I'm new to aquariums. I have a 150 gallon with 3 straight fin and 3 viel tail angelfish. 1 bala shark 1 dwarf gaourami 1 platy. 2 pecostamos. My question is how much filtration do I need for this size tank. I have filstar for a 175 gallon tank and a fluval c4 for 70 gallons. I've heard that you need at lest twice the size filtration for a tank. I'm concerned because I want to add 3 discus fish this weekend and then another 2 discus in the future. I've heard that the tank needs to be super clean to have discus. Please help!
How much filtration should I use for 150 gallon fish tank?
- Thread starter Silencio
- Start date
by what I've read so far I guess I'm going to buy another filstar filter thats for 175 gallon tank. Because my fish are not getting slammed against the tank. lol
Hi there Silencio, are you new to the hobby? If yes please do read some of this:
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/Tropical_Fish-A_Beginners_Guide.pdf
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/nitrogen_cycle.html
Filtration comes in where it handles debris from wastes and what we call nitrogen cycle.
Please I recommend you to read the links and also for your said set up I would recommend building a sump which is much more easier to maintain, comes in cheap and efficient more than other means of filtration, also it'll be a hiding place for equipments for you to see less ' visual noise' in the tank. Welcome to MFK also!
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/Tropical_Fish-A_Beginners_Guide.pdf
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/nitrogen_cycle.html
Filtration comes in where it handles debris from wastes and what we call nitrogen cycle.
Please I recommend you to read the links and also for your said set up I would recommend building a sump which is much more easier to maintain, comes in cheap and efficient more than other means of filtration, also it'll be a hiding place for equipments for you to see less ' visual noise' in the tank. Welcome to MFK also!
Wow I read the first book. Alot of good information. Thank you. Maybe the second link will tell me what a sump is. But I already spent 200 on the filstar and 80 on the fluval. My plan is to buy another Filstar tomorrow on Amazon. I found the same one that I spent 200 on for 100. I wanted to punch myself after I saw that. I'm also going to buy a python for easier water changes. Right now I just have a siphon vacumn that I use to vacumn the water into 5 gallons buckets that I bought at Home Depot. Then I carry them outside and dump them.
If you really want discus, you may want to readjust some of your stocking plans.
Discus are generally placid fish that often stress out and die when housed with plecos, the plecos (when large enough) take advantage of the discus sedentary nature, and suck the slim coat off the discus stressing them to death. Discus also don't do well with large active fish as tankmates, the bala can reach a length of well over a ft and with its very active manner, tend to make discus hide.
Discus do better housed with schools of small tetras, such as lemons, or cardinals, these non aggressive fish help discus feel comfortable, and will then reward you by spending more time where you can see them. A small shoal of Corydorus catfish would also be more compatible than the pleco.
Discus also like warmer temps than many tropical fish offered, so do some research on species before randomly combining them.
Discus are generally placid fish that often stress out and die when housed with plecos, the plecos (when large enough) take advantage of the discus sedentary nature, and suck the slim coat off the discus stressing them to death. Discus also don't do well with large active fish as tankmates, the bala can reach a length of well over a ft and with its very active manner, tend to make discus hide.
Discus do better housed with schools of small tetras, such as lemons, or cardinals, these non aggressive fish help discus feel comfortable, and will then reward you by spending more time where you can see them. A small shoal of Corydorus catfish would also be more compatible than the pleco.
Discus also like warmer temps than many tropical fish offered, so do some research on species before randomly combining them.
Well I've only had the tank for 3 months and all the fish are really small. I've always picked the smallest in the tank because I want to watch them grow. My plecos are about 3 to 4 inches long. If I'm understanding you correctly your saying that they'll latch onto the fish and suck on them??? Wow I wouldn't want that. Well I have another 55 gallon tank set up with 1 redfire dwarf gaourami 1 german gold ram and 1 straight fin angel. I would take them out and put them in that tank if I saw them sucking on another fish. I heard they take like 10 years to get big. How much time do you think I have before they start going for my fish???
Yes plecos are known to latch on to slow moving fish and parasitize them, and because the plecos are often nocturnal feeders, may do this while discus are resting at night, so you may not see them doing it.
And 10 years is a bit of an of an understatement for pleco growth, I've had common plecos reach a ft in length, in a quarter of that time.
If you want discus there are resources out there you may want to check out before adding new stock, this is not a fish for the uninformed.
Most discus keepers prioritize discus, and are very careful about what fish they house with them.
And 10 years is a bit of an of an understatement for pleco growth, I've had common plecos reach a ft in length, in a quarter of that time.
If you want discus there are resources out there you may want to check out before adding new stock, this is not a fish for the uninformed.
Most discus keepers prioritize discus, and are very careful about what fish they house with them.
Well I definitely want Discus and Angel fish. I also really like my Blue Dwarf Gaourami. Ok now I'm worried about overstocking my 55 gallon. I will move my Bala and my 2 plecos to my 55 gallon. Before I add Discus. Yes I want my Discus as a priority in my tank. Along with my Angel Fish.
That will put
1 bala shark
1 straight fin angel fish
1 redfire dwarf Gaourami
1 German gold ram
2 plecos
1 dwarf neon rainbow
Do you think that will be overstocking my 55 gallon tank?
That will put
1 bala shark
1 straight fin angel fish
1 redfire dwarf Gaourami
1 German gold ram
2 plecos
1 dwarf neon rainbow
Do you think that will be overstocking my 55 gallon tank?