Buying a new tank for my Red Belly Pacu

[BeastMaster]

Hello,
I've had my red belly pacu for a little over a year now. He's alone, in a 55 gallon tank. He's about 13-14" long, not too thick. I'm ready to move him into a bigger tank, but have been indecisive as to which size to go with. Price isn't really an issue, I mean it is, but I'm prepared to spend 1 to 3k setting this tank up. I've spoke with the owner of my local pet shop, who seems very knowledgeable, he thinks that a 180 gallon tank would do the job. I know there are some horror stories about how big these monsters can get and how you will need a 500+ gallon tank, but then you talk to people that have a 3 year old in a 75 that's only 18" long. My pacu is big, but he's been around the same size for the past 6 months. I just don't want to go overboard on the tank size, if it isn't really necessary. I guess I'm just looking for some reasonable suggestions here. I can't find a very good reference on tank demensions for tanks larger than 180. What would be the next step? Once I decide on the tank size, I'll be looking for some advice on filteration, but I see there's another forum for that on here. Thank you for reading my thread and I really appreciate any advice I can get. This is a really cool site, can't wait to go through all the topics, maybe can even answer some of my own questions that way.

[CDickes1988]

http://glasscages.com/ has all the popular larger tank sizes up to 500g.

[12 Volt Man]

with a pacu, there is no such thing as going overboard on tank size.

mine reached 20" in a 90 gallon (almost 3 inches thick between the eyes) in 2 years.

he should be growing an inch per month if you are feeding him properly.

if he isn't, you need to step up the feeding a bit..but you better wait until you get the big tank first :)

go with as large as you possibly can.

a 180 isn't nearly big enough.

my buddy had 2 30" ones in a 275 and it was still too small. he had serious water quality issues all the time (granted he had two, but still. 30" fish are incredibly messy!)

[puntoturbo]

If your willing to spend some money,and want the best for your pacu as it grows,i personaly would get a 8x4x2.5 tank! Also get some BEEFY/HEAVY DUTY filtration aswell.

[puntoturbo]

By the way the bloke who runs the petshop you went to for advice! Does not know what he is on about if he thinks a Pacu would be suited for a 180 6x2x2 tank! I personaly would not bother going back there if i was you, for any advice.Cheers!

[oscar n redtail cat]

yes pacu max out around 35"-3ft and there big so a 3ft atleast back tank mate but 4ft back would be safer and get some good filteration aswell :D GL if u get a tank biger nuff get him a freind aswell :D

[BeastMaster]

I would really like the tank I buy him to be the last tank I buy him. Automatically, when I think about 500 gallons or even close to, I worry about the weight. I live in a row home, got the main floor a basement and 2nd floor. I want this tank in my living room (main floor). My house was built in the late 50's. How can I be sure that my floor can support that much weight. Is there a cause for concern? As far as feeding, his main diet is night crawlers, about 10 a day, I also mix it up with some cichlid pellets, algea waffers, green veggies and sometimes frozen krill. A 300-500 gallon tank, I have no idea where to begin with filteration. I've never had a tank bigger than 75 gal and just used hang on filters. I really need some help figuring all this out. Guess this was a better stop than talking to the guy at the pet shop.
What would be a compatable tank mate? He's been alone all this time, do you think he would take to it okay?

[puntoturbo]

I would really like the tank I buy him to be the last tank I buy him. Automatically, when I think about 500 gallons or even close to, I worry about the weight. I live in a row home, got the main floor a basement and 2nd floor. I want this tank in my living room (main floor). My house was built in the late 50's. How can I be sure that my floor can support that much weight. Is there a cause for concern? As far as feeding, his main diet is night crawlers, about 10 a day, I also mix it up with some cichlid pellets, algea waffers, green veggies and sometimes frozen krill. A 300-500 gallon tank, I have no idea where to begin with filteration. I've never had a tank bigger than 75 gal and just used hang on filters. I really need some help figuring all this out. Guess this was a better stop than talking to the guy at the pet shop.
What would be a compatable tank mate? He's been alone all this time, do you think he would take to it okay?


Because your new to Major filtration,if i were you,i would go with a few large canister filters,a mix between the Fluval fx5s and the Eheim 2262 canister.Combine them both,have two of each..aswell as a few LARGE power heads for circulation/current.:)

[KNH]

I had my 2 pacu in a 750g for ~3 yrs. They had slowed but were definitely still growing. Feed them large quantities of veggies and pellets and they grow very quickly. I had my floor re-enforced so I could keep the tank in my living room. I highly recommend that you go as large as you can with your next tank. Good luck.
KNH

[BeastMaster]

I think I would like to go with the 375gal tank. I have a relative in contracting that I can consult about my floor handling the weight. I am, however, having trouble figuring out how much the total weight will be, complete with gravel and water. Can anybody help me out with this? Also, for this tank size, what filter & heater combination should I go with. Will 4 canisters really be necessary? I did some quick price checks and 4 off them would be close to $1800. The tank itself, roughly $1500, unsure of the stand price. I don't want to skimp on filteration because he is a big, dirty fish .. I just didn't realize how expensive canister filters were :WHOA: I'm gonna try to pull through this and give him what he needs, I really appreciate the help I'm getting on here.

[akskirmish]

Forget canister's on a Pacu tank......Sump is going to be almost a must...

I got my pacu in a 500 gal right now-He is everybit of 24 to 26 inch and atleast 4 inch wide.My bottom footprint is 6 foot (L) by 4 foot (W)....I fear he is already outgrowing the tank----I mean he has room to grow and move---but no room to play.


I would say atleast an 8 foot (L) by 4 foot (W) tank would be suitable for a pacu....

[puntoturbo]

Forget canister's on a Pacu tank......Sump is going to be almost a must...

I got my pacu in a 500 gal right now-He is everybit of 24 to 26 inch and atleast 4 inch wide.My bottom footprint is 6 foot (L) by 4 foot (W)....I fear he is already outgrowing the tank----I mean he has room to grow and move---but no room to play.


I would say atleast an 8 foot (L) by 4 foot (W) tank would be suitable for a pacu....


I run a FEW LARGE canister filters on my pacu tank! And they do the job FINE!:screwy:

[BeastMaster]

I have 2 AC110's. Can I use them, 2 Fx5's and 2 power heads?

Does anybody know how much a 375gal tank weighs empty? I'm trying to estimate the total weight before I have someone look at my floor.

I think water is 8lbs per gallon, so 3000lbs of water, 360lbs of gravel plus tank and stand weight ??

[K626]

I do beleive water is 10lbs per gallon, you don't need much gravel, if any unless you 'want' it. 3 fx5's would be my choice, along with some powerheads. 1 fx5 for bio filtration, 1 fx5 for mechanical/chemical, and 1 as a combo of both. That's how I'd do it, along with your ac110's. Eheims are good filters, but pricey and not 'always' needed. Gl with your tank, keep us posted and I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting on pics.......:)

[CTU2fan]

I'd go with 5000lbs as a weight (with water). It's maybe a little less but that's OK. Roughly 200lbs per sq ft.

As for filtration...if you're buying the tank new I'd definitely buy it drilled with overflows and use a sump as your main biofiltration. Check out the filtration section for more on this, but if it was me I'd run a sump along with a couple of fx5's for mech. Put a couple of 300w heaters in the sump (bonus, this keeps them away from your pacu, who would be able to break them).

[Red Devil]

i love pacu more then any other fish... they are just the best... so i am so happy that your pacu will be spending his life time with someone willing to do everything right by him... it will all come together ... and i am proud of you..best of luck

[BeastMaster]

Things are starting to come together, but it's still gonna be a few weeks. My cousin is coming over this week to see how we can reinforce the living floor from the basment area. I've been trying to find a place to buy the tank from, that's been a little tricky. ThatPetPlace in Centerville PA has one that I'm interested in. It's a little smaller, but still 3ft deep. It's a perfecto 300gal tank 72"x36"x27". That's the biggest tank they sell, all others would have to be assembled. I'm still waiting on a phone call from the manager to get pricing on it. So, 75 gallons less than originally planned, I'm gonna try the 2 fx5's and 2 ac110's. For the power heads, should they be at the top or bottom of the tank, any brand recommendations? I'm also not sure which heaters/wattage to go with, 2 300watts? I'll take some pictures of this project once it gets moving.

[BeastMaster]

Here's a bunch of information on the tank I'm planning to buy, it looks like they're already set up to use a sump. They show a model that they sell. So, if I bought that one, I would also need the utility pump to run it? This has become so stressful, trying to put all this together. If the tank is set up for it, I guess I might as well use it .. I just don't know anything about it. I should have named my thread "clueless, please help" :(

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2008/9/showcase

[Mudfrog]

Check craigslist and ebay for people selling large tanks complete with filtration. I see them all the time in near NOVA.

[12 Volt Man]

if you are planning on putting this 300 gallon tank on a non-ground floor level, you are probably most definately going to have to beef up your floor support to avoid long term structural damage to your floors...

3000+ pounds of weight in one area of a room for the long term is an enormous strain..

be careful..

[BeastMaster]

if you are planning on putting this 300 gallon tank on a non-ground floor level, you are probably most definately going to have to beef up your floor support to avoid long term structural damage to your floors...

3000+ pounds of weight in one area of a room for the long term is an enormous strain..

be careful..

Yeah, I'm getting worried. My cousin is coming over tomorrow to take a look at things, it would be atleast 3500 lbs. I don't know what else I can do. The tank weighs 700 lbs empty, I don't think it's possible to get this tank down the stairs to my basement, too risky. My brain has been going full speed at this, driving me crazy. I guess I'll get the verdict tomorrow and go off that. :confused:

[mriversinco]

The quick rule of thumb is water is 8 pounds per gallon, but if you want to include substrate, tanks and such just say 10 pounds per gallon. You'll be a little heavy, but better that than a flood.

[akskirmish]

I run a FEW LARGE canister filters on my pacu tank! And they do the job FINE!:screwy:

I runa 150 gal sump---Still not enough for my 26 inch Pacu....:screwy:

[zennzzo]

Look in the indoor pond section...with a budget of 3K you can put something in the basement that would house that beast for life and not do damage to the house...And be really happy with...

A 700 lb glass tank is not too feasible, That's why I bought an acrylic 6x3x2...

[BeastMaster]

And then there was light :nilly::headbang2:nilly:
Putting the tank in my living room isn't going to be a problem. Turns out, my floor is pretty beefed up as is, but he's going to put a partition wall up in the basement for a little extra insurance.

We're going Saturday to order the tank, looks like it will be in, early March. I'm going to go with all the components made for the tank .. acrylic sump and in-sump protein skimmer. See how that does, if I need to, I'll add 1 or 2 Fx5's.

I can't wait .. so happy now :grinno::D:grinno:

I'm already starting to think of possible tank mates, any suggestions? He's been alone since I've had him .. not sure what will be the best match.

[dmopar74]

that protien skimmer is a waste of money on a freshwater tank.