JD in a 46gal bow front?

[savage72]

Hello everyone. This is my first post on MFK. I am currently working on a friend's SORELY neglected tank. Its a 75 gal. with a JD, red devil, pleco and two leopard corys. Using the API test kit the ammonia and nitrites are zero but the nitrates are off the chart even after testing with 50/50 tank and RO/DI water. I've done two 50% water changes and will do a couple more before bothering testing for nitrates again. She wants to get rid of the JD and red devil (my LFS will take them). The JD is really starting to grow on me (will almost take beef heart right from my hand). I'd really like to keep him but all I have is 46 bow front with a Fluval 305 (both brand new and empty). Sorry for being so long winded but my question is would the 46 bow front be adequate for the JD with a couple large corys?

 

[Gruntking]

How big would you say the JD is atm?
If you only have the 46, i would probably stick him in there alone, they grow pretty big, but im no expert.

 

[carolinafishkeeper]

the common rule of thumb says 2 JD's are ok in a 55gallon...so i would suspect that you would be O.K with the set-up

 

[k0y0te]

how wide is the tank? JD can get 10+ inches. 1 in a 55 is pushing it let alone 2. You might be able to do so as long as the tank is at least 12 inch wide on the sides.

 

[Loves severums]

How big would you say the JD is atm?
If you only have the 46, i would probably stick him in there alone, they grow pretty big, but im no expert.

^ i agree he need a bigger tanks when hes 6"...

 

[Natalie]

I think it depends more on gender than anything. I'd be ok with a female being in a 46g bowfront, but a male can easily get 10-11" and I've seen some beastly males. I wouldn't want to keep one in a 3-ft tank.

 

[artes]

You could probably put it in there for now, and start looking for a cheap used 55 gallon, depending on the size. If its a female, I imagine it would be fine in there for the rest of its life.

 

[Kaliedoscope]

I have a 4ish in JD in a 46 gal bow, along with 2 baby dempsies (>1 in) 1 baby oscar (~1.5 in) a pair of cons (~1 in) along with a random female con ~1in and one the size of my thumbnail. Obviously this is a growout tank and I will not have them in for life, and there are lots of rocks, clay pot fish houses and pipes.

just my exp. I do a lot of water changes though : P.

One other thing, I have a clear hood on there, but the dempsies prefer it when I have a black sheet over the top, I assume this is because they are instintually afraid of birds. Try it out and move him if he dosent look happy

 

[savage72]

Thanks for all the input. I just got back from doing a third water change and the nitrates are reading 80 ppm. a couple more water changes and i think it will be back in shape. the 46 bow is 36" long 12" deep and 21' tall. The JD is about 9 1/2" long and 9 years old. Its not very colorful so I'm guessing female. I decided to keep her so I think I'll get my tank set up tomorrow and get it started cycling.

 

[Water]

It should be fine. Widest part of it is about 15 inches and the narrowest is 12 inches I'm assuming. I don't see how a 55 would work but a 46 BF wouldn't. Standard 55 gallons are only 12 inches wide.