I assume you are running a powerhead with the undergravel filter panel. I'm pretty positive that after you are forced to completey to tear down the whole set up to do a thorough cleaning you will have second thoughts. Especially when you are already running a cannister.
I ran a 65 gallon tank with two reds for two years with only an undergravel filter. Alot of work if you want to keep on top of things.
The powerhead you definately want. Creating current in the water is very important for these fish. Try to create dead spots in the tank with rocks/driftwood ect to give them a place to go out of the way of the current. I also like to run my powerhead on a timer to shut off at night with the tank lights.
Alot of people think that reds are the best piranha to start out with. Most of us do, due to the fact of the ease of obtaining them. I don't necessarily agree. For the most part, the majority of piranha species are easy to care for as long as basic aquarium maintenece is practiced.
I for one, think that you should be looking at going for a solo piranha. With that size tank you should be looking at a species that stays relitively small. A pygocentrus nattereri (common redbelly) reaches length of 12"+. And its not unheard of for these fish to reach 9" in the first year. In the piranha hobby, its possible that a year is long enough for your fish to just start coming out of his shell. I think that you will be extremely surprized at how fast you will either have to buy a new tank for this fish (being that if you even only kept one specimen) or you will have to give him up.
Keeping more then one redbelly along with the "footprint" of this tank being a corner piece, which provides little swimming space for even adolecent reds, I suggest against this species for you. I think if it was a square tank, it'd be different.
What I think you should look at is a red throated piranha (serrasalmus sanchezi) at around 3" or under. These fish tend to grow slow and sanchezi's do not reach the size of the larger piranhas, haven't heard of one larger then 7". Its a good piranha to start out with because its not as common as red bellies, however its not near as expensive as almost all other species of piranha. Plus its like having a little miniature black piranha.
While it would certainly last alot longer in your tank then a nattereri, I suggest you look for a standard rectangular tank in the future if you like to keep going with piranhas.
Welcome to the hobby! Wish I had these forums when I first started.
I ran a 65 gallon tank with two reds for two years with only an undergravel filter. Alot of work if you want to keep on top of things.
The powerhead you definately want. Creating current in the water is very important for these fish. Try to create dead spots in the tank with rocks/driftwood ect to give them a place to go out of the way of the current. I also like to run my powerhead on a timer to shut off at night with the tank lights.
Alot of people think that reds are the best piranha to start out with. Most of us do, due to the fact of the ease of obtaining them. I don't necessarily agree. For the most part, the majority of piranha species are easy to care for as long as basic aquarium maintenece is practiced.
I for one, think that you should be looking at going for a solo piranha. With that size tank you should be looking at a species that stays relitively small. A pygocentrus nattereri (common redbelly) reaches length of 12"+. And its not unheard of for these fish to reach 9" in the first year. In the piranha hobby, its possible that a year is long enough for your fish to just start coming out of his shell. I think that you will be extremely surprized at how fast you will either have to buy a new tank for this fish (being that if you even only kept one specimen) or you will have to give him up.
Keeping more then one redbelly along with the "footprint" of this tank being a corner piece, which provides little swimming space for even adolecent reds, I suggest against this species for you. I think if it was a square tank, it'd be different.
What I think you should look at is a red throated piranha (serrasalmus sanchezi) at around 3" or under. These fish tend to grow slow and sanchezi's do not reach the size of the larger piranhas, haven't heard of one larger then 7". Its a good piranha to start out with because its not as common as red bellies, however its not near as expensive as almost all other species of piranha. Plus its like having a little miniature black piranha.
While it would certainly last alot longer in your tank then a nattereri, I suggest you look for a standard rectangular tank in the future if you like to keep going with piranhas.
Welcome to the hobby! Wish I had these forums when I first started.
