Tank Advice

[Tigerboy3382]

Hi everyone, I have recently gotten a 20 inch by 1 ft tank for my 5 inch yellow bullhead catfish. He is doing very well in his bigger tank but I would like some additional advice for how to make his new home feel natural. I use lake water, sand, rocks and aquatic plants that I got from my lake. For food, I use worms that I find in the sand in my lake as well as small minnows and he loves them. Is there anything else I could do to make sure he is healthy and happy?

 

[ken31cay]

I assume this is a brand new aquarium you have just setup the filter to start running.

The aquarium needs to be "cycled" for the biological filtration to be in effect or else the water will soon turn toxic. This usually takes 4-6 weeks for the beneficial bacteria (BB) to propagate, mostly in the filter but also tank walls & decor, but the rocks you're using (and possibly the sand) may speed this up depending on how much BB they have on them. Google "aquarium nitrogen cycle" to learn more about this.

What filter are you using?

 

[Tigerboy3382]

I assume this is a brand new aquarium you have just setup the filter to start running.

The aquarium needs to be "cycled" for the biological filtration to be in effect or else the water will soon turn toxic. This usually takes 4-6 weeks for the beneficial bacteria (BB) to propagate, mostly in the filter but also tank walls & decor, but the rocks you're using (and possibly the sand) may speed this up depending on how much BB they have on them. Google "aquarium nitrogen cycle" to learn more about this.

What filter are you using?

I use a air rock filter

 

[ken31cay]

I recommend that you get an API Master Test Kit and test your water for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. Read up on the Nitrogen Cycle to learn more about this.

 

[Sassafras]

I kept a black bullhead for a while when I was a kid, fascinating fish. They eat anything that fits in their mouth and grow up fast! Assuming you follow the above advice and it survives the new tank period, the next thing you can do to make your bullhead's tank feel "more natural" is to get a bigger tank! Your aquarium sounds like it may be in the 10-12 gallon range. Yellow bullheads aren't one of the larger catfish, but they can still max out at around 24", which is longer than your current aquarium.

 

[Tigerboy3382]

I kept a black bullhead for a while when I was a kid, fascinating fish. They eat anything that fits in their mouth and grow up fast! Assuming you follow the above advice and it survives the new tank period, the next thing you can do to make your bullhead's tank feel "more natural" is to get a bigger tank! Your aquarium sounds like it may be in the 10-12 gallon range. Yellow bullheads aren't one of the larger catfish, but they can still max out at around 24", which is longer than your current aquarium.

my yellow bullhead right now is only 4 inches long so he isn't very big but eating like a champ. I got this bigger tank from a neighbor and will look into a bigger tank when he starts to outgrow this one