Friends/future feeders for my bluegill

[Chad55]

Have to agree, I have a 55 that has 700 gallons per hour of filtration. It is stocked to the hilt, with shiners and darters. It has a drip system, and does a 5 gallon per day change.
Granted Sandtiger is 100% correct, If you filter your 55 with a filter that is rated for 55 gallons, then your bluegills will probably overtax the system, but you can up the filtration without creating a current that would be uncomfortable for them.

I'll even take it a step further and say you can over stock a 55 gallon tank with just UGF and a HOB filterbox as long as you practice +%50 water changes every week or every other week. Lots of maintenance but the fish will remain healthy as long they don't fight too much and the water is changed often.

I agree 100%. But for most new people that often neglect thier waterchanges this is not really advisable.BUT I have a biowheel 330 and a fluval 304 on my 55 gallon tank and I still only plan on MAYBE 2 10" fish in there. 55 gallon is just not that comfy for that many big fish. It is up to you if you want to do all that mantanience and be like skipjack and teleost, but they are VERY experienced and responsible fish keepers that really know what they are doing. Not trying to cut you down or anything.

Chad

 

[teleost]

I agree 100%. But for most new people that often neglect thier waterchanges this is not really advisable.BUT I have a biowheel 330 and a fluval 304 on my 55 gallon tank and I still only plan on MAYBE 2 10" fish in there. 55 gallon is just not that comfy for that many big fish. It is up to you if you want to do all that mantanience and be like skipjack and teleost, but they are VERY experienced and responsible fish keepers that really know what they are doing. Not trying to cut you down or anything.

Chad

I agree Chad. Overstocking and infrequent water changes are a recipe for disaster. With the use of nitrate test kits you can easily determine the condition of your water before you have a problem. After a while you'll get into a rhythm and know where your nitrates are based on fish load and feeding. Test kits are pretty cheap considering how long they last.

 

[Skipjack]

I also agree Chad, And what you are saying is probably what Sandtiger was saying. Under average conditions the above may be overstocking. I Should not refute it considering what I do is not always typical fish keeping. I make alot of my filters, and use big ass pumps to power them. Therefore I can get away with a heavier stocking rate.

But generally if one is willing to DO the maintenance, he can keep higher than reccommended stocking rates. But that does fully hinge on the maintenance.

 

[rascalsweet]

they are only an inch long, so the neons would have had a few weeks to live. I guess what I'm asking is what can i put in now that the blue gill can eat later and not hurt themselves? thinking about rosey reds, don't people use them as feeders? As for the future, I'm sticking my some of my overtime into my tank fund. probably a 250 gal glass, due to cost and that when it goes in it's permanent. I have a garage door into my basement and plenty of lifting power. I don't expect all 4 to live to adulthood. I do 15 to 20 gal water changes weekly. I should be over filtered , but with age of my hob and lime build up, guessing I'm right on or a bit under. can't make if I want a canister or sump type set up.

 

[Chad55]

can't make if I want a canister or sump type set up.

You can make your own sumps. Skipjack just said that makes almost all of his....But yea I think for now rosies would do good in your tank. As long as you get ones large enough and quarantine them. Rosies are generally diseised fish as they are feeders and not taken care of like a regular fish. Good luck with saving up for a new tank. BTW why don't you expect them all to live into adult hood. I always plan on all of my fish making it to a large size....unless they are pirahanas or something like that (which I don't keep).

Chad

 

[skrefany]

I don't expect all 4 to live to adulthood.

It took mine a year to hit the 8" mark. Never had a doubt that he wouldn't make it.

 

[sandtiger]

they are only an inch long, so the neons would have had a few weeks to live. I guess what I'm asking is what can i put in now that the blue gill can eat later and not hurt themselves? thinking about rosey reds, don't people use them as feeders? As for the future, I'm sticking my some of my overtime into my tank fund. probably a 250 gal glass, due to cost and that when it goes in it's permanent. I have a garage door into my basement and plenty of lifting power. I don't expect all 4 to live to adulthood. I do 15 to 20 gal water changes weekly. I should be over filtered , but with age of my hob and lime build up, guessing I'm right on or a bit under. can't make if I want a canister or sump type set up.

Bluegill are very hardy, unless they kill eatch other I would expect them all to live.

 

[sandtiger]

I also agree Chad, And what you are saying is probably what Sandtiger was saying. Under average conditions the above may be overstocking. I Should not refute it considering what I do is not always typical fish keeping. I make alot of my filters, and use big ass pumps to power them. Therefore I can get away with a heavier stocking rate.

But generally if one is willing to DO the maintenance, he can keep higher than reccommended stocking rates. But that does fully hinge on the maintenance.

I don't normally point the finger at overstockers who know what their doing, I overstock almost all of my tanks but I am willing to do the water changes, daily if need be. The average person isen't willing to do that though so I usually mention something when I see a stocking plan that could go bad. Four potentially 12" fish in a 55g tank is pushing it a lot IMO. I know they aren't 12" yet but there is no reason to think that if you're doing things right they won't be eventually. When I give advice I give advice as if I were giving it to your average fishkeeper. Just my 2 cents.

A note on filtration, most systems don't remove nitrates, HOB certainly don't, nor do canisters. Water changes are the only way most people can remove them. The more fish you have, the more water you must change regardless of filtration.

 

[Horiyoshi III]

They also state stuff like 4 Bluegill MAX for a 90 Gallon..........c'mon,since the more you have,the less the chance for territory beef,might as well get 15-20 Fry from a Minnow trap,more fun than raising alot of tropicals i know.............Except the Mighty Cichla,Peackock Bass

 

[sandtiger]

They also state stuff like 4 Bluegill MAX for a 90 Gallon..........c'mon,since the more you have,the less the chance for territory beef,might as well get 15-20 Fry from a Minnow trap,more fun than raising alot of tropicals i know.............Except the Mighty Cichla,Peackock Bass

True, the more individuals you have the less chance there is for aggresion but even still, water quality is at risk. You have to stock according to both aggresion and water quality. Remember, if you are doing it right the fish will grow. What would you do with 15-20 bluegill when they grew larger, a 90g won't hold them for life. Heck, I have to do multiple water changes a week just to keep two oscars in a 75g.