This tank will be in a sensory room for an adult day program. I've never had a tank this size and I'm overwhelmed with stocking and scape ideas. It has two 4ft T8s for light, no windows – so kind of low light.
My considerations are: relatively low maintenance, so probably understocking, hardy fish, and then I'm having trouble deciding between peaceful and relaxing or lots of color and movement. I would also like some clean up crew to make sure the plants stay clean.
I've only ever had a 30 gallon so I feel like are new aspects to keeping fish in a tank this size that I'm unaware of, as well.
Please, give me your coolest sensory tank ideas!
Posted by bownsyball
11 Comments
I always thought the way knifefish move is relaxing
Sand(rinsed and don’t use play sand) with some lace rock caves, some scattered tall plants, and a nice piece of wood or two. I would do a Severum, Convict, a group of Corydoras and a group of small but not too tiny schooling fish like black skirt tetras.
Another idea would be like 30 white cloud mountain minnows, they’re underrated and super fun/peaceful. Maybe a couple fantail fancy goldfish. With this route I would do less rock caves but some sand and pots on their side, a large piece of wood at the bottom and a mix of spaced out short and tall plants.
Green neon tetras give my tank a beautiful glittering effect even when looking at it from far away.
500 cardenal tetras (or neons, green neons) but all the same species plus some cherry shrimp and snails. Inspired by this (you can just skip to the end at 19 minutes) https://youtu.be/3bDNixZZNaI?si=o5ykYhhzt5Q96_Ug
Lots of colour and movement is the way to go. This tank is about the same size as mine which is heavily planted with probably close to 100 small fish in it.
The colour and movement capture your attention which makes it easier to be distracted from other stimuli. Low movement and colour are often less interesting which make it easier to lose focus
https://preview.redd.it/f2dvy2szznkg1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=82cddda4e802e13cc6658cf17a65307f1bea12e1
I love watching my shrimp just eating whatever all day they are much more entertaining than fish to me.
Platys. Get multiple colors/patterns. Lots of color, very undemanding and tolerant. They can handle going without a heater as well. They also won’t turn brown over generations like a mixed african cichlid group will.
They are also very cheap, assorteds go for 2-4$ a piece. I would start with 6-10, and maybe add more over time.
White clouds or rice fish would also be great additions.
I would go with sand and some type of val for plants. Val is also pretty undemanding. Fake silk plants would also be a great option mixed with some easy stem plants or large form anubias if the lights are really bad.
Filter I would go with the largest hob you can find. Assume it won’t be maintained much so oversizing it as much as possible will help provide some grace. Self priming would be nice as well.
Light timer if tank does not have one.
I’m not sure how much attention this tank is going to be getting.
I would not do fish that are typically kept in large tanks because they tend to be very messy and spike nitrates. Fancy goldfish are an option but they can send nitrates through the roof without regular maintenance.
Lots of SHRIMPS!!!
Partial jokes aside, I have always wanted a larger tank like that so I could do either discus or angelfish. I think fish with kinda flowy fins (like bettas but maybe don’t do those) are always really mesmerizing and worth just sitting and watching.
I really like corydoras, and think a sand bottom would be really pretty!
I have a current serene sun pro LED kit with backlight and I’m always mesmerized.
You could go with a large school of fish but I personally like a mix of bigger fish with schools. Perhaps some angels would do great there with a school of larger tetras.
Not my video but an example of the light kit.
https://youtu.be/s7p9gKRDqMg?si=7j2xIjczQcVmtRXg
I believe your most important evaluation criteria should be “Does it look good from across the room, and at arms length?” “Can that provide you with two different experiences?”
For me, this means avoid a chaotic tank with “lots” going on, lures you to get as close as possible to appreciate it, but blends into a loud mess from far away.
I was originally going to suggest iwugumi with high flow and jungle vals, so from afar you could have sweeping movement of the grasses, and close-up you could appreciate its natural details. But, sadly, I think that demands a carpeting plant with high light, and more maintenance trimming. I’ll hold on to the idea of high flow, but more of an african riverscape where you use less expensive river rock substrates with warm colors to match the aquarium case and stand. Jungle vals are still okay, but so are talll flowy crypts like balsnae tall anubias in the background, and shorter crypts and anubias in the forground. A featured cluster of hardscape would be nice emphasized with bulbitis heudelloti .Make sure you leave space to appreciate the flow. If you feel bold, you can feature something like a Crinum Calamistratum or Crinum natans in the background, which are very slow growing but eventually powerful pieces; I don’t have firsthand experience with them though. They need adequate substrate, but could be handled in hidden potted vessels in an otherwise low nutrient(low maintenance) tank. Also, I assume you are reusing filtration, so simple wavemaker might be all you need to add the movement.
As for the fish, I see a large school of the right barbs, tetras, or danios.
Tetra, there a lots of tetras and I’d pick a few different larger types that are peaceful. Cardinal and neons often get sick unfortunately so I’d stay clear of them.
I wouldn’t get platys as they are live bearers and will have lots of babies… they’re a neat fish and what I started off with all those years ago but I’d never keep them again.
I’d get some yoyo loaches (because they’re really cool) and maybe some Cory’s in with the tetras . I get the most enjoyment out of my community tank!
Another great option is guppy’s. They’re a happy smaller fish and also very bright and beautiful.
fill your tank with an assortment of aquarium rocks before adding fish and easy low maintenance plants such as Anubis. A nice substrate such as sand or gravel too.
There are a lot of low tech plants that would be happy and thrive in your aquarium without aqua soil or lighting upgrades as well.