Issues w/ Keeping my Fish Alive....

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scottlanney

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Aug 9, 2010
8
0
0
South Hadley, MA
I'm in the process of upgrading from a 55 gal freshwater to a 120 gal freshwater tank. I have a few things I need help w/ before upgrading.

I currently have:

2 Parrots
1 StingRay
1 Electric Catfish
1 Red Bellied Pacu
1 Royal Knife Fish
2 Placo

My issue is that I just lost 2 Pirhanas sometime today. I called the fish store and they suggested Metafix to resolve it. I tried it but still lost them. Any suggestions on how to not lose anymore expensive fish???/
 
Do you understand how the nitrogen cycle works in an aquarium?
Can you test your water parameters, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH levels?

Even without knowing sizes I would say your tank is heavily overstocked. Because the size some of the fish you have will grow to, that 120g tank will not be big enough.
 
scottlanney;4364081; said:
I'm in the process of upgrading from a 55 gal freshwater to a 120 gal freshwater tank. I have a few things I need help w/ before upgrading.

I currently have:

2 Parrots
1 StingRay
1 Electric Catfish
1 Red Bellied Pacu
1 Royal Knife Fish
2 Placo

My issue is that I just lost 2 Pirhanas sometime today. I called the fish store and they suggested Metafix to resolve it. I tried it but still lost them. Any suggestions on how to not lose anymore expensive fish???/
Click to expand...

How is it you can afford all those fish, but not a 300+ gallon tank to put them in? It's actually quite amazing to me that you could get all these to survive in a 120g, much less a 55g, unless they are ALL small fry right now! Hint: all these babies grow up to be B I G fish!

You need to do some research on these fishes and determine which ones you will be able to successfully keep. But to keep fishes that individually will get as big as 2 feet or more (i.e. your Pacu, catfish, stingray and Royal Knife) in that small of a tank is not wise!

To answer your question specifically though, my guess at the sudden deaths is that they are probably used to a higher level of ammonia/nitrite/nitrate in the tank they're currently in than the new tank you just moved them to.

While you want to have low levels (and if they're low in your 120g, great) you also can't change them rapidly from one level to another - they need an acclimation period. My suggestion would be to drain all the water and substrate from the 55g into the 120g and then add new water from there. This will make the water parameter change less drastic for them.

Good luck!
 
well they all get beeg!!! first issue
they have different temperments!!!second issue
and they need different water parameters!!! third issue
also what is a placo? is it an african cichlid? just wondering never heard of one? and really you need like a 500 gallon tank or an indoor pond.
 
I have been doing this for a short time and have purchased fish on a spuratic basis. I am still learning the basics but really love having a unique assortment of fish. Although I have a 55gal and am upgrading to a 120 gal, I have no issue purchasing a larger tank as I see fit to accomodate the growth of the fish. I am still learning the basics and am asking for help/support not critisize me for meaning well...Sorry and I appreciate your help/support.....Thx
 
no prob. but never put true piranha with other fish. and really untill you get a bigger tank you will have issues. if you want to keep them all, i would go with a 450 or 500 gallon. good luck
 
Agreed I'd recommend to get a tank 3-4 times the size of the 120gal 360gal-480gal or bigger a Plywood build will be your friend....And I'd say the reason for the death of your pirhana is the other fish....What size are these fish now?
 
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