Difference Of Opinions

[kanzaris]

Hi All

Please could someone settle an argument? (difference of opinions)
My husband would like to get 4-5 more Archers for our tank. In my opinion the tank would be overstocked.
The tank is 6 ½ x 2x 2 so about 150 gal. I have got 3 Shark Cats, 7 Monos, 1 Archer and 1 GSP. We do a weekly water change of about 30% and our external Filter is an Fluvel FX5.
Any opinions please.

Thanks

Sabby

 

[demonmagus]

just thought I'd say your tank is 180 US gallons, were you using UK gallons?

 

[kanzaris]

just thought I'd say your tank is 180 US gallons, were you using UK gallons?

Hi Demonmagus

It is 150 uk gal.

Sabby

 

[nmonks]

You're probably close to the limit. Depends on the size of the fishes of course. If your archers and monos are around 10-15 cm long, that's one thing, but if they've reached their maximum sizes of over 20 cm, that's something else again. Similarly, shark catfish typically stop growing around the 20 cm mark, but I've seen them closer to 30 cm in large aquaria.

Really, the only objective measurement in water quality. If the nitrites are zero and the nitrates low (for these fish, I'd suggest below 50 ppt) then your filter and water changes are working. If you think the fishes would have swimming space, then adding some more is fair enough. Experimental evidence quite clearly shows that water quality and oxygenation, not tank space, is the limit on stocking. Having said that, I do feel you're tank, if not fully stocked now, will be once the fish grow some more.

If I was going to add more stuff, I'd probably increase the filtration and certainly consider a protein skimmer.

Cheers, Neale

 

[kanzaris]

You're probably close to the limit. Depends on the size of the fishes of course. If your archers and monos are around 10-15 cm long, that's one thing, but if they've reached their maximum sizes of over 20 cm, that's something else again. Similarly, shark catfish typically stop growing around the 20 cm mark, but I've seen them closer to 30 cm in large aquaria.

Really, the only objective measurement in water quality. If the nitrites are zero and the nitrates low (for these fish, I'd suggest below 50 ppt) then your filter and water changes are working. If you think the fishes would have swimming space, then adding some more is fair enough. Experimental evidence quite clearly shows that water quality and oxygenation, not tank space, is the limit on stocking. Having said that, I do feel you're tank, if not fully stocked now, will be once the fish grow some more.

If I was going to add more stuff, I'd probably increase the filtration and certainly consider a protein skimmer.

Cheers, Neale

Hi Neale
I would love to buy a skimmer. My problem is that my salinity is 1.012. I have asked in many shops a skimmer is not going to work sufficiently at this salinity. As I have an Archer in my Tank I don’t really want to take my salinity up. All my other fish would be ok.

Sabby

 

[nmonks]

Skimmers work fine about 1.010. Maybe not as well as in full marine, but they work.

If you do a search of this subforum you'll find a whole bunch of experiences and recommendations.

Neale

 

[kanzaris]

Skimmers work fine about 1.010. Maybe not as well as in full marine, but they work.

If you do a search of this subforum you'll find a whole bunch of experiences and recommendations.

Neale

Hi

Thanks.
There are a few good articles on skimmers. I think I might invest in one.

Thanks

Sabine

 

[andywg]

Is there such a thing as UK gallons? I always thought it was Imperial gallons?

Anyway, at 6'6" long the tank will be 162.5 imperial gallons as a 6x2x2 is 150.

With regards to protein skimmers I would either look at the deltec skimmers that use a recirculating pump to generate the venturi, or else one of the Tunze DOC skimmers.

Although, possibly the best option at a lower salinity will be the older style skimmers with an air pump to generate the bubbles. With these you can maintain a slower through flow of water, but pump far more air in by using pond size air pumps. I do this and have fantastic results, far better than my somewhat cheap standard venturei skimmer (though I am yet to use my Tunze in anger, so cannot compare there).

The advantage of air stone skimmers is they are relatively cheap and easy to make, essentially just being tubes with in inlet at the top, outlet at the bottom and some air stones in them.

 

[CFC]

I have run skimmers on tanks with a SG as low as 1.006 with some success so 1.012 is more than enough, the only thing i found is that as Andy said you do need to have a fairly hefty airpump behind them to get enough bubbles out of the diffuser.

 

[kanzaris]

I have run skimmers on tanks with a SG as low as 1.006 with some success so 1.012 is more than enough, the only thing i found is that as Andy said you do need to have a fairly hefty airpump behind them to get enough bubbles out of the diffuser.

Hi

I was looking at skimmers yesterday. And I liked the TMC V2 1500. So it be well big enough for my 700 lt. It was £ 189.99. I did ask about the deltec and the guy in the shop looked it up in his book and said that a 1000 lt deltec was £263 and on top you have to buy a powerhead. He said the TMC V2 will do the same job as the Deltec. My husband said he saw an article about the TMC in PFK Magazine before Christmas and it had a good revue. Has anybody had any experience with this skimmer?

Thanks

Sabby

 

[demonmagus]

Is there such a thing as UK gallons? I always thought it was Imperial gallons?

OK I don't really know, I'll call them imperial gallons then

 

[andywg]

I have run skimmers on tanks with a SG as low as 1.006 with some success so 1.012 is more than enough, the only thing i found is that as Andy said you do need to have a fairly hefty airpump behind them to get enough bubbles out of the diffuser.

Hi

I was looking at skimmers yesterday. And I liked the TMC V2 1500. So it be well big enough for my 700 lt. It was £ 189.99. I did ask about the deltec and the guy in the shop looked it up in his book and said that a 1000 lt deltec was £263 and on top you have to buy a powerhead. He said the TMC V2 will do the same job as the Deltec. My husband said he saw an article about the TMC in PFK Magazine before Christmas and it had a good revue. Has anybody had any experience with this skimmer?

Thanks

Sabby

The difference with a deltec is it should be a recirculating skimmer, which means it is a far better design than the TMC, and that is before you consider that Deltec are the Eheims of skimmers. The extra pump is to move water through it. You could do the same with connecting your filter outlet to it.

It's a matter of whether you want to spend more and get better or are happy with lower quality and saved pennies. Only you can make that decision.