How do they do it?

[slimecoat]

A LFS I visit regularly keeps huge numbers of fish in each tank. I'd guess at at least 50 small/medium fish in their 2 foot tanks, of mixed types - barbs, tetras, livebearers, catfish etc. It looks great - lots of fish.

Now the thing is, they are all healthy looking. In fact this store is pretty good with their stock. They even stock rare fish (over $100) which a lot of stores won't risk. What I am trying to say is, they seem to know what they're doing.

Is there a trick, or are the usual formulas for stocklevels very conservative and if you have excellent filtration etc, can you run much higher numbers?

 

[Phantom Thief]

Do they run a central filtration system? What that means is that every tank is linked to one huge filter hidden at the back or similar, and this filter has a huge volume of water, which allows more fish to be kept.

P.T.

 

[wetwetwet]

Yep as PT says - it'll be a centralised system....



www

 

[Ben]

yeh and the fish get sold everyday

DD

 

[Phantom Thief]

Yes, the fish leave quickly, so they do not stay long, and thus do not get as affected as they would be staying there for a long time.

P.T.

 

[Fish Buddy]

I read in a fish research magazene that one can keep many fish in an aquarium as long at the water is being recycled constantly at a large rate- that's how thousands of fish survive in the small rivers/streames they live in. It is just not feesable for most people and their households.

 

[canarsie11]

Also with fish being sold and new fish being added all the time.

Territories are not being established, so a lot of aggression you would see at home in your tank, wont happen in LFS. Cause does not get chance to develop.

Also many tanks in LFS are bare, so they can catch fish easily. Not the type of tank most of us want in our home.

 

[slimecoat]

Thanks for all the comments. I had an idea it might be something to do with a centralised filtration system. So in effect, they are in a much larger 'tank', and we just see a small part, the 2 foot tank.

Thanks again

 

[Phantom Thief]

Thanks for all the comments. I had an idea it might be something to do with a centralised filtration system. So in effect, they are in a much larger 'tank', and we just see a small part, the 2 foot tank.

Thanks again

Yep, thats it exactly

P.T.

 

[Nospherith]

they also don't have the greatest water quality... at least when i tested my lfs water (in a bag for some plants) it tested 160ppm of nitrates!

 

[slimecoat]

Thanks for all the comments. I had an idea it might be something to do with a centralised filtration system. So in effect, they are in a much larger 'tank', and we just see a small part, the 2 foot tank.

Thanks again

Yep, thats it exactly

P.T.

Would an external filter system with a spray bar increase the tank's capacity over internal power filters only? I am thinking the water would get maximum aeration this way.