How to Stock Monster Tanks

[ragin_cajun]

I guess the real question boils down to how do you run a grow-out tank. Because it'd be pretty lame to stand up a 500 Gallon tank and have a 2" JD and some Convicts to put in it. So what, you buy 30-40 2" fish, 4-5 each of Umbees, Trimacs, Vieja, RTMs, Jags, and put them all in a 75, then a 125, then in the 500 Gallon when they hit 6-8 inches? Is that about how it's done?

 

[Cu455]

Save the effort of changing and put them in the 500. They will have excellent water so they will grow faster. You can also do less water changes. I use growouta only if my fish are going to get eaten in my main tank.

 

[isde02]

I guess the real question boils down to how do you run a grow-out tank. Because it'd be pretty lame to stand up a 500 Gallon tank and have a 2" JD and some Convicts to put in it. So what, you buy 30-40 2" fish, 4-5 each of Umbees, Trimacs, Vieja, RTMs, Jags, and put them all in a 75, then a 125, then in the 500 Gallon when they hit 6-8 inches? Is that about how it's done?

That's pretty much what I do....If you have a trouble maker its easier to net him out of a smaller tank to separate him than trying to catch a smaller fish in a huge tank. Using different size growout tanks gives you more control imo. With different fish your going to have different growth rates, so using multiple tanks you can then move the larger fish to the larger tank and give the smaller fish more time to catch up a little without being harassed.

 

[strollo22]

Start smaller, end bigger. I have some growouts in a 55 and some in a 125. Just moved one from the 55 to the 125. Some will never make it out of the 125 into the 300 because they won't grow as large. I will be upgrading the 125 to a 240 though and the 55 to a 150. I like larger growouts lol

 

[ragin_cajun]

I can plan on 1 inch per month as a rule of thumb on growth rate of fry? So if I got 6 Vieja at 2 inch, I've got about 4 months to get them into a big tank at 6 inches? Or it'll take more like 8 months?

 

[David R]

Because it'd be pretty lame to stand up a 500 Gallon tank and have a 2" JD and some Convicts to put in it.

That's not lame, it is awesome and ideal! In an ideal world "grow out" tanks would only be used for growing out smaller fish to add into an established tank. This practice of buying massive fish you have no means to house with the intention of upgrading the tank "as needed" is far from ideal and [IMO] is often used as justification for people to buy fish they realistically will never house properly. The growth my black aro has shown after being moved from a 400L tank to a 2000L tank at ~12" is phenomenal. The 400L tank had a 140x65cm footprint so at 12" the fish hadn't "outgrown" the tank by most peoples definition, but the change in activity, appetite and growth says to me that there is absolutely no substitute for space when it comes to growing out large fish.

Most people setting up massive tanks already have fish for it in a smaller tank, but if you didn't I can't think of any reason why not to grow out juvi fish from a small size in a 500g tank if you're starting from scratch.

 

[ragin_cajun]

What do you guys think about crowding young cichlids to get them used to living in close quarters, hopefully lessening aggression in a community setup later in life? I'm wanting to keep Amphs, Vieja, and Parachromis.


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[Shenanigans]

growouts are usually for fish that will be eaten in the main tank. You can argue proper tank size all day, but the fact is everything is better bigger. Its a more stable environment which ultimately means healthier(if properly maintained). The fish will grow faster with more space and stable conditions. That being said, whats wrong with small fish in a big tank? Most of us here see big tanks and think of the potential monsters we could put in them. Some of the most impressive set-ups ive seen were massive tanks stocked with thousands of 2" tetras and live plants.

crowding can be a great tool for aggression. Solitary fish such as redtail sharks will kill each other if kept in pairs or a small group, but if you crowd them(store conditions) aggression gets dispersed and real injuries are rare, or they simply accept their situation. For intraspecies aggression, this is probably stressful but can be done. Im not familiar with the species you are asking about, but as long as your filtration can handle the crowded conditions there is nothing wrong with the practice except for the added stress it will apply to the fish. Hides/subdued lighting can help minimize stress and aggression