Future tank ideas

What ideas does everybody have for tanks they want eventually? Could be your “dream” tank, or maybe you have one in progress. Perhaps you have an empty one lying around and trying to figure out to do with it. It might be a particular fish, biotope, or style you want to do.

I haven’t been doing this too long and I have so many ideas but its hard to narrow them down! It doesn’t seem possible to try a little bit of everything in this hobby, I’d need a whole room of tanks lol.

So right now I have an empty 10 gal, 20 long, and 29 gal lying around. Currently have a 10gal and 40breeder community tanks setup.
So some current ideas:

Tear down the 10 gallon community and make it into a betta tank.

the empty 10 gallon can be a quarantine tank since we don’t have one now.

the 20 long can be an unheated tank, thinking of some combo of CPDs, WCMM, rocket killifish, cherry shrimp, Pearl danios.

The 29 will likely be a planted community, like my 40 breeder (this one will be my wife’s). We have some Serpae tetras to rehome, not sure where we will go with this one yet. Rainbowfish, loaches, who knows.

and then my “someday tank” I’m pretty dead set on a 75 gallon seems like a great size. Not sure what I want to do yet. Cichlids perhaps? Angelfish?

some of the random ideas floating through my head of fish/tanks I want to keep in general, not really sure where it will all fit in:

live bearer tank
High tech tank
Dirted tank
African cichlid tank
New world cichlid tank
Angels
Tiger barbs
Killifish tank
Rainbowfish tank
I also want to try honey and sparkling Gouramis, rummynose/Cardinal/black neon tetras

If anybody has any comments on my ideas or simply wants to share their own “future tank” ideas, please share!

 

Well, the one i am setting up is mostly for peacock gudgeons and bn plecos...with some tetras in the mix. If i had a 20 long, i would do crayfish. My boss has a bunch of electric blue crayfish juveniles for sale! Lol

 

I want to eventually create an actual functioning ecosystem in a tank. Problem is space, and ecosystems are fickle things when forced. Ideally I'd never have to add anything, not even food. Just top off with "rain" like water. I'd want mostly nano species as well. Probably an okefenokee swamp biotope.

 

Peacock gudgeons are another cool fish
I was just reading a thread on crayfish today they seem really awesome

 

Peacock gudgeons are another cool fish
I was just reading a thread on crayfish today they seem really awesome

I got so mad yesterday at the Petco manager. He KNOWS i am putting the gudgeons in a tank i am in process on. So he showed me the 4 they had yesterday....and i currently have no place to put them!! Also, it is the first time i have actually seen them in a tank...anywhere...that didn't have a camera involved

 

Donovan, making a ecosystem is really easy. Look up walstad method, just stock lightly and have a refugium with some kind of food breeding in it. It will help with filtration and feed the fishes

And get a rodi ato with a rain valve and then use dirted substrate and add riparian plants too it has to be full ecosystem. If you REALLY want you can make a diy sun which is really complicated but you would make a arc over the tank with 2 LED lights a moonlight and sunlight which would follow the pattern of the moon and sun and go back and forth then rise and set

 

I want to eventually create an actual functioning ecosystem in a tank. Problem is space, and ecosystems are fickle things when forced. Ideally I'd never have to add anything, not even food. Just top off with "rain" like water. I'd want mostly nano species as well. Probably an okefenokee swamp biotope.

Sounds amazing, I need to read about this more

I got so mad yesterday at the Petco manager. He KNOWS i am putting the gudgeons in a tank i am in process on. So he showed me the 4 they had yesterday....and i currently have no place to put them!! Also, it is the first time i have actually seen them in a tank...anywhere...that didn't have a camera involved

Will he hold them for you, or your tank won’t be ready for a long time?

 

Will he hold them for you, or your tank won’t be ready for a long time?

Not planning on setting it up until after i take the Christmas stuff down. Plus, still waiting on the heater. The last one i ordered got shattered on the way. Soaking the woods for it now, so should jist be able to set up, through my seeded sponge filter and filter pads in then start adding fish.

I have been planning and prepping for this one for awhile lol

 

Not planning on setting it up until after i take the Christmas stuff down. Plus, still waiting on the heater. The last one i ordered got shattered on the way. Soaking the woods for it now, so should jist be able to set up, through my seeded sponge filter and filter pads in then start adding fish.

I have been planning and prepping for this one for awhile lol

Awesome, what size tank and how many peacock gudgeons and BN plecos?

 

Awesome, what size tank and how many peacock gudgeons and BN plecos?

45 gal, i figure 6-8 gudgeons and 1-2 plecos. Will wait awhile for the plecos til i get algae growing on the wood though...and thinking about maybe not your typical color as well.

 

I have an 55 gallon Glow fish Tank with 19 fish right now and have always been dreaming of an 10 gallon eco tank! I want the eco tank to take care of itself and have plants and grass with a thick layer of plants on the surface and in the tank. I do not know what I am doing yet but have seen a tank like this in the local fish store. I will put nano fish in the tank that can live in this envirement.

I also want a 300 gallon flat tank that I can grow coral in. I will have shrimp and small creatures that can live around the tank. I will sell the coral as it grows to local fish stores or online. This is my ultimate goal when I retire so I have enough time to tend to it.

I have just recently added some more glow fish zebra danios and some glow fish tetras but will add some more soon. It is a fun hobby and I love to take care of my tank.

 

We talked about this briefly the other day I think

I have some ideas for my empty 40B.. I could fill it with lilies and stock a big school of Indian Glass Fish, or do a large shrimp tank, or maybe another blackwater with Chocolate Gouramis. Another cool idea is a paludarium style setup, maybe have rocks stacked all the way to the surface at one end with terrestrial plants and have the rest of the tank planted with Vals and stocked with black bar endlers

For my 2 empty 5.5g I was thinking maybe a desktop shrimp tank and a betta tank

 

We talked about this briefly the other day I think

I have some ideas for my empty 40B.. I could fill it with lilies and stock a big school of Indian Glass Fish, or do a large shrimp tank, or maybe another blackwater with Chocolate Gouramis. Another cool idea is a paludarium style setup, maybe have rocks stacked all the way to the surface at one end with terrestrial plants and have the rest of the tank planted with Vals and stocked with black bar endlers

For my 2 empty 5.5g I was thinking maybe a desktop shrimp tank and a betta tank

All great ideas. A paludarium would be really cool!

 

All great ideas. A paludarium would be really cool!

Yea I'm really fond of that one actually lol... and I was thinking after I posted that: why not do a paludarium with lilies that would look really awesome

 

Something i think could be cool/interesting is a glo-fish tank...but with regular fish.

 

My dream tank is a massive blackwater paludarium. In the land portion, I could focus on the various rare tropical ferns, orchids, aroids, bryophytes, and gesneriads that I own. In the water section, I could own all of the small, rare blackwater nano fish that I live so much. It would be a cube tank with the land are in the middle so it’s viewable from all angles. I could also even keep some of the small frogs that I love so much on the land area, like cinnamon tree frogs and different types of reed frogs. They can coexist with fish as they mostly hunt tiny terrestrial insects rather than small aquatic creatures. Sorry, I’m getting really excited thinking of the possibilities.

 

My dream tank is a massive blackwater paludarium. In the land portion, I could focus on the various rare tropical ferns, orchids, aroids, bryophytes, and gesneriads that I own. In the water section, I could own all of the small, rare blackwater nano fish that I live so much. It would be a cube tank with the land are in the middle so it’s viewable from all angles. I could also even keep some of the small frogs that I love so much on the land area, like cinnamon tree frogs and different types of reed frogs. They can coexist with fish as they mostly hunt tiny terrestrial insects rather than small aquatic creatures. Sorry, I’m getting really excited thinking of the possibilities.

I never even thought of doing a blackwater paludarium. That is a VERY cool idea

 

What ideas does everybody have for tanks they want eventually? Could be your “dream” tank, or maybe you have one in progress. Perhaps you have an empty one lying around and trying to figure out to do with it. It might be a particular fish, biotope, or style you want to do.

I haven’t been doing this too long and I have so many ideas but its hard to narrow them down! It doesn’t seem possible to try a little bit of everything in this hobby, I’d need a whole room of tanks lol.


If anybody has any comments on my ideas or simply wants to share their own “future tank” ideas, please share!

Even though I've had my planted tank for 8 months, now. I still feel so new to the hobby. I just want my ten gallon planted tank to work well for the 20 neocaridina davidi, im going to add soon.

 

My dream tank is a massive blackwater paludarium. In the land portion, I could focus on the various rare tropical ferns, orchids, aroids, bryophytes, and gesneriads that I own. In the water section, I could own all of the small, rare blackwater nano fish that I live so much. It would be a cube tank with the land are in the middle so it’s viewable from all angles. I could also even keep some of the small frogs that I love so much on the land area, like cinnamon tree frogs and different types of reed frogs. They can coexist with fish as they mostly hunt tiny terrestrial insects rather than small aquatic creatures. Sorry, I’m getting really excited thinking of the possibilities.

What an amazing idea! Now could or would you have insects in the paludarium?

Even though I've had my planted tank for 8 months, now. I still feel so new to the hobby. I just want my ten gallon planted tank to work well for the 20 neocaridina davidi, im going to add soon.

That’s about how long I’ve been in the hobby too, and it still seems like I’m brand new.
A planted shrimp tank sounds awesome, post pics after you add them!

 

What an amazing idea! Now could or would you have insects in the paludarium?

For sure! I would probably keep a small colony of dubia roaches there. They’re good at cleaning up dead leaves other waste that piles up in the land portion. They’re also smart enough to avoid drowning. The young ones could even serve as food for the frogs. I want to also do a ghost mantis, but that’s big enough to eat a cinnamon tree frog, so maybe not...

 

That’s about how long I’ve been in the hobby too, and it still seems like I’m brand new.
A planted shrimp tank sounds awesome, post pics after you add them!

I definitely will!

 

For sure! I would probably keep a small colony of dubia roaches there. They’re good at cleaning up dead leaves other waste that piles up in the land portion. They’re also smart enough to avoid drowning. The young ones could even serve as food for the frogs. I want to also do a ghost mantis, but that’s big enough to eat a cinnamon tree frog, so maybe not...

Very cool! sounds like the ghost mantis may be an excuse for another tank

 

When I'm bored in class I draw/write down ideas for tanks that I have nowhere near enough money for. My favorite right now is a heavily planted 20 long with a really nice bright light and schools of diamond and congo tetras and they would just sparkle and be so pretty!

 

When I'm bored in class I draw/write down ideas for tanks that I have nowhere near enough money for. My favorite right now is a heavily planted 20 long with a really nice bright light and schools of diamond and congo tetras and they would just sparkle and be so pretty!

I do that too. My favorite is a big, heavily planted, blackwater tank for three spot gouramis and rasboras. And of course the paludarium I mentioned earlier, but I actually plan to own that eventually.

 

I do that too. My favorite is a big, heavily planted, blackwater tank for three spot gouramis and rasboras.

My kind of tank! I'm a huge fan of the blackwater look. VERY tempted to just do another one with my empty 40 lol

 

My kind of tank! I'm a huge fan of the blackwater look. VERY tempted to just do another one with my empty 40 lol

do it..do it...DO IT DO IT DO IT

 

do it..do it...DO IT DO IT DO IT

Lol well now I have to

No one seems to like the Indian glass fish as much as I do but they would do great in a faux blackwater with a pH around 6.5 and they are compatible up to 86 F. So many options for some unique blackwater stocking with those guys. You could even keep them with Discus in theory.. I may try that down the road

 

I'm slowly planning for a 29 gallon, & I think about 10 otos with shrimp or super small fish like chilis would be really cool. I'm just worried that the otos won't make it, & since I'm young & don't have a job, $ is super limited for me.

Although I could just go the cliche route of a school of fish, some bottom dwellers & centerpiece fish, although that sounds super basic, & I want something original. I would also like it to be environmentally friendly, whatever that means (idek :rolleyes since I'm all about nature.

But all of my demands limit my options a bit. I also like can't come up with stuff by myself, so whoever wants to can add some ideas to my thread (linked here) of random ideas. *btw the title is about a 20 long, but I decided I want a 29 as it takes up about the same amount of space, just has more height.

Anyway, thanks for reading my Ted Talk, and if you can offer ideas, I would appreciate it!

 

Lol well now I have to

No one seems to like the Indian glass fish as much as I do but they would do great in a faux blackwater with a pH around 6.5 and they are compatible up to 86 F. So many options for some unique blackwater stocking with those guys. You could even keep them with Discus in theory.. I may try that down the road

I love glass fish! They would look super cool with discus.

 

I would want a tank with a massive school of tetras, and African cichlid tank, and some discus. (All different tanks)

 

I have neither the scaping skills, nor the thousands of dollars that this would cost but would love to build a blackwater paludarium in a 125. Something similar to what you'd see in a MD tank video.

 

I love glass fish! They would look super cool with discus.

I know right? I don't think its been done before either but research seems to say it would work out perfectly. At least, I haven't seen anyone try it before online

 

When I'm bored in class I draw/write down ideas for tanks that I have nowhere near enough money for. My favorite right now is a heavily planted 20 long with a really nice bright light and schools of diamond and congo tetras and they would just sparkle and be so pretty!

Both awesome choices for tetras!

My kind of tank! I'm a huge fan of the blackwater look. VERY tempted to just do another one with my empty 40 lol

Yeah, you definitely have to do this

Lol well now I have to

No one seems to like the Indian glass fish as much as I do but they would do great in a faux blackwater with a pH around 6.5 and they are compatible up to 86 F. So many options for some unique blackwater stocking with those guys. You could even keep them with Discus in theory.. I may try that down the road

I don’t know much about Indian glass fish but they look really cool. That would be interesting tank keeping them with discus. Discus look so awesome but they aren’t in the cards for me anytime soon, I just don’t think I can commit to multiple water changes a week! Between work and 2 little ones running around and keeping up with the house I feel like I would slip behind. But maybe someday.

I'm slowly planning for a 29 gallon, & I think about 10 otos with shrimp or super small fish like chilis would be really cool. I'm just worried that the otos won't make it, & since I'm young & don't have a job, $ is super limited for me.

Although I could just go the cliche route of a school of fish, some bottom dwellers & centerpiece fish, although that sounds super basic, & I want something original. I would also like it to be environmentally friendly, whatever that means (idek :rolleyes since I'm all about nature.

But all of my demands limit my options a bit. I also like can't come up with stuff by myself, so whoever wants to can add some ideas to my thread (linked here) of random ideas. *btw the title is about a 20 long, but I decided I want a 29 as it takes up about the same amount of space, just has more height.

Anyway, thanks for reading my Ted Talk, and if you can offer ideas, I would appreciate it!

I always thought a big tank just filled with a ton of nano fish would be really cool. How about a killifish tank for your 29? Or tiger barbs or live bearers?

 

Alright hear me out. A massive tank, like a 125, dirted, with floaters, massive swords, ludwigia, vallisneria, some crypts, dwarf hairgrass, and then no fish. Add snails, scuds, daphnia, seed shrimp, copepods, and let it go crazy.
Edit...forgot the important part lol, just some newts. Not sure which species, but alpine and other European ones are my favorite. The water would be a bit low to accommodate them. Either that or some african dwarf frogs.

 

Alright hear me out. A massive tank, like a 125, dirted, with floaters, massive swords, ludwigia, vallisneria, some crypts, dwarf hairgrass, and then no fish. Add snails, scuds, daphnia, seed shrimp, copepods, and let it go crazy.
Edit...forgot the important part lol, just some newts. Not sure which species, but alpine and other European ones are my favorite. The water would be a bit low to accommodate them. Either that or some african dwarf frogs.

Don't forget some freshwater crabs.

 

I got so mad yesterday at the Petco manager. He KNOWS i am putting the gudgeons in a tank i am in process on. So he showed me the 4 they had yesterday....and i currently have no place to put them!! Also, it is the first time i have actually seen them in a tank...anywhere...that didn't have a camera involved

I have three from my lfs. It was a miracle they got them in at all. I want to get about 6 more, mostly females though because I have two males and one female.

 

I have three from my lfs. It was a miracle they got them in at all. I want to get about 6 more, mostly females though because I have two males and one female.

I am wanting 6-8 for my new tank when i get it set up. They had 4 at Petco last weekend. He always tells me he can order some for me.

 

Currently planning for my empty 90. Stocking so far is 7 Royal Heckel Cross Discus, 15-20 rummy or cardinal tetra, and a blue phantom pleco. If anyone has any other stocking ideas let me know.

 

Blue phantoms look pretty cool! I am thinking maybe one of those with my gudgeons...something not the common colored bn pleco, anyway

 

Blue phantoms look pretty cool! I am thinking maybe one of those with my gudgeons...something not the common colored bn pleco, anyway

They are beautiful but they get about 8 inches and they do prefer warmer water, which is why I want one.