Fire eel Bio Load

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Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
May 11, 2022
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Hi everyone,

Wanted to understand whether a fire eel has a big bio load.

Background: I have a 180G 6 foot tank with a 26 inch arowana, 2 Oscars as 12 and 8 inches, 8 inch kelberi bass, 7 inch Polleni, 9 inch flag Tail.

I tried to keep a BD Stingray but ha to give it away as the ammonia kept spiking and nitrates were through the roof even with a 70% water change each week.

Will the fire eel cause similar issues to the stingray if I add it?
 
Thanks guys,

What would you suggest removing to make way for the fire eel if I wanted to get it eventually?

I'm not overly attached to the bass and my friend is actually keen on it?

would changing the bass out to get the eel suffice or would it take more fish to be removed?
 
It's pointless asking us what bio load a certain fish will put out. One of the biggest factors is how much you feed said fish, and we certainly don't know what your feeding regime is.

Like others have said, you have stocking issues already, without adding more fish. A 180 is small for all that stock, and your high "through the roof" nitrates, even with a large water change schedule, are proof of this.

If I was you, and my heart was set on a fire eel, I'd get rid of the bass if your friend wants it, and very seriously think about rehoming the aro too. That fish doesn't belong in a 180.

If you rehomed those two before adding the eel that would help enormously, both space wise and bio load wise. To be certain of getting a proper handle on your new bio load be sure to test your nitrate over a few weeks period, and tie your new water change schedule in with this.
 
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Larger filters (higher maintenance) and more frequent large water changes will allow you to keep more fish in smaller volumes.

Look into automatic water change and a deep undergravel filter if you don't want an external sump or 55 gallon barrel filter.
 
fishdance said:
Larger filters (higher maintenance) and more frequent large water changes will allow you to keep more fish in smaller volumes.
Click to expand...

FANTASTIC!
Ethics, the exact thing that fishkeepers all over the world get beaten up for by all folks none fish keeper, especially those of us keeping “big” fish, and here we are on our own site suggesting it’s the way to do things!!!!!
IT IS NOT !
And this is not the advice on how best to keep fish without qualifying what is meant by larger filters and smaller volumes.
What I am sure F fishdance means are oversize filters (those much bigger than the 180 would normally have), more frequent meaning for example daily, more fish meaning of reasonable size for the volume, and smaller volumes again meaning which are comfortably large enough to house the fish, but all of this being temporary solutions whilst sorting out “proper” long term living arrangements. And unfortunately a 24” wide tank for a 26” long arrowana which is still growing is not a long term solution. (Which you know)
 
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Thanks for all the comments everyone.

just to clarify as I don’t thinkI was clear.

1. it’s an Asian Arowana not a Silver
2. The nitrates were through the roof when I had the stingray which I have rehomed, nitrates under control now with the 70% weekly water change
3. Filter wise, I have 2 FX6 on the 180
4. Feeding schedule is once every other day. Mix of muscles and massivore
5. Plan has always been to upgrade to an 8 foot tank feb 2024 and turn the 180 into an African cichlid tank.
 
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