Enough clearance for air?

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vanimate

vanimate

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MFK Member
Jun 3, 2005
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Chicago ŅŞ
So some of you might know that my 210 was wiped out a couple of weeks back and lost thousands of dollars worth of fish :(
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=397120
My question is , I am thinking of transferring my polypterus collection to this tank which measures 7x2x2. The problem I might have is that my overflow is the lowest it can go and only gives me 1/4 inch by the middle brace, to 3/4 inch at the ends clearance between the top of the water and the lids. Will this work for them or would they need more room for air?

Thanks
 
You may be OK with that clearance, obviously if you can squeeze a little more it would be better.
Ansd it will mean your Bichirs will be smashing their heads against lids everytime they go for air.
My main tank for my giant Bichirs only has about 2cm gap and they are fine.
They do often bang their heads when they go for air, though the lids are padded on ythe underside.
 
I have had issues with the middle brace on my tank. Several of my bigger poly's have hit this going for air, I now have the water 2 inches below with little issue. but when it was 1 inch clearance it was a problem.

I would be cautious
 
do you have lighting installed?with the amount of tiny space left, the light could produce hot air, thus dunno if its ok for bichirs to breathe, unless you have openings on the lid.
 
Burbotman;4969050; said:
I have had issues with the middle brace on my tank. Several of my bigger poly's have hit this going for air, I now have the water 2 inches below with little issue. but when it was 1 inch clearance it was a problem.

I would be cautious
Click to expand...


I should clarify, when I say hit, I mean smashed the center brace. When I first went to my current tank with the center brace, my old endi absolutly brained himself. I quickly dropped the water level.

I think it depends, some poly's go up and take a "sip" of air, while others breach for their breath. If you have "sippers" no problem, but......
 
Just for another voice, I keep my water level down about 6 in. from the top in all my bichir tanks because most often they seem to rush to the top and breach, when they want air! Besides its more important to have more floor space than water depth! IME Johnathan:D
 
If you can provide some floating plants it will be better (for example Lemna minor). I have noticed that my poly's aproach the surface with more caution if they can see.
 
If your bichirs are all adults, shouldn't be a problem.

I found that smaller bichirs tend to shoot up all the way to the surface for air and would jump about 1" above the water surface. I never had a problem since my lid is like 4" away. But bigger bichirs tend to swim up to the surface at a much slower pace and almost never jumps.
 
I just had a thought on this. Is it a glass tank with plastic overflows siliconed in? If it is, why don't you cut out the overflows and silicone in overflows for a 75 gallon. A 75 is 21 inches tall, which would put the water level about 3 inches below the the lids on your 7x2x2.
 
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