Ph problem for Pacu
- Thread starter Mr&Mrs Nemesis
- Start date
Like you it will then take us some time to jump to a 600 gal tank. For now we will move faster to get them into the 120 gal ASAP (before next month). We are not being cruel, otherwise we would not be reaching out for more info to improve there living conditions. We appreciate all the positive advice and info. We'll check back in tomorrow night to see what other advice and ideas we missed. Have a good night all.
akskirmish;3648855; said:
I do have plans. I am married to a brilliant engineer. When construction gets under way the plans will get posted, the tank will be sectional and will be able to come apart to have more sections added.
I wanted the tank to disassemble into small enough pieces that if we ever moved it could be taken out the front door. The added benefit is that it is also expandable. It will be 8x3x3 at first with a the option of making it 8x5x3 later.
kdrun76;3648892; said:
I'm only trying to be realistic...I hate when people think 300 or even a 500 gallon tank is big enough-They simply have no clue what it takes to care for a Pacu properly.......
cchhcc;3648938; said:
Elaborate.........Pacu are one of the best fish around......if one can house one that is......Great personality,great eaters,gets along well with tank mates,Clean fish,etc,etc........they just get big is all.....
kdrun76;3648969; said:
I own one of the finest looking redbelly pacu one possibly could set eyes on.....Atleast in my honest opinion......Although he doesn't exactly look like a red or black-But rather a gold belly pacu.....
Mr&Mrs Nemesis;3648630; said:
Something is very wrong with the water testing. If the tank were cycled, you would at least have a nitrate reading of some kind, especially in such a small tank. Either you have a defective test kit, or you are not following the directions (the nitrate test is extremely technique-sensitive, and the reagents and vials must be vigorously shaken the full time, as directed), or the beneficial bacteria in your filtration system has somehow been destroyed.
My pacu are extremely sensitive to ammonia and nitrites and used to gasp if any ammonia or nitrite was present. A large water change to remove ammonia and nitrites would stop their gasping immediately. When our rescued pacu were in the 55 gallon they came in, we had major water parameter problems, and we had to change out the equivalent of 100% of the water, 15 gallons at a time to keep ammonia and nitrites at 0 ppm.
A larger tank with the dilution facter of a larger volume of water makes it easier to keep good water parameters. Our pacu have never gasped since they were moved into their 300 gallon tank 3 1/2 years ago. While we are able to keep good water parameters in the 300 gallon tank, our pacu have outgrown the tank. It bothers me that they have only about 6" of water above and below them when they swim. When we let out half the water in the tank, they start swimming on their sides because their dorsal fins are out of the water. We are upgrading to an 1800 gallon tank.
Here are some alternatives to a traditional tank.
http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/945/Fiberglass-Tanks-With-Window
http://www.waresdirect.com/products/Commercial-Products/Rubbermaid/Stock-Tanks245898
http://www.aquaculturetanks.com/images/grottaquariums.gif
http://www.aquaculturetanks.com/index.htm
I'd do an immediate water change in your tank. I'm willing to bet money that there is ammonia and/or nitrite in the tank. Gasping is what a pacu will do if those are present.
Reyairia;3648994; said:
If you bothered reading beyond the first page, you'll see the advice i've given him.
