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150 Gallon Cichlid Tank

10K views 40 replies 8 participants last post by  InfiniteCascade 
#1 ·
This 150 gallon recently replaced my old 135 gallon which had a small leak and foggy glass. My LFS had a big sale and I made the jump on a brand new Aqueon 150 gallon to replace it. Before I get to the current occupants I'd like to show a pic of my 13" Synspilum and 9" Black Shark who recently passed away. The Syn was tank boss. I'd had him for 6 years. Sure do miss him.
 

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#2 ·
OK, now for the current occupants. Since the Syn and shark passed this opened up room in the tank so I was able to move my Oscar from his 55 gallon which he had outgrown into this 150. At close to a foot long he's now the biggest fish in the tank. He fit right in with the current occupants right away with no issues. My biggest concern was the Argentea but they seem to be getting along just fine. I also moved over 4 Balas from my other 135 gallon to join the big one who was already in the tank.

So, current occupants are:

1 Tiger Oscar (approx 11-12")
1 Vieja Argentea (approx 8")
1 Female Convict (approx 3.5")
1 Black Belt (approx 2")
5 Bala Sharks (4" to 8")
1 Pictus Cat (approx 5.5")

Time for pics:
 

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#5 ·
Ugh...ich in the 150. And I'm so mad at myself because I broke my own rule and moved the little black belt out of qt too early because he was picking on the other fish. He's not showing any signs but over last Friday I discovered one of the Flagtails who shared qt with him got ich. In fact, it was the flagtail that he was picking on. So I'm treating that tank. Then yesterday, I discovered that the smallest bala in the 150 had a few spots on him which I immediately knew was ich. So the Black Belt was a carrier. Also my Oscar has not been his usual, active self. So, since I have balas and the pictus cat I'm treating with salt and heat rather than with the quick cure. It's also Much cheaper using salt lol. Not fun treating a large volume of water. I've added enough salt (premixed in a 5 gallon bucket of tank water) to equal to 1 teaspoon per gallon. Tonight I will add more salt to bring it to 2 teaspoons per gallon. My temp is at 82f. Might raise it another couple degrees. Ugghh, I've not had to deal with ich in years.
 
#6 ·
Ah that sucks jeanine. With as many fish as I move in and out I've dealt with it on quite a few occasions. I will say, salt has been very effective for me. I never raise my heat because I keep my tanks right around where u are 80-82 as a standard temp and haven't needed to boost it mega high like a lot of people do to cure. I've always done a tablespoon per 5 gallons so you're a little heavier on the salt and could possibly even cure a little faster. I'd say with u catching it early and the tank at 80+ it'll wipe out within the next few days.

Good luck!! Hope everything goes fine.
 
#7 ·
Thanks SirReal303. I decided to leave the temp where it's at. The Oscar was a little more active but my biggest bala has been kind of hiding. Not a good sign but hoping he'll pull thru. Will update later.
 
#9 ·
Ok, so here's an update. Everyone is looking real good and back to their normal self. Had real good results with just using the salt and keeping the temp at 82f. Today is water change day but I'm going to keep it salted one more week just to make sure I've got all the ich. The littlest bala did have just a couple spots a day or two ago so better to be safe and make sure it doesn't come back.
 
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#11 ·
gosh...went from sad thread to uplifted,then worry,now back
on the straight..so pleased things are much better.
the pictures are beautiful,the fish look so vibrant :-D
 
#14 ·
Not a whole lot to update. Everyone is doing great. The Black Belt is starting to get a little size on him. Here's an updated pics of him.
 

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#16 ·
Just a few updated pics.
 

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#19 ·
Added the Firemouth a week or so ago. He's doing real well. He hid in the big fake plant for about the first day and a half. The other fish just kind of checked him out then ignored him. So he's out and about now. Everyone's doing great. I'll try and post an updated video later.
 
#20 ·
So last week I noticed one of the caves I had put in for the Firemouth was overturned. Apparently my second largest bala had swam part way into the cave and must have gotten stuck. He did a number on his head and had a large scrape. I have not added any medication, just regular water changes and today it is almost completely healed. Here's a pic a day or so after it happened. Needless to say, I have removed the cave since the Firemouth never uses it.
 

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#22 ·
Yeah he had pretty much scalped himself lol. Can't even tell it happened now. Healthy fish are very resilient when it comes to healing up.
 
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#23 ·
All kinds of reflection going on in this pic. But still, I love this pic of my grandson admiring the fish. He just loves this tank.
 

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#24 ·
So my Black Belt has been harassing my Argentea, chasing and nipping her. I moved her to my Qt tank so she can heal up a bit. Unfortunately, I need to rehome her. I have someone interested in her coming by tomorrow. Since I've removed her from the 150 the black belt has calmed down. He and the Oscar seem to get along fine and ignore the smaller convict and Firemouth.
 
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