I'm looking for a cool fish for my 36x18x16. I know that most the fish I put in the tank aren't going to be able to stay in there forever, and thats fine. If they really start to outgrow I'll trade/give them away to someone with a bigger tank. Could a BGK live with a jack dempsey? I have hard, alkaline water where I live. 8.3 pH. Can the BGK live in this type of water if I acclimate them correctly?

Any of you have good ideas on some cool fish to stock the tank with? I'm kind of at a loss here. There are so many fish out there but I'm not sure which ones to go with.

No, Ghost's do not belong in with a cichlid, if you do get one though and it grows too big I Am looking for large ones

It sounds like you are already planning to pawn off your fish on me, since you know I have that 150g in layaway :D ... well sorry mister, but that's going to be a reef tank!

Hmm.. my wife won't let me get the jack dempsey. Go figure. LoL. What can you put in with black ghost knifes? Are there any compatible tank mates? I'd like to have one, but I'd like to see some activity, too.

Add some cichlids maybe dwarfs and some plants, that would definatly keep you entertained.

I think I have finally decided on a final stocking plan. I'm hoping to order the 2x55 lighting kit and building a canopy and getting some form of Co2. I want to turn it into a nice planted tank.

As far as tank mates are concerned, I want to add two three-spot gouramis, 4 upside-down catfish, and the senegal bichir.

I think that would be a nice looking tank with activity at all levels. I've always wanted to keep some sort of catfish, and these seem to fit the niche I need them to. Let me know what you guys think.