Hi all,
After a few months I have found a 2 year old female senegal bichir that is ~25cm. As bichirs are illegal imports to Australia I had to pay $400 for her - it's not illegal to buy them and she would have come from CB parents.
This is my first bichir and I am very excited. I have a few questions that I would love some assistance with and would also appreciate a critique of my equipment/set-up.
Firstly, I have the following equipment:
- 4x1.5x2ft tank
- 200w+ lights (2 separate units)
- 2 x eheim 2215 filters
- 9w UV sterilizer
- 5HP Teco Chiller/Heater (rated for the tank size)
- CO2 dosing system w/ inline atomiser and pH controller (from when my tank was a planted rainbowfish aquarium)
- 3 unit peristaltic pump for fertilizer dosing
- EcoTech Vortech Propellor pump
The tank is drilled in the bottom and is plumbed so all equipment is hidden in the cabinet and is inline. The only equipment in the tank are the two in/out pipes.
My questions are such:
1) Is this equipment suitable? Should I increase/upgrade the filters?
2) Is the propellor pump a good idea? It is left over from the rainbowfish tank which I used to create a current for water movement for the plants and to exercise the rainbows. Will the Senegal appreciate some extra water movement?
3) What is the best substrate? Both aesthetically and beneficial to the fish.
4) Will it be cool to change the tubes in one of the light units to moonlights to turn on at night? Or will this interfew with the sleeping patterns of the fish and/or promote algae growth?
5) Will 1 male and 1 female (senegals) fit in the 4x1.5x2? Would it also be possible to get tank mates?
6) Which decor would be best? I'd like it to look as natural as possible. I've spent a lot of money (and I don't make a lot) to make the tank look nice and hide all the equipment.
I look forward to the responses.
Thanks
Andrew
After a few months I have found a 2 year old female senegal bichir that is ~25cm. As bichirs are illegal imports to Australia I had to pay $400 for her - it's not illegal to buy them and she would have come from CB parents.
This is my first bichir and I am very excited. I have a few questions that I would love some assistance with and would also appreciate a critique of my equipment/set-up.
Firstly, I have the following equipment:
- 4x1.5x2ft tank
- 200w+ lights (2 separate units)
- 2 x eheim 2215 filters
- 9w UV sterilizer
- 5HP Teco Chiller/Heater (rated for the tank size)
- CO2 dosing system w/ inline atomiser and pH controller (from when my tank was a planted rainbowfish aquarium)
- 3 unit peristaltic pump for fertilizer dosing
- EcoTech Vortech Propellor pump
The tank is drilled in the bottom and is plumbed so all equipment is hidden in the cabinet and is inline. The only equipment in the tank are the two in/out pipes.
My questions are such:
1) Is this equipment suitable? Should I increase/upgrade the filters?
2) Is the propellor pump a good idea? It is left over from the rainbowfish tank which I used to create a current for water movement for the plants and to exercise the rainbows. Will the Senegal appreciate some extra water movement?
3) What is the best substrate? Both aesthetically and beneficial to the fish.
4) Will it be cool to change the tubes in one of the light units to moonlights to turn on at night? Or will this interfew with the sleeping patterns of the fish and/or promote algae growth?
5) Will 1 male and 1 female (senegals) fit in the 4x1.5x2? Would it also be possible to get tank mates?
6) Which decor would be best? I'd like it to look as natural as possible. I've spent a lot of money (and I don't make a lot) to make the tank look nice and hide all the equipment.
I look forward to the responses.
Thanks
Andrew
