Fish Tank Set Up

[Luke SWA]

Ive been looking for ages for something him to hide in so when i came to the cave it was the best thing and i really dont think the tank is overstocked without the plec

 

[the_lock_man]

Honestly with just the barbs i think ive hit the limit but ive seen tanks way more overstocked
Ive never had any problems with the plec

Would you keep a Great Dane puppy in the cupboard-under-the-stairs? When he's small and cute, no real problem, but then, as he reaches adult size, he's just too bloomin' big, isn't he?

Same with fish, only with them it's worse, because although their bodies stop growing, their internal organs do not. Leaving you with a prematurely dead fish.

Ive been looking for ages for something him to hide in so when i came to the cave it was the best thing and i really dont think the tank is overstocked without the plec

Try letting him hide at your LFS, much better for him.

Please remember that people on the forum have no axe to grind, no-one is telling you that you are the Evil Fish-Torturer, plenty of people have made similar errors. The advice you are being given is the best advice possible. The RIGHT advice. I would suggest you listen to it.

 

[Luke SWA]

Yes i do understand as i did say earlier i was off to a pet store tomorrow the store i bought it from
And i do care for my fish !
This was my mums tank for years and she tried giving it to my sister who cant look after a goldfish properly !
So i took it on last year and not had 1 dead fish i gave away a severum to make way for my barbs as i adore tigers and black rubies i will look tomorrow to see if i can give away the plec

 

[the_lock_man]

Yes i do understand as i did say earlier i was off to a pet store tomorrow the store i bought it from
And i do care for my fish !
This was my mums tank for years and she tried giving it to my sister who cant look after a goldfish properly !
So i took it on last year and not had 1 dead fish i gave away a severum to make way for my barbs as i adore tigers and black rubies i will look tomorrow to see if i can give away the plec

Top man!

 

[Luke SWA]

And i dont appreciate you guys being quite rude i understand your frustration at my fish tank and as ive said a few times ill look tomorrow but without the plec 15 barbs in a 24 gall is not as overstocked as you guys are making it out to be and i know a fish doesnt grow to the size of its tank as their internals keep growing

 

[ZoddyZod]

And i dont appreciate you guys being quite rude i understand your frustration at my fish tank and as ive said a few times ill look tomorrow but without the plec 15 barbs in a 24 gall is not as overstocked as you guys are making it out to be and i know a fish doesnt grow to the size of its tank as their internals keep growing

I don't think anyone has been rude here. The point we are trying to make is that the tank IS overstocked/unsuitable with the plec.

 

[Luke SWA]

Ok right different question is the tank overstocked without the plec? And if so how much

 

[Overload]

What filter are you running on the tank?

With just the barbs you are looking at about 42" of adult fish so you are going to need something decent to keep that clean

 

[Luke SWA]

I dont know tbh but when i check for ammonia nitrate nitrite its always been 0 -0.25 which is good and i do a partial water change every 7-10 days

 

[Overload]

I dont know tbh but when i check for ammonia nitrate nitrite its always been 0 -0.25 which is good and i do a partial water change every 7-10 days

0.25 is the absolute maximum you want to find in there (and can kill fish), you probably need a better filter and/or larger/more frequent water changes.

 

[Luke SWA]

Its an aqua flow internal filter

 

[Tizer]

tank dimensions? im sure you have a tape measure

 

[Overload]

Its an aqua flow internal filter

ok there are a few in that range 50, 100, 200, 400 and XL

any idea which you have?

 

[Luke SWA]

I thought 0.5 was the max as far as im aware 0-0.25 is fine and i dont honestly think i need a new filter as ive never had any problems but ill take notice as i was thinking of buying an external filter but its down to money again ive been looking for jobs in aquatics so all this has helped a bit as i already knew the plec was too big for the tank

Erm 200 i think i cant remember it was last month when i bought a sponge for it
And i cant add a new filter into my tank straight away doesnt it need to be running for for like 3 days the whole point of cycling a tank?

Tank dimensions erm h 15 l 30 w 12 inches estimate from when i last measured it but ill measure it again pal

 

[Tizer]

you wont get a job in aquatics if you dont know how the cycle works, i suggest you have a read of the beginners section here and absorb as much information as you can. the only acceptable values for ammonia and nitrite are zero and to truely cycle a filter to handle the bioload of the well stocked tank can take anything up to 2 months.

If you tank is truely that size then the video really doesnt do it justice, its very missleading as it makes it look very very small.

If it is the case then i'll withdraw my comments regarding the barbs as i feel it may well be suitable to house them. However, you must also be aware that these guys are very very active fish and although they will probably grow nicely, ( IF you do a good water change every weekend (betweek 30 and 50%) ) you might find that when they reach adulthood they will require more space. So it would be wise for you, even at 16 years old, to save a bit of money and start sweet talking your parents into allowing you a 3 foot tank for around this time next year.

As for adding new stock, it probably wouldnt be wise and Tigers can be nasty little gits and get very fin nippy. I learnt that lesson for myself and had to rehome 17 of them recently.

As for your current water stats, you should consider yourself being in a "fish in cycle", you need to keep ammonia and nitrite below 0.25 at all times and this can only be done with daily water testing and water changes. Do not ever replace the sponge in that filter until its literally falling appart in your hands. if it gets dirty, mucky and gunky, scoop out a pot of water from the tank, take out the sponge and squeeze it in the pot of tank water, then put it back in. In time it will cycle fully an be able to cope with the bio load. Always add dechlorinatior to new water that goes in so it doesnt destroy the bacteria forming on the sponge.

i think i've said enough, good luck with your tank.