Is my tank ready for a pair of pups?
- Thread starter waymoz
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Ok guys, I'm kind of in a tight situation, the guy who's selling them to me said he really wants them off his hands and if i don't buy them he'll sell it to someone else. I really want these guys as they are insanely rare in australia atm and i'm getting em at an alright price, so I think I'm going to risk putting them into my tank.. If only he could be more patient but I have dragged it on for a while, waiting for bits and pieces to come in.
What are things that I should be ready for? I've got water conditioner, and a python thing set up so water changes are fairly quick and easy, seachem stability which is also supposed to help reduce the effects of ammonia, and the food they're already eating.
What else should I do or not do?
What are things that I should be ready for? I've got water conditioner, and a python thing set up so water changes are fairly quick and easy, seachem stability which is also supposed to help reduce the effects of ammonia, and the food they're already eating.
What else should I do or not do?
if you have to take them waymoz, water changed every day until your system reads 0's for 24 hrs. then do water changes when necessary
Going back to your earlier post, yes you cannot overfilter the tank so that will be fine.
If you get them now just test daily or maybe more often than that.
Do not change massive amounts of water unless you really have to remove large spikes. I would say 25% max at first, maybe 10% if daily. I do not think you want to shock the bacteria too much.
I would keep feedings to a minimum in the first 2 weeks but do not starve them, rays have a fast metabolic rate.
If you get them now just test daily or maybe more often than that.
Do not change massive amounts of water unless you really have to remove large spikes. I would say 25% max at first, maybe 10% if daily. I do not think you want to shock the bacteria too much.
I would keep feedings to a minimum in the first 2 weeks but do not starve them, rays have a fast metabolic rate.
Just Toby;4146442; said:Do not change massive amounts of water unless you really have to remove large spikes. I would say 25% max at first, maybe 10% if daily. I do not think you want to shock the bacteria too much.
You can safely ignore this part. The bacteria aren't going to be shocked whereas rays would be with bad water.
PeteLockwood;4146520; said:You can safely ignore this part. The bacteria aren't going to be shocked whereas rays would be with bad water.
So just water changes to dilute any ammonia/nitrites is recommended.
I've also got this product called aquastar (http://www.aquariumproducts.com.au/catalogue_products.php?prodID=3201) and seachems stability that I'll dose with each water change.
Also with acclimatising the rays, i'll be putting them in a tub and every 10 minutes adding a small amount of water til the ratio of my tank water to the water they came in is roughly 2:1. Is there anything I should do different?
Yes, dilute out the ammonia and nitrite. You can also add a teaspoon or two of salt to the tank to help with the nitrite. Yes, just a teaspoon or two and replace according to how much water you're changing.
I'd acclimate the same way you're going to, I assume the rays are already near your location and not being shipped.
I'd acclimate the same way you're going to, I assume the rays are already near your location and not being shipped.
PeteLockwood;4146520; said:You can safely ignore this part. The bacteria aren't going to be shocked whereas rays would be with bad water.
I should have added more...I am pretty sure that a large water change with lets say very cold water can weaken filter bacteria (I have been advised this and have some experience of a problem caused by too big a water change) If you changed 100% water then that WOULD be bad.
Also I was kind of thinking if you dilute by too much then the bacteria will not have enough load to develop.
We all have our own ways based on what we "think" we know to be best. I will respect Peters opinion though as I guess the Rays health is paramount and I can only base my advice on experience of keeping generic fish and ultimately keeping water and not specifically rays.
OK, if someone's foolish enough not to heat the new water to at or close to the tank temp that wouldn't be good. But replacing water with water at the same temp and with the same parameters is never going to have an adverse affect.
Yes, more water changes will slow the cycle - but with the benefit that the rays will survive the cycle, which is always the most important factor.
Yes, more water changes will slow the cycle - but with the benefit that the rays will survive the cycle, which is always the most important factor.
Short term temperture change is of just a few degrees just stops the bacteria working slightly , it does not kill them.
In this situation as I already stated would just keep doing 25/30 percent water changes twice a day. The filter may take slightly longer to become fully stable but hey you will have living rays. Like we have said not perfect but lets stick to giving advice to help keep the rays alive. The reason for the large water changes is that you really need to keep feeding the rays so they stay strong and healthy. So you will be surprised by how much waste/ ammonia they produce.
Also like we said keep it simple ( stupid) just dechlorinate the tapwater properly and don't worry about all these other additives.
You at least are now aware of what you need to do.
The only other thing I can add is make sure the tank is well oxygenated as this can really help filter bacteria work efficiently. Surprisingly overlooked by a lot of people.
Good luck and well done for asking questions and listening
In this situation as I already stated would just keep doing 25/30 percent water changes twice a day. The filter may take slightly longer to become fully stable but hey you will have living rays. Like we have said not perfect but lets stick to giving advice to help keep the rays alive. The reason for the large water changes is that you really need to keep feeding the rays so they stay strong and healthy. So you will be surprised by how much waste/ ammonia they produce.
Also like we said keep it simple ( stupid) just dechlorinate the tapwater properly and don't worry about all these other additives.
You at least are now aware of what you need to do.
The only other thing I can add is make sure the tank is well oxygenated as this can really help filter bacteria work efficiently. Surprisingly overlooked by a lot of people.
Good luck and well done for asking questions and listening
