How many piranha?

[markleenen]

Hi all,
I currently have a group of Tropheus in a 4x3x2 foot tank (185 gallons) and am thinking about switching to Piranha's.
What would be a good group for this size tank?
Secondly: the water I get from the tap is quite hard (kH10, pH8) which is great for Tanganyikan fish but I'm not sure if Piranha's like it that much... Any comments on that?
Thanks.

 

[vinizuh]

big tank, but the footprints aren't too good for piranha's.. you need more length.. too bad it wasn't a 7-8 foot long tank. anyways with a 185g anywhere from 6-10 piranha's is good for life. i suggest 6-8 with your footprints

also you're ph is way too high, you would need to use some products to lower ph.

 

[gasman]

yeah your ph is high but here where i live the water is over 8 out the tap as well .i used to lower it but dont bother anymore as i have too many tanks.i havnt seen any difference in the behaviour and growth of my piranhas.but if i had time ect i would lower it.

shame your tank is only 4 foot long,you wont get to many in there when they are a foot long!! about 6 i reckon and thats a max as no matter where they are in the tank they will only be a few feet away from each other!

 

[_Sushi_]

If I remember correctly, having blackwater in your tank will lower the ph.

peat in your filter, driftwood, blackwater extract, and www.fosterandsmith.com have this organic plant substrate that creates blackwater in your aquariums.

anyways, you can acclimate them to the harder water, which would be easier in the long run. but the blackwater actually helps them out.

 

[PEVINE11]

i would go 8 RED BELLY

 

[StIcKy~RiCe]

You can add some driftwood to lower down the ph..it's the easiest way and natural way to do.

IMO that foot print are perfect for piranha..I like the wide tank then the length.

I would go with 6 full grown pygo..for life time.

Why 6? just think about you have decoration, plants, driftwood, etc....with full grown piranha you need to give them about 30gallon space per fish. But the more space you give them the less chance their fight each other over territories and aggression.

it's just my 2 cent.

 

[PEVINE11]

1 piranha = 30
2 = 50
3 = 70
4 = 90
5 = 110
6 = 130
7 = 150
8 = 170
9 = 190
10 = 210
11 = 230
12 = 250
13 = 270


1 piranha is about 30 gallons, every piranha added after that needs an adintonal 20 gallons.

 

[Bderick67]

Althouh you tank is quite large, the demensions will keep the fish close to one another. I think 6 full grown RBPs would be max, but if your starting with Juvies I'd start with 8-9 of them.

1 piranha = 30
2 = 50
3 = 70
4 = 90
5 = 110
6 = 130
7 = 150
8 = 170
9 = 190
10 = 210
11 = 230
12 = 250
13 = 270


1 piranha is about 30 gallons, every piranha added after that needs an adintonal 20 gallons.

This guide gives no consideration to the footprint of the tank a 70G and a 90G both have the same 48" x 18" footprint, with the 90g being 4" taller. That 4" in hiegth woud not justify having one additional RBP.

 

[Druu]

I agree with a smaller shoal of 8 adults

 

[gasman]

the above guide is only good if the tank carries on getting bigger in lengh.
a 2ftx2ft x8 ft high(stupid example i know) has alot of gallons yet you wouldnt get away with very many!!
footprint is very important.

gasman