I've made a post over on the cichlid-forum but would like to get some input on folks with large tanks as well. I need some advice on when to move my Tanganyikan cichlids from my quarantine tanks over to my main tank.
I currently have 13 moba frontosa at about 1.5 to 2 inches in a 10 gallon quarantine tank. I do daily 50% water changes and feed them NLS cichlid 1mm sinking pellets. They seem healthy and eat the pellets whole without difficulty.
I have 10 black calvus and 9 leleupi in a 20 gallon tank. These guys range in size from 1 to 2 inches. They get a 25% water change daily and also seem healthy and are fed the same pellets. The largest of the calvus eat the 1mm pellets whole without issue. The remainder of the fish cannot and require crushing of the pellets to eat.
All fish have been in quarantine for 1 week so far. They will be moving to my large aquarium (I think it's about 800 gallons of water when subtracting the decor) when appropriate. My concern is that the tank is so large and the fish so small that I worry they may not get the food they need. I'm particularly worried about the smallest of the fish that need the pellets ground up to eat. They find the food easily on the barebottom 20 gallon tank but will have more trouble in a large sand bottom tank.
I could use some advice on when you think it is appropriate to move them over to the main tank. My original plan was to quarantine for 2 weeks in the small tanks but should I keep them there longer? The main tank is empty right now. These will be the first fish going in. It is well-cycled and I continue to add ammonia to it every other day. When it's time to add fish, I'll have to do a giant water change to prepare.
I think my frontosa will do fine in the large tank. They already are conditioned to come towards me at feeding time and eat the pellets before they hit the bottom. I don't really like them in such a small tank for very long. Thoughts? And thanks!
For more information on my tank please see the linked thread below:
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/newbie-1000-gallon-help.688239/
I currently have 13 moba frontosa at about 1.5 to 2 inches in a 10 gallon quarantine tank. I do daily 50% water changes and feed them NLS cichlid 1mm sinking pellets. They seem healthy and eat the pellets whole without difficulty.
I have 10 black calvus and 9 leleupi in a 20 gallon tank. These guys range in size from 1 to 2 inches. They get a 25% water change daily and also seem healthy and are fed the same pellets. The largest of the calvus eat the 1mm pellets whole without issue. The remainder of the fish cannot and require crushing of the pellets to eat.
All fish have been in quarantine for 1 week so far. They will be moving to my large aquarium (I think it's about 800 gallons of water when subtracting the decor) when appropriate. My concern is that the tank is so large and the fish so small that I worry they may not get the food they need. I'm particularly worried about the smallest of the fish that need the pellets ground up to eat. They find the food easily on the barebottom 20 gallon tank but will have more trouble in a large sand bottom tank.
I could use some advice on when you think it is appropriate to move them over to the main tank. My original plan was to quarantine for 2 weeks in the small tanks but should I keep them there longer? The main tank is empty right now. These will be the first fish going in. It is well-cycled and I continue to add ammonia to it every other day. When it's time to add fish, I'll have to do a giant water change to prepare.
I think my frontosa will do fine in the large tank. They already are conditioned to come towards me at feeding time and eat the pellets before they hit the bottom. I don't really like them in such a small tank for very long. Thoughts? And thanks!
For more information on my tank please see the linked thread below:
https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/newbie-1000-gallon-help.688239/
