Puffers and water cycle

[NDsuperduty]

I started my tank about 2 weeks ago with the order of procedure listed below. Been testing every day since adding fish and all levels are at zero or at just barely above zero. Tank is a 6ft 220g currently running on an Fx5. I have an Eheim 2262 on its way and will be setup by the end of the week. I am planning to get an Mbu puffer, but realize they are sensitive to toxins in the water. So my question is should I wait to add the puffer even though the tank has gone through a cycle? Its not listed below but I did test the water every other day since running and ammonia gas already gone through a full cycle and Nitrites did rise but they went back down from Prime.

8/13 - started tank with stress Zyme and some fish food to get cycle going.
8/16 - add Eco-complete African substrate with live bacteria.
8/18 - added 4" giraffe cat
8/24 - added 4 yellow labs, pleco, and 2 Colombian catfish sharks, and used Prime for slime coat and prevent any quick build up of toxins.




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[Fat Homer]

I just want to ask, is this the final home for the MBU or are you still going to upgrade?


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[NDsuperduty]

I just want to ask, is this the final home for the MBU or are you still going to upgrade?

I am very aware of their potential size and will take the necessary measure when needed. I hate that every time Mbu's are brought up this is the response people get.



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[-DC-]

That's only because 99% of the people who buy/want them shouldn't own them and cannot house them properly long term. I wouldn't take any offense too it i'm sure the question is intended to help avoid a bad situation for the fish and the unprepared owners. What "necessary measures" do you have planned ? DO you have tank/pond space ? Or is it a plan to re-home/euthanize the animal when the time comes ??

Were you planning to keep the puffer in with the tankmates ?? I'd suspect they would become feeders quite quickly.

Also Colombian shark catfish are a brackish fish and should not be kept in a fresh water setup.

As for your question, In a big tank with small/low stock our puffer will probably be fine since fluctuations will be small through the cycle as long as you stay on top of it. With that said i wouldn't risk it, they are more sensitive and to be safe I would wait until the tank is stable before putting a puffer in it

I just want to ask, is this the final home for the MBU or are you still going to upgrade?

I am very aware of their potential size and will take the necessary measure when needed. I hate that every time Mbu's are brought up this is the response people get.


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[NDsuperduty]

That's only because 99% of the people who buy/want them shouldn't own them and cannot house them properly long term. I wouldn't take any offense too it i'm sure the question is intended to help avoid a bad situation for the fish and the unprepared owners. What "necessary measures" do you have planned ? DO you have tank/pond space ? Or is it a plan to re-home/euthanize the animal when the time comes ??

Were you planning to keep the puffer in with the tankmates ?? I'd suspect they would become feeders quite quickly.

Also Colombian shark catfish are a brackish fish and should not be kept in a fresh water setup.

As for your question, In a big tank with small/low stock our puffer will probably be fine since fluctuations will be small through the cycle as long as you stay on top of it. With that said i wouldn't risk it, they are more sensitive and to be safe I would wait until the tank is stable before putting a puffer in it

I know why he asked and it makes sense. The problem I have with it is that no one can ask a question about Mbu's without one of the first comments being about whether or not the owner is going to buy a 1000g tank for his puffer when the time comes, which I find absurd. One of the biggest Mbu's i've seen in captivity is fat, happy, and healthy in a 6ft 300g(owner is on this site i believe). I would totally understand if I said I'm buying an Mbu to put in my 48x12 55g which wouldn't allow the puffer to turn properly within the first 6-18 months, but its going in a tank that is 72"x24".

Regardless, I am very capable of upgrading to a larger tank when its needed and if I decide not to do that I will sell or donate the fish to a person or organization with a large aquarium. I have no plans to euthanize it.

Almost every Mbu I have seen in person or online is with other fish and they seem to do great. Some fish may end up making the mistake of getting between the puffer and his food but natural selection happens in the wild too, so I am ok with that.

I brushed up on the Columbian catfish after buying them and saw that. I did not read about them before buying them because I had them in the past and they thrived in my freshwater cichlid tank. Think they got to 8-10" and were some of the healthiest looking and most active fish in the tank, until a Hurricane blackout killed them. What i find interesting is that some profile articles say they are brackish and other say they are fresh. Personally I have never seen them sold or kept as anything but freshwater.

PS: Kid kept me up all night last night, so i might be a little grumpy.

 

[Jenerik]

To answer your question about when to move your Mbu in there, I would make sure that you are reading some level of nitrate in the tank (to indicate that the full biological cycle has indeed been completed in the tank...) and then, of course, no levels of ammonia or nitrite. I have moved our Mbu (mine is the big one you mentioned) twice and just made sure the pH was in the ballpark between old and new tanks and never had any problems. IMO, the best thing you can do is to heavily inoculate your new tank with a bunch of mulm from an existing tank. Wring out a dirty filter sponge in there, some gravel and junk from the bottom, whatever. Even go to your local fish store and hit them up for a wring-out of some sponge filter from a heavily populated tank. I have never lost one fish during a move or to "new tank syndrome" after doing it this way. Best of luck with it.

 

[zapantha]

CYeah but realize an mbu can't turn around comfortably at full size in a 24" wide tank. So yeah people are gonna ask if you're upgrade same with silver aros, Rtc, arapaima, and even bichirs when a tank size is mentioned that won't fish the adult fish comfortably. 1000 g tank talk has died down a lot lately. But ANYWAYS, I say wait just to be sure; mbu aren't cheap fish lol. Take this time to stock up on seafood for him lol

Keep us updated on the progress though! Depending on the size of the mbu you get just be careful of the bioload of your messy buddy! Good luck!
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[Jenerik]

I took his comments to mean that the 72"x24" tank was the grow-out tank. If that was wrong and it's to be the final tank, I agree that it is too small.

 

[zapantha]

I took his comments to mean that the 72"x24" tank was the grow-out tank. If that was wrong and it's to be the final tank, I agree that it is too small.

Yeah he said he will, was just responding to his frustration with why that's the first question on any mbu ask thread. Was just clarifying its not an mbu exclusive thing or a PITA thing. Regardless, he had a long night; and to be back on topic- please keep us updated with his growth, and how the cycling goes!


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[NDsuperduty]

I took his comments to mean that the 72"x24" tank was the grow-out tank. If that was wrong and it's to be the final tank, I agree that it is too small.

The current tank is not necessarily the final tank or grow out tank, its simply what he would be in for now. I have seen many videos of giant oscars and RTC's being kept in Tiny tanks(sub 75g) and its not even enjoyable to watch. Not because of the humane factor, which is sad, but because part of what makes fish keeping so fun is watching them move, eat, and "play". When the time comes proper measures will be taken to ensure the health of the fish.

Just to make sure my thought process is right....Mbu's will usually reach 12" at 6-18 months, and around 18" between 2-3 years? Obviously every fish is different and size will vary on feeding schedule, but the above numbers seem to be the gist of what ive read.