How about: Fluval 405, Fluval 404, 2 Whisper 60s, 1 pair albino senegal bichirs, 1 ornate bichir, and 1 delhezi bichir, 75%+ weekly water changes. Sound good?
Re-doing my 75
- Thread starter reptileguy2727
- Start date
sounds great, alto thats alot of flow for fish that like slow moving to stagnant water. id prob do less than 75% changes too if you can get away with it with out the nitrates getting too high.
I always do big water changes now, it is much better for the fish. There will be lots of PVC pipe in there so they will have low flow, relaxing hiding spots.
IMO its an unnecessary overkill. Here is an example:
My 55 gallon african oddball tank holds a regular senegalus, albino senegalus, palmas, ornate (all bichirs are currently 6-9"), brown knife and 3 fully grown eel cats and was originally filtered by Fluval 304 and a Magnum 350 hooked to a dual bioweel. About 6 months ago Magnum ceased to function. At the time I did not want to buy another canister filter, yet due to the way this tank is positioned, I could not have anything hanging from the back. I can tell you from experience that having only one filter bothered me more than it did the fish. I always stay on top of my water changes for the most part -- 50% once a week (although this is the only tank that I would sometimes let go for 2 weeks to do a waterchange). During this time if someone was to ask me which of my tanks has the healthiest fish, I would vithout a doubt point a finger at the 55.
On the other hand, I finally solved my "single-filter" dilema few weeks ago by getting a powerhead with a sponge prefilter -- I figured that having a little extra in the mechanical filtration dept. is what I needed. It's been 3 weeks now, and I can tell that inhabitants of this aquarium are still bothered by extra current created. The powerhead is AC50 -- it only pumps approximately 270 GPH and I have it on the lowest setting. In fact I am now thinking of removing it all together, I just want to wait another week or so to see if my guys calm down after all.
Bottom line -- I applaud your efforsts but with the fish you plan on keeping they are completely unnecessary
My 55 gallon african oddball tank holds a regular senegalus, albino senegalus, palmas, ornate (all bichirs are currently 6-9"), brown knife and 3 fully grown eel cats and was originally filtered by Fluval 304 and a Magnum 350 hooked to a dual bioweel. About 6 months ago Magnum ceased to function. At the time I did not want to buy another canister filter, yet due to the way this tank is positioned, I could not have anything hanging from the back. I can tell you from experience that having only one filter bothered me more than it did the fish. I always stay on top of my water changes for the most part -- 50% once a week (although this is the only tank that I would sometimes let go for 2 weeks to do a waterchange). During this time if someone was to ask me which of my tanks has the healthiest fish, I would vithout a doubt point a finger at the 55.
On the other hand, I finally solved my "single-filter" dilema few weeks ago by getting a powerhead with a sponge prefilter -- I figured that having a little extra in the mechanical filtration dept. is what I needed. It's been 3 weeks now, and I can tell that inhabitants of this aquarium are still bothered by extra current created. The powerhead is AC50 -- it only pumps approximately 270 GPH and I have it on the lowest setting. In fact I am now thinking of removing it all together, I just want to wait another week or so to see if my guys calm down after all.
Bottom line -- I applaud your efforsts but with the fish you plan on keeping they are completely unnecessary
reptileguy2727;629192; said:
big water changes will keep your nasties down (nitrates), yes, but if your tap/well water is of a diff ph than the tank needs to be you can ph shock them. the pvc idea is great but you will prob eventually get sick of them hiding and take them out, unless you can deal with that. and thats alot of filtration and flow for a 75, id do like one canister and a hob, especially with those large waterchanges.
I have the same filtration on it now minus the 404 and the only decor is a big PVC T-connector and it is not even close to too much flow.
If the water changes are frequent enough the pH in the tank won't shift enough from that of the tap, so that is not an issue at all.
If the water changes are frequent enough the pH in the tank won't shift enough from that of the tap, so that is not an issue at all.
It does. I used to do smaller or less frequent water changes, but the best method by far is big frequent water changes. Much better growth, color, and overall health.
I will definitely have pics as soon as they are in there.
I will definitely have pics as soon as they are in there.
Bderick67;630585; said:
I'd echo that point. why change so massively if there's not a problem with water quality. surely the reason for water changes is to keep the water quality high to keep the fish healthy. I'd say with that much filtration you'd be able to get away with 50% weekly or even fortnightly. my polys are in a 200g and as i have over 1100g per hour flow rate i do 40% fortnightly and I have pretty much perfect water and if you look at my fish pics from the link below you'll see that (touch wood but I've never had a poly die, ever! and i've been keeping them for a few years now). I've gone for over filtration to reduce my water changes, I could reduce filtration and do more but I'd rather not.
You're doing both and making life hard for yourself. I'd say look at the tank size if you're going to look at something, your ornate will be half the size of your tank when adult and the del and senegals a third so will be pretty much unavoidable for them to get out of the filter flow and so you'll end up with inactive polys that won't be too happy!
senegals and delhezi although smaller than most polys require more room in my opinion than other polys as they like to spend the majority of the time active and are very curious creatures so like to have the freedom to roam. with 2 filters going they won't have that opportunity.
My advice, 1 404 (recommended by fluval for 85g tanks!) is plenty and 40% weekly with maybe 1 75% change per month. And lose the pipes or there's no point having an ornate as you'll never see him! Make a kind of obstacle course out of bogwood and that'll give them shelter plus give the ornate room to hide and the others something to explore and you'll have some happy polys!