180 South American update

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
What lighting are you using? Getting everything in order for my 180g build.
 
What lighting are you using? Getting everything in order for my 180g build.

I'm using a 5ft Beamswork LED. It's decent and very affordable. I'm not 100% happy with it, though. It's a bit bright and sterile.
 
So it turns out my green severum is a savage. He singled out my smallest Columbian tetra and mangled it in the night. Now it's stuck to the overflow, but still breathing somehow.

IMG_20200120_173348.jpg
 
Oh man, pull him out. Got a 10g hospital tank?
 
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Oh man, pull him out. Got a 10g hospital tank?

No and unfortunately he died shortly after I took the pic. He had no fins left and significant damage all over his body. I had noticed he was missing this morning, but couldn't locate him. By the time I saw him, he was way beyond help. I'm guessing the severum tried to eat him last night but couldn't quite fit him in his mouth. Tough little fish survived almost 24 hours without the ability to move at all. The rest of the tetras should be safe since they are all slightly to significantly larger. Additionally, the green severum started eating prepared foods today, so he shouldn't be as hungry.
 
I'm using a 5ft Beamswork LED. It's decent and very affordable. I'm not 100% happy with it, though. It's a bit bright and sterile.
Is it one you can add the dimmer/timer to? I have a Beamswork EA fixture and the timer was the best part since I could turn down the brightness.
 
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Keep an eye on the green Severum and make sure he's not bullying the tank. A little bit of showing his dominance is normal but in my experience most Severums don't inflict any damage. I say most because I've had many Severums throughout the years that have gotten along with any fish they've shared a tank with but I did have 1 green severum that was a complete nightmare. He spent all day harassing every fish in his tank, they all had torn fins. I took him back to the store where i got him and they let me swap him for another one. The new one got along with everything in the tank. As with any type of fish, there's always a chance you get an overly aggressive one.
 
Keep an eye on the green Severum and make sure he's not bullying the tank. A little bit of showing his dominance is normal but in my experience most Severums don't inflict any damage. I say most because I've had many Severums throughout the years that have gotten along with any fish they've shared a tank with but I did have 1 green severum that was a complete nightmare. He spent all day harassing every fish in his tank, they all had torn fins. I took him back to the store where i got him and they let me swap him for another one. The new one got along with everything in the tank. As with any type of fish, there's always a chance you get an overly aggressive one.

He's definitely a bit alpha, especially to the red spotted sev. It's fairly low key. Some half-hearted chasing, a nip or two. The red sev barely reacts, only moving a few inches away at a time. Despite the occasional bullying, the two severum are usually hanging out together. At this point, I only see aggression during feedings. It doesn't worry me too much because red still managed to eat his share.
 
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If it is the EA/DA light, the timer is like $12.95 on Amazon and will let you dim it way down. While not perfect the Beamsworks stuff really gives a lot of bang for the buck. On my 300g I use the Current USA satellite plus fixtures which I love but when you start getting multiple tanks running, they start to get expensive.
 
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