I am going to compile what I have learned and been taught over the years by flowerhorn masters. Since this is a VERY in depth topic I will why to break it out in a couple of post on lunch breaks at work over the next couple of days.
What is pumping?
Pumping is a term given to bulking up a fish over a period of time to increase them mass, KOK color and pearls of the fish.
Environment
Your tank need to be longer and deeper vs. narrow and taller as well have very good filtration and water flow. Its very critical to do the basics of watching your water parameters as well keeping the heat at around 83f or 29c. you want to have a colorful background as well not use substrate to ensure the cleanest water possible. You can add handfulls of larger gravel or rocks to the bottom of the tank for the fish something to play with. I also recommend painting the bottom of the tank for a cleaner look. You will need to do 20-30% water changes weekly with aged water that has been treated with a declorinator. A mirror can be added tot he tank for 20min a day for the fish to attack but suspend in the middle so it can move around and do not add to the sides of the tank. As for lights you dont want to overpower the fish and pink freshwater bulbs work well to enhance the color of the fish as well 50/50 bulbs to enhance the blue pearls. Keep the lights on a daily schedule that corisponds to the light outside. Finding the proper PH is also critical and depending on where you fish came from its always recommended to ask the shource for the ph the fish was kept at. I have good luck with a higher ph of 7.8 but also avoid using chemicals and use crushed coral in increase ph and peat moss/malysain drift wood to lower.
What is pumping?
Pumping is a term given to bulking up a fish over a period of time to increase them mass, KOK color and pearls of the fish.
Environment
Your tank need to be longer and deeper vs. narrow and taller as well have very good filtration and water flow. Its very critical to do the basics of watching your water parameters as well keeping the heat at around 83f or 29c. you want to have a colorful background as well not use substrate to ensure the cleanest water possible. You can add handfulls of larger gravel or rocks to the bottom of the tank for the fish something to play with. I also recommend painting the bottom of the tank for a cleaner look. You will need to do 20-30% water changes weekly with aged water that has been treated with a declorinator. A mirror can be added tot he tank for 20min a day for the fish to attack but suspend in the middle so it can move around and do not add to the sides of the tank. As for lights you dont want to overpower the fish and pink freshwater bulbs work well to enhance the color of the fish as well 50/50 bulbs to enhance the blue pearls. Keep the lights on a daily schedule that corisponds to the light outside. Finding the proper PH is also critical and depending on where you fish came from its always recommended to ask the shource for the ph the fish was kept at. I have good luck with a higher ph of 7.8 but also avoid using chemicals and use crushed coral in increase ph and peat moss/malysain drift wood to lower.
