what fish should i get for a fresh water 150 gallon tank?

Question

i think schooling fish would look cool

Answer 1

For a tank that size possibilities are nearly endless so here's my personal favorites.

I love to see a large tank planted and full of smaller to medium sized schooling fish like Congo tetras, Diamond tetras, lemons, black phantoms, gold barbs, cherry barbs, rasboras, etc. as well as significant schools of corys on the bottom and several species of killifish for color and activity at the top of the tank. If planned well you can even include a few apistogramma in the lower part of the tank and add even more variety and color.

Truly stunning against a dark background, darker colored gravel and a variety of green and red colors from various plants. Not only that but with this type of set up visitors can take a long time investigating your tank, finding a new and colorful fish to see over and over again. Far more entertaining to watch than a few very large fish in my opinion.

MM

Answer 2

I think a few different schooling fish groups would look very nice. You're lucky to have a tank that big. I live in an apartment, so I obviously wouldn't be able to get a very large tank like that, but I hope to someday, because I would really like to get an oscar. I hear they have the most personality out of all fish. Right now I have a 55 gallon with 8 zebra danios, 5 neon tetras, 1 betta, 2 dwarf gouramis and 1 albino pleco. My tetras are usually good about getting into an actual school group when swimming, while my zebras, on the other hand, I don't think I've ever seen them in a group. Tetras seem to be quite colorful, though, and are very pretty when in groups. Hope this helps a little bit.

Answer 3

For a schooling fish in a tank that large, I'd pick 6 silver dollars. They get up to 6" so would look quite impressive.
To that, I'd add a school of clown loaches for the bottom: they are really active and fun to watch in groups of 5 or so...and they normally also get up to 6" in captivity.
For the centerpiece fish, add a couple of blood parrot cichlids for color OR a couple of kissing gouramis (both species hit about 8 - 9" as adults) OR a couple of severums (which are available in green, turquoise or gold morphs) which are peaceful cichlids and can get up to 10". Add a couple of blue gourami and you have a colorful, active aquarium.

Answer 4

have been given to assert i'm jealous. a hundred and fifty gallon provides various scope. even although I might desire to assert, aggressive and territorial might cut back you a sprint except you like a Cichlid tank. Barbs are a stable selection yet in my opinion i might choose for a shoal of Silver Bala Sharks. they are large fish that look cool and nevertheless provide you scope to function sort as they are no longer many times nippy. in the shop they look small yet in a tank of that length they are going to get huge! in case you like a basically territorial and actually aggressive fish, choose for an Oscar. on the different hand, 3 or 4 Phirannas?

Answer 5

I can't say it better then MM here but only add in my .02 cents. As stated you have countless combinations that you could do. That is a TON of room to occupy and I think thats awesome too. I hope you decorate that out really well so it's a total eye grabber. Be prepared to put in some maintence for this thing though. A tank that size regardless if it's just schooling fish or not is going to need some superior filtration, heating and good lighting. You'll still need to get through your cycling so starting out, get some hardy fish or follow up on the advice many give on a fishless cycle. Either way you go, make sure your cycle is well established before SLOWLY ramping up that population.

Suggestions on schools, neon tetras, Awesome red blue flouresence there. Rainbows dazzle with a spectrum of colors. Some spotted platties, maybe a little plain to look at in shape, but some species have some really spotted up patterns I think are just neat. Cherry barbs, (note on these that if you carry some Gourami, Bettas, or others that have flowing fins, they will get harassed by Barbs) are a good cleaning crew and school well. Cories are small but some of them as there are many species of them have some really nice coloration patterns and they are good clean up crews, Loaches do well in packs, lots of space here and some others outside of the common Clown Loach are really facinating to look at, they might be more pricey then the clowns but it would be dazzeling to see a pack of five Spotted Loaches I think.

You also have the possibilty to add in some cichilds that are not aggressive or territorial and even some predator fish with that much space. One nice colored cichild I love to reccomend as a community cichild is a Blue Acara and you could goggle that one out. Nice light sky blue coloration on them as well as one of the more peaceful cichilds. I have a Datnoid tiger barb in my 75 Gallon tank. They are not pretty fish by any means, they do have a rather unique shape almost like a spade or diamond, striped like a clown loach somewhat, and do eat live food. So you could mix in some occasional guppies or rosies for him to snack on, and the habits of this fish are really fun to watch as he will hide in a pot or behind a tree while he stalks for food.

You have so many possibilites here and I am almost envious of you. I just lost my Yellow Arowana this morning due to Costia, so our plans for a 150 gallon tank are quite on hold as there isn't any pressing need to establish a bigger housing for anything I have left.

JV

Answer 6

I recently read an article in Aquarium Fish International about Ornate Bichirs. They're unusual freshwater fish that would be perfect for a large tank.

Answer 7

I'm with MM my big one must be about 150 gallons 6x2x2 its fully planted with undergravel heating, co2 system 3 pr of discus and shoal of cardinals and red nose tetra's it dont look bad i have to say but i've seen rift valley set ups the size of your tank and i have to say once i get an extension put on the house i'm looking at 200 gallon at least for that one.

what ever you decide you obviously mean to do it properly and it'll look stunning so good luck with it.

AJ

Answer 8

How about three or four species of Rainbowfish in groups of 8-12?

Corydoras catfish are also sociable and would inhabit the lower areas of your tank.

Answer 9

i agree with Sporty C.. i have an oscar but not THAT big of a tank. he is cool..they will jump out of water and even let you pet them.. yes.. pet them.. if they are tame enough.. but be careful with what you put in with them.. they are Alpha fish and dont' share too well unless with other oscars..get 2 at SAME time..

Answer 10

Oscar fish are cool. They have a great personality =)