500-1000 gallon aquariums

[Rivers2k]

I have no where near the size of aquariums some you guys have. I have a Fahaka currently in a 75 and some smaller tanks aswell. But I have been wondering for a while what it takes to keep fish and feed fish as big as full grown RTC, Tiger Shovel nose, Arrowana and all the monster you guys keep? Seems like these monsters would eat more than bull mastiffs.

I would like to hear from the people with 500 Gallon+ tanks on monthly food budget for fish? Also what do you feed them?

Do you do weekly water changes as well?

I never really plan to have a tank that big but I am really curious.

 

[MonsterMinis]

I can honestly say after a few monthes of running our indoor pool now. It costs us approx. the same amount to keep it and its inhabitants, as my horse. or a car payment. We do feed a lot of frozen foods vs pellets, and yes we do approx. 400gallons in WC's a week on it. our filtration is DIY bio-towers run by magdrives and just over 1k watts heats it. I sacrificed a lot of "looks" for water volume vs $$$ as well as other things for food ect... we plan on upgrading our filtration slowly but surely ( the nice thing about diy its pretty easy to add-on if you have that in your brain to begin with) Which will include a drip system and permanent hosing for water changes ( atm we use a syphon and a potable water grade hose to drain and fill. it takes up about 1/2 our sunday. Cost effective but not very time efficient.)

From what I've learned with this initial set-up is planning is everything.. we've been planning this set-up for monthes now. And we still hit a lot of bumps along the way.

imo its the dedication investment that is the biggest challenge to over-come. It's the difference between owning say a hamster and owning a dog.... time/money/ect are all greater the bigger you go imo/ime not just for the size.. but the shear gallons... fish breeders ect w/ large volumes of water over many tanks i'm sure have similar time constraints ect.

"short-cuts" are great but not at the expense of quality care so finding those types are where the challenge lies greatest, at least for us thus far.

I will say seeing my fish that where in our 120 now in approx. 800+gallons was eye opening to how they changed personality/aggression wise ect... having "more then enough" room has really shown me how nieve I was in the past. Most of mine have feet yet to grow.. and I am already planning on expanding the water volume in a few years. the same difference imo you see in your dog in a small yard vs at a farm/dog park ect w/ plenty of space to run.

 

[Rivers2k]

That's interesting. Thanks for the info. Never thought of comparing it to keeping a horse that makes it seem more reasonable. I use to think those fish are very cool but these people are out of there minds LOL . but other keep horses all the time. My family had a horse for a long time.

I know what you mean about giving the fish space. I under stock all my tanks and the fish seem happier and it is more peaceful to watch. I hope to get my Fahaka a 150 to himself but that is as big as I am going.

 

[DIDYSIS]

600 gallon tank, drip system doing 7.5 gph so about 175 gallons a day water change, filtration is 4 filter socks 100 microns which need changing every few days, heating my tank with hot water dripping into the tank, when i was using heaters it was a cost of just under 300.00 a year, pump is a reeflo barracuda so about 275.00 a year to run. Moving bed filter/reactor with 2 cubic feet of k1 type media with a huge air pump using 100 Watts of power 24/7, Food mostly talapia fillet 4-5 depending on size and other days 3 full handfuls of pellet mix for vitamins and extra nutrition. My power bill shot up right away when I setup the tank, the water bill is a bit as well, and since im heating with hot water the gas bill increased but far less then running the heaters which was 1200 Watts but only really 600 Watts ran often and 900 sometimes. Large tanks cost a good amount of money especially the food and power needs. Also with a large tank maintenance can kill you so plan out the system really really well and make it as easy as possible.

Sent from my DROIDX using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[HungDang]

I would say the filtering system cost a load of money! I spent $100 on my 1000 gallon tank/pond but well over $1000 for the filter, not the mention the work and money(on water) on cleaning and replace those filter medias.
as far as food go, I say about $10-$15 a month for 6 gars and 2 fat kois isn't that much.

 

[DIDYSIS]

What filter-filters did you buy?

I would say the filtering system cost a load of money! I spent $100 on my 1000 gallon tank/pond but well over $1000 for the filter, not the mention the work and money(on water) on cleaning and replace those filter medias.
as far as food go, I say about $10-$15 a month for 6 gars and 2 fat kois isn't that much.

 

[pigoo]

Depending on what sort of fish are kept in a 500-1000 gallon tank...during the colder months...you're going to need a pretty darn good heating system (plus well insulate the tank). It's the electric bill that's the costly part. Of course if you have less expensive electricity rates...that will help.

 

[David R]

A good friend of mine is into snowboarding and bought a house in a town next to the mountain, paid about $5k for a "life pass" at the ski field, spends a fair bit on gear, and a fortune on gas etc making the ~4 hour drive to the mountain nearly every weekend over winter. Compared to that my 2000L tank seems like a cheap hobby!