a diversity of predators, concentrate on the smaller centrarchids- rock bass, Lepomis sunfish, and maybe crappie. These are compatible with madtoms, and probably with bullheads and pickerel too in that big tank.

Bass are just not compatible with much.

Please edit your profile to include your location. This will help us help you!

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#4 Guest_uniseine_*

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Posted 20 August 2008 - 11:04 AM

Just a crazy idea, but if I had a tank this big and empty I would consider... if you want slower moving water and predators, go with some sunfish, bullhead cats and a pickerel or two. And then fill in with a school of mixed cyprinella and notropis shiners... maybe even you could have a couple of logperch.

You could also try some Fundulus olivaceous, which would hang out at the surface and might be able to escape the preditors.

Pirate Perch with tight root masses on the wall of the tank?

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#5 Michael Wolfe

Board of Directors

North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 20 August 2008 - 01:54 PM

Just a crazy idea, but if I had a tank this big and empty I would consider... if you want slower moving water and predators, go with some sunfish, bullhead cats and a pickerel or two. And then fill in with a school of mixed cyprinella and notropis shiners... maybe even you could have a couple of logperch.

Not a predator tank so not really what you want, but I got to thinking... how about some chubs? I am fond of blueheads (see avatar) and normally you can only have a couple in a tank... but with this set up you could create a real nocomis environment complete with hydrophlox shiners... and still maybe work in a few rock bass (good idea phillip) and a couple of longears or something. Of course you would need to add a lot of current, but it would certainly be a really beautiful tank...

Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

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#6 Guest_CHBGator_*

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Posted 20 August 2008 - 04:18 PM

Just a crazy idea, but if I had a tank this big and empty I would consider... if you want slower moving water and predators, go with some sunfish, bullhead cats and a pickerel or two. And then fill in with a school of mixed cyprinella and notropis shiners... maybe even you could have a couple of logperch.

I like that suggestion. How territorial are Pickerel? Could I do more than 2? possibly 3-4? Another question would be how are bullheads and sunfish with plants? I would like to stick with Ohio native fish but I have no clue on where any good collecting points are for Pickerel. Sunfish and bullheads are the easy ones but I have never caught a Pickerel or seen one for that matter. Oh and here is the pick of the tank.

P1060494.JPG 31.77KB 1 downloads

Not very pleasing to look at atm until I get some greenery in there, the log is also about 4' long by about 7" or so in diameter to give you and idea of the size of the tank. Thanks again for the Input :biggrin:

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#7 Guest_mikez_*

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Posted 20 August 2008 - 04:28 PM

I'm envious!
Just me but I can't help thinking what a great stream tank that would make. Big schools of several different colorful dace and shiner and diverse variety of darters for the bottom.
Only thing is, in making current you may put your electric bill back where you started.

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#8 Guest_CHBGator_*

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Posted 20 August 2008 - 04:51 PM

Hehe yeah that and the sand would all end up in a pile at one end of the tank :tongue:

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#9 Guest_Newt_*

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Posted 20 August 2008 - 05:11 PM

Bullheads can be hard on plants, not eating them, just uprooting them when looking for food. Sunfish may root a little but they only really disturb plants when they are nesting. Free-floating stem plants like hornwort are a good option. I would also add some more driftwood, and arrange it so that it divides the tank into 'rooms'; this can help control aggression as it allows each fish to establish a separate territory.

Your fellow Ohioan Brian Zimmerman has some young captive-bred pickerel for sale; check out the commercial vendors section. If you do get these, just be sure to get younger sunfish as well, and watch carefully when you feed them. Sunfish are aggressive feeders and may prevent the pickerel from getting adequate food.

If you want to catch your own pickerel, look for shallow, weedy, relatively clear waters with sand or mud bottoms. I'm sure some of the Ohioans on the forum can point you to specific sites.

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#10 Guest_CHBGator_*

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Posted 20 August 2008 - 06:02 PM

Thanks Newt I'll have to grab the family and head back down to the lake and get some more wood. I remember reading a bit about bullheads not being to kind to plants but you cant always rely on everything you read. I did read also that the fall is the best time to fish for pickerel so hopefully someone gives me a tip or two on some spots to look for them here soon. Thanks for the pant tip as well.

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#11 Guest_andyavram_*

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Posted 21 August 2008 - 09:24 AM

I agree a stream tank would be awesome at that size, but a nice sunfish/pickerel tank would be cool too.

Pickerel are quite common in parts of NE Ohio. Check backwater areas or small natural ponds with lots of vegetation. What county are you in?

Andy

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#12 Guest_CHBGator_*

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Posted 21 August 2008 - 04:50 PM

Cuyahoga county but my parents live in Wayne county with little apple creek right in their back yard and Killbuck Creek not to far away. I heard Mohican river has lots of Pickerel so I figure Killbuck has to have some since it runs into Mohican. I'll have to try and find a spot to park and walk the creek. There was a fishery down there right on killbuck creek off of Prarie lane but I cant seem to see it on google earth anymore. :unsure:

Edited by CHBGator, 21 August 2008 - 04:50 PM.

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#13 Guest_CHBGator_*

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Posted 31 August 2008 - 12:23 PM

Well I made a decision on the tank inhabitants. I went to the store I traded in my fish for store credit and I saw 2 great looking spotted gar so I decided what the Heck! I already had a Longnose might as well make it a nice Gar tank. the 2 Spotted are about 12" and 10" and the longnose about 8".

Posted Image

I also made this Video of the fish and the whole tank.

And this of one of the Gar eating a goldfish. You'll notice the smaller Longnose tried to eat a gold fish as well but it didnt quite fit so he spit it out. Hes stuck with eating fathead minnows till he gets a bit bigger.

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#14 Guest_schambers_*

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Posted 31 August 2008 - 03:06 PM

Awesome fish! I really envy you that tank - it's great. What else could be put with gars? A couple of large catfish would look cool in there.

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#15 Guest_CHBGator_*

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Posted 31 August 2008 - 05:04 PM

I Love catfish but I don't want anything that's going to uproot my plants or cloud up the tank to much. But if someone has a cat in mind that isn't going to 1 dig up my plants 2 get eaten by the gars 3 that isn't going to try and eat everything then I'll take a further look into it. :biggrin:

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#16 Guest_butch_*

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Posted 31 August 2008 - 05:27 PM

You can use Stonecat, large species of madtom family which it can reach 12 inches long depend under the conditions. Gar don't regularly prey on catfishes. Stonecat are unlikely to rooted the plants up as long as you give it a sheltered place.