Filtration for my 500
- Thread starter Sarmo
- Start date
the tank is starting to get full.
Stock List
3- 4" clown loaches
1- 6" silver arowana
1-12" black Arowana
1- 3" Datnoid
1- 3" albino P. senegalus
3- 3" P. endlicheri enderlicheri
1- 6" Lima shovelnose catfish
1- 3" Raphael catfish
1- 4" P. ornatipinnis
1- 7" Royal pleco
2- 3" mama pleco
1- 3" orange spot pleco
1- 4" blue phantom pleco
1- 3" pepermint pleco
seems like a lot of fish but when i walk by the tank all i see are the arowana and the Dat. the others hide most of the time. the Dat is a pig and comes to the glass for pellets
i think he may be my favorite right now.
i have noticed that the water has changed in the last few weeks. it is no longer tea colored, i think most of the tannins are gone. now the water is a little milky. i am kicking my self cause i put the 100 micron filter in my canister instead of the 25 micron one. at $50-60 each i hate to just go out and get the 25um but that is what i should probably do? that was really stupid cause my filter socks are made from "pureflo filter pad" and that filters to 50 microns. so my canister filter isn't doing anything.
any thoughts on getting rid of the slightly milky water. i am still running a constant flow of about 50 gallons per day of fresh water into my tank. the nitrates and nitrites do not register on my test kit. the water is hard with a GH around 300, ALK KH of 300, and pH of about 8. if this were my salt water tank i'd think i was having calcium percipitate out but it's not that milky......
i didn't boil that huge piece of drift wood and there could be all kinds of silt coming out of it, i got it out of a lake and just pressure washed it before putting it into my tank.
i am using those cheap test strips from Tetra. probably not the best. when i did saltwater i used all Salifert test kits. what do you guys use to test with?
any help would be appriciated. any thoughts on the live stock list?
Stock List
3- 4" clown loaches
1- 6" silver arowana
1-12" black Arowana
1- 3" Datnoid
1- 3" albino P. senegalus
3- 3" P. endlicheri enderlicheri
1- 6" Lima shovelnose catfish
1- 3" Raphael catfish
1- 4" P. ornatipinnis
1- 7" Royal pleco
2- 3" mama pleco
1- 3" orange spot pleco
1- 4" blue phantom pleco
1- 3" pepermint pleco
seems like a lot of fish but when i walk by the tank all i see are the arowana and the Dat. the others hide most of the time. the Dat is a pig and comes to the glass for pellets
i think he may be my favorite right now. i have noticed that the water has changed in the last few weeks. it is no longer tea colored, i think most of the tannins are gone. now the water is a little milky. i am kicking my self cause i put the 100 micron filter in my canister instead of the 25 micron one. at $50-60 each i hate to just go out and get the 25um but that is what i should probably do? that was really stupid cause my filter socks are made from "pureflo filter pad" and that filters to 50 microns. so my canister filter isn't doing anything.
any thoughts on getting rid of the slightly milky water. i am still running a constant flow of about 50 gallons per day of fresh water into my tank. the nitrates and nitrites do not register on my test kit. the water is hard with a GH around 300, ALK KH of 300, and pH of about 8. if this were my salt water tank i'd think i was having calcium percipitate out but it's not that milky......
i didn't boil that huge piece of drift wood and there could be all kinds of silt coming out of it, i got it out of a lake and just pressure washed it before putting it into my tank.
i am using those cheap test strips from Tetra. probably not the best. when i did saltwater i used all Salifert test kits. what do you guys use to test with?
any help would be appriciated. any thoughts on the live stock list?
I know installing a uv sterilizer will help w/ the water clarity and the tannins. Before you pick your uv, be sure to check out how availible and how much the replacement bulbs cost. I think depending on brand/model, some last from 6months to 1yr before they need to be replaced after continuos usage.
In terms of the bowling/warping acrylic cover, Just cut a piece of eggcrate the size of the top and place it under the acrylic. Relatively cheap fix considering what you probably spent on the plastic. Good luck and really great looking setup.
In terms of the bowling/warping acrylic cover, Just cut a piece of eggcrate the size of the top and place it under the acrylic. Relatively cheap fix considering what you probably spent on the plastic. Good luck and really great looking setup.
still looking for more big clown loaches. here is a full tank shot. the fish are still hard to see, especially if you are back far enough to get the whole tank in the frame
here is a pic of my Black Arowana
here is my little piggy Dat
all the Pleco's hide really well and my clowns are camera shy for now
. sorry for the bad pics, i've never been real good at taking pictures...... but at least you can get the idea.
here is a pic of my Black Arowana
here is my little piggy Dat
all the Pleco's hide really well and my clowns are camera shy for now
. sorry for the bad pics, i've never been real good at taking pictures...... but at least you can get the idea.got the rest of my order from Bluegrass yesterday. 6 Blue Botia and another Pleco. the Botia are great and had good color coming out of the bag.
got a better pic of my Dat
got a pic of my Orange spot Pleco
here is one of my three 4" Clown Loaches
got a better pic of my Dat
got a pic of my Orange spot Pleco
here is one of my three 4" Clown Loaches
i have had some disappointment caused by my ignorance. i lost my 6" Silver Arowana. he quit eating for a day and i found him stuck up against my overflow box. he was beat up pretty bad near his pectoral fins and along his back. i moved him to my Guppy tank with the baby Dats and that was enough to put him over the top. i initally thought it was the Dat that had maybe come up from under him and attacked but from what i've been able to learn from the Arowana section, the Black Arowana probably killed him. i feel really bad that i let something like this happen. i thought i asked all the right questions but apparently i didn't do enough research. now i am trying to figure out if i can have a Black and a Silver in the same tank at all. most have told me that the size difference was the problem, the Silver was less than half as big as the Black. some people suggest that you need more than 2 of each to keep them. but i don't feel like my tank is big enough for 4 arowana???? until i learn more i'm going to just stick with one Black...... please help if you know how i can also have a silver. the Silver Arowana is why i started this tank......
i feel really bad that i let something like this happen. i thought i asked all the right questions but apparently i didn't do enough research. now i am trying to figure out if i can have a Black and a Silver in the same tank at all. most have told me that the size difference was the problem, the Silver was less than half as big as the Black. some people suggest that you need more than 2 of each to keep them. but i don't feel like my tank is big enough for 4 arowana???? until i learn more i'm going to just stick with one Black...... please help if you know how i can also have a silver. the Silver Arowana is why i started this tank......
Sorry to hear about your Aro. I really like the Blue Boita choice though! I had them once and they have tons of personality and are fun to watch, and hear. The clicking sounds they make are pretty cool. Careful of their barbs though.. they're sharp!
thanks. i like Botia too, they are fun to watch and have a ton of personality. not to mention great colors!!!! you don't have to worry about me getting cut by one of their barbs, once a fish goes into my tank the only way it comes out is if it's floating or i have to hook it.
couldn't find any bigger Clowns and PetZone had a NTT so i ordered 3 of there 2" Clown Loaches and an NTT. all arrived well on friday. the NTT was stressed but seems to be doing better since i raised the tank temp. he is still hiding and hasn't come out to eat but he is swimming right and is acting like a fish that is just hiding out.
I have to say that had i known the CL's would be so nice that i'd have gotten 10. Petzone rocks!!!!! good livestock and fair prices and reasonable shipping charges. Thanks Paul and Roger
i'll try to get an updated pic of the Loach herd when they are feeding. maybe tomorrow
I have to say that had i known the CL's would be so nice that i'd have gotten 10. Petzone rocks!!!!! good livestock and fair prices and reasonable shipping charges. Thanks Paul and Roger
i'll try to get an updated pic of the Loach herd when they are feeding. maybe tomorrow
