Some Fishy Questions

[finchfarm]

I have a few, not realy immediately important questions, I thought about while I was having lunch, so before I forgot what they were, I figured I'd post them.

• Both our tanks are cycling (a 75 gallon and a 20 gallon hospital tank), due to unforseen circumstances we had to do a fish-in cycle. We split the fish up in order to lessen the load on the two tanks and make water changes easier. Since some of our fish are in the hospital tank, they will eventually be moved back into our big tank. If I understand the nitrogen cycle correctly, once you remove ammonia/waste producing stuff from your tank your good bacteria die. Correct? If so, how do I keep my hospital tank cycled until it is needed?

• I have three Silver Dollars, one is six years old and is the size of a small plate/saucer, the other two are about 3-inches long. My big Silver Dollar has always been a very peaceful fish and hasn't bothered anyone. A few months ago before we started having problems with our 75 gallon I noticed that our larger Dollar would chase the smaller Dollars all over the tank. He's never done such a thing before, and I don't know if its normal behavior or not. He dosen't bite them, he just chases them away. He doesn't bother any of the other fish. When we had our tank problems and we had to stuff all of our fish in the 20 gallon tank he stopped chasing them. Now that we've split the fish up (we put all the Dollars back in the 75 since they're the biggest), he's started chasing the smaller Dollars again. Again, he doesn't bother the other fish, only the other Dollars. He doesn't bite them, just chases them. He does this regardless of wether or not there is food in the tank. Tank water perimiters (save for ammonia which is being maintained at under 0.25) are in range so I don't think its environmental. Any ideas as to why he's suddenly acting more aggressive to the smaller Dollars?

• I've always read that fish should have a varied died. Regularly I feed mine flake food, color bits, shrimp pellets, algae disks, bloodworms, and tubifex worms. As a treat I like to feed them brine shrimp. All the fish love them.....except the Silver Dollars. They won't touch them. Even of the regular food I feed the only thing they'll ever eat is the algae discs. I tried giving them lettuce once, but they wouldn't eat it either. I'd like them to be able to have a varied diet as well, and also a few treats, but they won't eat anything I've tried. I've thought about feeding them some frozen veggies we get from the grocery store (ex green beans, brocoli, ect.) as long as the veggies aren't preserved with salt or anything. I got to thinking this and figured the veggies are frozen.....in water that I'm sure is probably chlorinated. When we cook these frozen veggies we either boil them on the stove or cook them in the mirowave in some tap water, which I know is chlorinated. Because of the chlorinated water I don't want to put frozen veggies in the tank. Is there anyway I can prepare them veggies safely without risking some sort of contamination? If veggies aren't a good idea, what other things can I try to make their diet a little more varied?

 

[DazedNCoNfUsEd]

1- Yes the good bacteria will die shortly after you remove ammonia producing sources. The way I do is I keep a small piece of sponge in the back of one of my filters on my active tanks, then if I need to use the hospital tank I take out the small piece of sponge with all the good bacteria on it and put it in the filter for the hospital tank. Still always a good idea to keep an eye on levels every day in a hospital tank, but I think that helps a lot.

Also maybe try fresh vegetables, that way you don't have to worry about preparing them. And just keep trying different types of fish food to see if you can find something else they like.

 

[jollysue]

#1 keep the extra filter running on the stocked tank. The filter is the primary location of the concentrated bacteria where the water and air mix, such as the biowheel, the sponge, the filter cartridges and media, etc.. You may also do as the poster above does. I do both when I can. Extra filtration is never a negative that I know of and extra seasoned sponges, biowheels, floss are also good to have on hand.

#2 never had silver dollars. I know nothing species specific. It may be though that the smaller ones are coming of age or it is coming of age and is either pestering for a spawn or driving off competeters or both. Many fish do not show aggression until they begin to have reasons to prepare for spawning or to make a family.

While they were in cramped quarters there were several factors: stress of and interest in adapting to new quarters. Close quarters will offten stop aggression for a time. Very aggressive species, such as many African Cichlids are kept in high concentrations to minimize aggression.

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

As for question #3...

Silver Dollars from what I understand are veggie lovers so you could try some Spirulina Flake, and the classic shelled peas. In fact almost all of my fish love to munch on shelled blanched peas. Just get a box or bag of frozen peas, thaw a few peas at a time anyway you like (I usually just put them in the microwave for 30 seconds, but some other people simply let them thaw in a dish of tank water), and then squeeze the insides of the pea out of its skin. Mush or cut up it up a little bit to make it easier for them to get a piece in their mouth at first so they learn how tasty it is, although eventually they do learn to tear bits off for themselves.