Minimum Tank Size for my fish?

[BIGgourami]

i've seen how big those barbs will get.. i said 240 but obvious more is better

 

[nfored]

I am getting a 240 long for my bala's they get to be 10-16"

 

[groovitudedude]

nice fish! but as you can see, the fish you have are indeed the 'yellow' finned tinfoils that get huge. and yes, an 8x2x2 is big enough IMO.

here is a 4 incher beside my 18 inch one: the litte one is growing up..has a long way to go. so do yours

your tank is very nice BTW.

Thank you! How long have you had yours? They look excellent, but really deserve a bigger tank.

screw the 240... and get the 300... 180 6x2x2 240 8x2x2 no difference in the tank really.... 300 8'x30"x2'

If you can come to my house, re-enforce the floor, and pay the difference, I'd be more than happy to do it.

huh??? where is the logic in that? you must be one of those short guys running around thinking they can dunk just like shaq...

2' is a big difference.... the diff between the 240 and 300 is 6"s now there is no differ there...

also I was referring to the 150\180 as the smaller tanks not the 240

Yeah, 180 is REAL small. Only on MFK

i've seen how big those barbs will get.. i said 240 but obvious more is better

Obviously. The key is money, time, and need. What do they really need? If a 240 will keep them un-stunted for life, then that's what I'll get.

I am getting a 240 long for my bala's they get to be 10-16"

Cool! What are they in now?

 

[cichlaguapote]

And 240G isn't what I would consider a "smaller tank", considering it will weigh well over a ton. I just want my fish to be happy and not stunted.

Thanks everybody!

Tank size isn't really what keeps fish from stunting.. water quality is what makes a fish "stunted"..

In general:
lack of water changes over a long period of time = stunt..

small tank w water changes = a fish that keeps growing regardless of tank size....

 

[ARS7]

i wouldnt suggest putting a leporinus with that senegal. i had one that was only half the size of my senegal and it tore him up pretty bad.

 

[groovitudedude]

i wouldnt suggest putting a leporinus with that senegal. i had one that was only half the size of my senegal and it tore him up pretty bad.

I've had them together forever. I got 'em on the same day. There have never been any problems.

Cichlaguapote is ignored, sorry.

 

[12 Volt Man]

Tank size isn't really

small tank w water changes = a fish that keeps growing regardless of tank size....

this is the problem I ran into:

my barbs both reached 18 inches long in only a 90 gallon tank...way too small. but with excellent care (lots of food, lots of water changes) they can do it. not good..90 is like a goldfish bowl to two fish that big..

I am house hunting at the moment and will get them a 6 foot tank soon..but it won't be until I move locations..

my barbs are about 4 years old now. I only have one big one at the moment and one smaller one. had one jump right through the tank lid..

before and after - RIP big guy:

 

[cichlaguapote]

Don't matter to me but if you stopped judging people based on simple online phrases you don't like you might be able leave off the ignore button and actually learn something..

 

[Bderick67]

huh??? where is the logic in that? you must be one of those short guys running around thinking they can dunk just like shaq...

2' is a big difference.... the diff between the 240 and 300 is 6"s now there is no differ there...

also I was referring to the 150\180 as the smaller tanks not the 240

The difference between a 180g and 240g is a swimming area of 4 sq. ft. The diff between the 240g and the 300g that Nic described is also 4 sq. ft. The extra 2' length will really not allow for a much larger fish as the 6" extra width will allow for a larger fish.

One thing though there are 300g that are the same footprint as the 240g just 6" taller. This tank will not allow for larger fish or increased stocking.

To the OP I would think the 180g would be fine but the 240g would be much more enjoyed by you and the fish.

 

[cichlaguapote]

this is the problem I ran into:

my barbs both reached 18 inches long in only a 90 gallon tank...way too small. but with excellent care (lots of food, lots of water changes) they can do it. not good..90 is like a goldfish bowl to two fish that big..

I am house hunting at the moment and will get them a 6 foot tank soon..but it won't be until I move locations..

my barbs are about 4 years old now. I only have one big one at the moment and one smaller one. had one jump right through the tank lid..

Right.. and this is the reason why small but packed tanks work and still grow fish. It's more about water quality when talking stunting issues rather than tank size. Yeah when you max out their size in the tank like you have they might slow down a bit but they will still keep growing with good water quality to over 18"(if they get larger?) even if your tank is only 18" wide..

Your barbs are beautiful btw.. sorry to hear you lost one.