The Puffer Forum

Hi,
I have a tank set up for cichlids, but I want to switch to a fahaka. It's a 150g 6'x18"x20 something inches plumbed with a 35g wet/dry. I "think" it should be wide enough for a long time. Right now I have pea gravel in it. I know that I should swap it over to sand, and I will. At least most of it. I also need to get rid of the cichlids. I have a few cory's, plecos, and 2 raphael cats that are always hiding. I'd like to know what else I should do before getting a fahaka?

Here's a terrible pic of the tank:


And here is the pea gravel that's in it now:


Thanks!

That gravel is fine. 18" is probably a bit shallow long term but you know that already lol welcome and good luck with the fahaka. I own one and love it

18" is close but as long as the fish can turn around in there, it might do. My fahaka only grew to 12" but you never know... I agree--that gravel is fine. You mustn't leave the tank fallow for long, or the biological bed will quickly die off. Either feed it with flake food or ammonia or move the cichlids out the same day you move the fahaka in (best choice).

Gravel is probably the better option long term as sand can be somewhat of a pain to keep spotlessly clean in a fahaka tank . Although if your new young fahaka likes to bury itsself , then sand is better . Personally I have sand in my fahakas tank , but now shes outgrown her burying herself' phase , I plan to change the substrate in the near future to some type of gravel ...