Opinions needed !

[jaws7777]

Tanks back up and running

I wanted to get some input from you guys before i do something i'll regret. Im not sure im cutting down the stock enough. So trying to keep everyones favirotes, fish that we've had for a long time and considering the harder to get or rarer fish im stumped.

So far ive rehomed the sen, porthole shovelnose and raph cat these were in the 75 gal which im shuttong down.

Going to rehome/sell the juruense, ansorgii, and one jag cat.

On the choppong block is the other jag cat and pbb.

So the tank looks like this.
Pearsei
Heterospilus
Vulture cat
Congicus x2
Teug
Endli
Kokoton
Sp.faranah
Pbb
Jag cat.

Tank is 300 gal 100 gal sump. I know bioload questions are nearly impossible to accurately answer but what do you guys think about the current stock in terms of bioload. Weekly wc's arent a problem. We made a deal with the kids that if they want us to keep the fish they need to pitch in. So starting this week they are going to learn how to do the wc's so while im recovering from the surgery the fish will be cared for. Even if the filter socks sit in there for a month or so i dont think thats a big deal as long as the water is being changed.

So what do you guys think. Good ? Rehome more ? Keep pbb and jag ?

Rocksor RD. Drstrangelove i know tou guys arent poly keepers but i value your input.

Btw im not a heavy feeder. Maybe 3 or 4 times per week they get about 1/2 to 3/4 of a tilapia filet or pellets (per feeding)

 

[RD.]

Sorry Frank, but most of those species I have zero experience with, so I'm afraid I have no idea what you currently are dealing with regards to bio-load.

 

[Burbotman]

Frank, I am thinking the Pearsei is the largest bio load contributor but I also know it is a favorite and staying.

Since you have already rehoused a few fish I would stop and monitor the tank for a few weeks before making anymore tough decisions. Watch your nitrates and see if their manageable with your desired feeding and maintanance schedule. If not then move the other jag Hold on to that PBB

I wish I could really help help you with this but I don't know how to get that Faranah up to western Canada

 

[Drstrangelove]

If you have 400 gallons of water (300+100), feed 1 ounce of tilapia 4 times per week, you'll add around 9 ppm of nitrate per week, assuming everything else is neutral.

So, if it's 9 ounces (of a 12-ounce filet) that works out to 81 ppm of nitrates per week. (You'll have to calculate the real food amount to get how much nitrate it really is, but those are the ratios.) I think 81 ppm is much higher than I'd like. Even an 85% change leaves the fish in water that is over 20 ppm for 6 out of 7 days.

I could estimate the pellets if you post the weight you feed and the protein %, but I'm guessing it would be much lower in protein / nitrates.

 

[jaws7777]

Sorry Frank, but most of those species I have zero experience with, so I'm afraid I have no idea what you currently are dealing with regards to bio-load.

Thanks neil

Frank, I am thinking the Pearsei is the largest bio load contributor but I also know it is a favorite and staying.

Since you have already rehoused a few fish I would stop and monitor the tank for a few weeks before making anymore tough decisions. Watch your nitrates and see if their manageable with your desired feeding and maintanance schedule. If not then move the other jag Hold on to that PBB

I wish I could really help help you with this but I don't know how to get that Faranah up to western Canada

I knew the pbb wiuld be a tough one. My daughter would hate us both if the faranah found its way into your tank

If you have 400 gallons of water (300+100), feed 1 ounce of tilapia 4 times per week, you'll add around 9 ppm of nitrate per week, assuming everything else is neutral.

So, if it's 9 ounces (of a 12-ounce filet) that works out to 81 ppm of nitrates per week. (You'll have to calculate the real food amount to get how much nitrate it really is, but those are the ratios.) I think 81 ppm is much higher than I'd like. Even an 85% change leaves the fish in water that is over 20 ppm for 6 out of 7 days.

I could estimate the pellets if you post the weight you feed and the protein %, but I'm guessing it would be much lower in protein / nitrates.

Thats exactly what i was hoping for. I remember we had this discussion and your formula for calculating nitrates. I could switch to a heavier based pellet diet but it still seems the load will be high.

 

[FishNCash]

I know for a fact that hikari pellets create less waste so if you are not feeding Hikari then I highly recommend you do. I have no experience with bio load calculation so I have no input.

 

[jaws7777]

I know for a fact that hikari pellets create less waste so if you are not feeding Hikari then I highly recommend you do. I have no experience with bio load calculation so I have no input.

Ive been feeding nls mega fish. I noticed with the polys any pellet causes waste but with tilapia i hardly notice any. Do you ?

 

[tarheel96]

I don't think it'll be a problem with that bioload Frank. It'll be interesting to see how high nitrate rises but I don't think it'll be a concern. I can't remember the no3 level from the tap if it's high.

I noticed with the polys any pellet causes waste but with tilapia i hardly notice any.

I have to think that's because of the fillers/binders in the pellets. Whatever terrestrial plant matter is in the pellets is going to be hard for the polys to digest.

 

[RD.]

Agreed, but also if you remove the 70-80% water content from the tilapia, there would be very little actual food to compare on a dry matter basis, to a nutrient dense pellet. So on an ounce per ounce dry matter basis, less solid waste from less actual food, would certainly make sense.

 

[jaws7777]

I don't think it'll be a problem with that bioload Frank. It'll be interesting to see how high nitrate rises but I don't think it'll be a concern. I can't remember the no3 level from the tap if it's high.



I have to think that's because of the fillers/binders in the pellets. Whatever terrestrial plant matter is in the pellets is going to be hard for the polys to digest.

No nitrates in the tap mike. Its
Im gonna see what nitrates look like in the upcoming weeks before i rehome more fish.

Burbotman is right i may rehome something that u wont be able to ibtain again if i make a rash decision.

Agreed, but also if you remove the 70-80% water content from the tilapia, there would be very little actual food to compare on a dry matter basis, to a nutrient dense pellet. So on an ounce per ounce dry matter basis, less solid waste from less actual food, would certainly make sense.

And this is why you get tagged