Growth Rates in Community Tanks

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I would think the 8 to 10 inch range for the argentea would be ok. Thought that mine grew really slow.

Is there anyone fish that stands out as the undisputed dominant one ? That tank must be better to watch than tv
 
jaws7777 said:
I would think the 8 to 10 inch range for the argentea would be ok. Thought that mine grew really slow.

Is there anyone fish that stands out as the undisputed dominant one ? That tank must be better to watch than tv
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Not really, no. They all get along really well, except for the Zonatus. But even they don't really fight, they just nip alot. I have a big, 3 year old Synspilum, that I suppose is "dominant", but it doesn't mess with anyone and nobody messes with her--I assume it's a her.

The Midas is left completely alone by everyone in the tank, but he just stays to himself (I assume it's a he, I ordered a male from Rapps and that's what he sent--it' was 4-5 inches when I got it, so it's a male). If he ever flipped out, it'd be really bad. He's not long, but he's thick and high--he's like a tank.

One of the Argentea is definitely dominant, but I've never seen it fight. It just chases fish off, sometimes it does a very quick and over the top violent strike, but I've never seen it fight.

Since I got rid of that big Zonatus, the 540 is totally peaceful when I'm watching it. At night I think the smaller fish go at it a good bit, but I never see it happening with the lights on.
 
Man i would sit infront of that thing for hrs... ok sorry for the derail
 
How much per week are you dripping in and what's your average nitrate reading... Nitrate creep could sneak up on you so make sure you test every few weeks.
 
Any pics?
 
justarn said:
How much per week are you dripping in and what's your average nitrate reading... Nitrate creep could sneak up on you so make sure you test every few weeks.
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I'm dripping 40 Gallons per day, 280 gallons per week. I test nitrates every couple months--it's always yellowish/orange on the API kit. Just about undetectable. When I first set up the drip, I'd test it more often, but I got tired of seeing nothing on the nitrate test kit :)

What I test most often in that tank is chlorine/chloramine in the output of the drip. I change the filters every 3 months, but I don't really know if I can go 4 or 5 months with the filters--never tried. So in the 3rd month, I'll start testing to be sure I'm not dripping chloramine into my sump.
 
That's only 50% pw. Due to dilution effect from a drip you don't remove even 50% of dirty water per week.
Even if you do a regular 50 percent change after creep you end up with 2x your weekly produced nitrates so I'm thinking you will be way above what's safe that once the fish are full grown. It's a big tank but essentially big enough for 7 12 inch fish having 75g each which as you know is minimum an requires more than 50% regular wc pw. From my understanding you need to drip above 100%. Isn't orange bad on the api kit?
Even if your nitrates are OK the lack of the other stuff in fresh water will slow growth!-)
 
lets say you have a 100g tank with a 12 inch oscar that creates 20ppm nitrate (estimate) in 1 week

so first one;

50% water change per week

week 1 = 20ppm ( oscar waste)

after water change = - 50% = 10ppm

/\ get the idea?

week 2 = 30ppm - 50% = 15ppm

week 3 = 35ppm - 50% = 17.5ppm

week 4 = 37.5ppm - 50% = 18.75ppm

week 5 = 38.75ppm - 50% = 19.375ppm

week 6 = 39ppm -50% = 19.5ppm

week 7 = 39.5ppm -50% = 19.75ppm

week 8 = 39.75ppm see it slows down,,,

You are not taking out 50 percent as you are diluting an removing less bad water...

Just an idea, api test kits nitrate test is extremely Un reliable mate.
 
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