Swifterz

recently had an ICH outbreak, so the tank was just thoroughly cleaned... DOWN WITH THE ICHNESS!!!


the new guy, "Ember" the Rainbow Shark...


finally added a background and a lot of plants, and back in business!


2 Iridescent Sharks (about 3 or 4")
3 Bala Sharks (about 2.5")
1 Rainbow Shark (about 3")
6 Tiger Barbs (all about 1")
4 White Skirt Tetras (all about 2")
2 Red Wag Platys (about 2")

trying to give away the platys (just boring in my opinion) and might return the ID sharks to my friend because of how big they can get. i really, really, really like them though and they are happy and healthy in there right now. i might also return the white skirt tetras in order to get another bala shark.

with my tiger barbs, they all school together and mind their own business except for one who is "rogue", always seperated from the group and always terrorzing my ID sharks. he nips their fins CONSTANTLY. i have been trying to get him out but he is has proven himself to be almost impossible to catch. he darts off and then mixes himself back in with the group. i had 8 at one point, but one died and one i caught (thinking he was the mean one) and returned. if i do catch this mean barb, i'm going to be down to 5, border line on too few and i fear the remaining barbs might start nipping fins since they would be in a smaller group. i could cure this problem by adding a couple more again, but one of them could be mean too. you can see my problem with this. when i've dealt with barbs before, they weren't nippy once i got enough of them in there. they have been a big hassle this time, but i hate not having them cause i really like them also.

anyway, this is my 2nd tank, but the first time i've been really serious and interested. i love it and enjoy it every day. wish i had gone with a more natural color on the rocks though. i already had a lot of blue rocks from my last tank so i just stuck with it to save money.

i now plan to create some rock formations and/or caves on one side with all the foreground plants surrounding it on one side, and have the other side have the majority of the larger plants. i have 3 more large plants to add so i'm trying to figure it all out as far as how to arrange everything. i like the way it looks now, but it looks forced with all the plants/decor symmetrical.

ideas? suggestions? let me know what you think!

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!! that tank looks great and the aquascaping is faboo!!

but......(I know theres always a but) you are going to continue to have major ich outbreaks among other things with that stock you have.,...you are severely overstocked with some monsters that need 100's of gallons...(bala's and ID sharks) ,,,size right now doesnt matter as these guys will continue to grow internally...stunted fish is painful and irreversible...

I hope things work out well though and again, I really like how you have it aquascaped with the blue/purple colors

Amanda

Like the Disturbed reference.
I agree with Shawnie about the Balas & ID sharks.
But they tank looks good!

Swifterz

what if i didn't have the platys or the ID sharks?

i've always heard the minimum tank size for balas is 40 gallons, even when they are 8" or more.

i could return the ID sharks to my friend, and i am trying to find a good home for the platys. i just don't care about having them in there. i could even return the tetras if i so chose. i have actually considered returning them and getting another bala shark. the store i deal with lets me return fish or exchange fish for any reason. like i said, i just returned 4 black skirt tetras for my rainbow shark.

so then i would have...

4 bala sharks
1 rainbow shark
6 tiger barbs

even if that's not ideal for four 8" bala sharks, it would be far fewer fish (11 instead of 18) and would lessen the load.

but like i said, i LOVE the ID sharks. my friend who gave them to me has 7 of them in the exact same tank as mine. all of his are at between 6 and 10" but he has nothing else in there with them. so it would help me as far as clearing up space, but the sharks would be going to probably an even worse situation.

he has had all those sharks for going on 2 years and they are perfectly happy and healthy. he keeps reassuring me that i am fine to keep them, and also everyone i've talked to locally at shops and stuff has said they are fine in my tank. they aren't trying to sell me the fish, so i have no reason to distrust them when they say that.

part of me wants to get rid of the tiger barbs too because they are nippy. some fish have to go. i just don't know what to do.

Amanda

ID sharks get HUGE.
Balas need 90 gal. for ONE, with the amount you have, a 125 gal. would be minimum IMO

Swifterz

that's crazy. but from what i've experienced they usually get between 8-12" in aquariums and can live long, happy lives if treated right. i know people who have kept them for years and years.

Swifterz

i mean that picture gives you a great view of how much room the sharks have to grow in the aquarium right now. enlarge it and you can see the ID sharks in there. one is on the left and the other is near the middle. also you can see a couple of the bala sharks in the top left. they will be fine for a very long time. IF they were to get huge, obviously i would have to find them a new home, but right now just take a look at how much room they have.

Amanda

There really is no IF, keeping them in a small tank stunts their growth, which is very painful for them & shortens their life.

Swifterz

my ID sharks were in my 20 gallon tank for 6 months!!! the main reason i went from a 20 to a 55 was so that i could finally get Bala Sharks and so that my ID's would have a happier home.

would you agree that 55 gallons would be far more suitable for Bala Sharks than the ID Sharks? what if i lost the ID's, the Platys and the Tetras, and got one more Bala?

then i would have 4 Bala Sharks, 1 Rainbow Shark and 6 Tiger Barbs.

then if the Balas got to 8" apiece, the Rainbow got to 6" and the Barbs all got 2", that would be 50 inches of fish in 55 gallons of water...

also, maybe without the ID's in there, my Balas will be more active. right now the ID's dominate the entire open area of the front of the tank. is it possible the Bala Sharks fear the ID Sharks?

Amanda

I would not suggest you add any more balas, they need more than a 55 gal.
These are VERY sctive fish, the tank is only 12" widw, do you think (4) 8" fish are going to be happy in such a small space? Yes, they will SURVIVE, but no, they will NOT THRIVE.
The 1" per gallon is a guideline for small fish in smaller tanks, it really loses a lot of it's ability of use with larger fish. Common sense comes more into play with large fish.

Swifterz

the tank is 48" wide...

Amanda

The tank is 48" long, it is 12" wide. It's a standard 55 gal., I have one also.
Also realize, that with the correct size tank & care, balas can reach 13" in length. Please keep that in mind when you want to stuff a 55 gal. full of them.

aquarist48

Very nice tank. Welcome to Fish Lore.

kimb

Welcome to fishlore, your tank looks very nice! I agree with all above about the load of fish. I recently got a 55g that will house: 2 BP, 4 corys, 5 danios (about 30" of fish when full grown). Although I might feel o.k with another school of something that woud add another 6-10", I would not feel comfortable adding a singe fish that would equal that same 6-10". You cannot take 4 fish of 2 inches each and interchange them with one fish 8". It just doesn't work that way. In this hobby for the good of the fish, we have to realize we can't always have what we want.

Swifterz

thanks for the info. i will soon be down to the balas, the 1 rainbow, and the tiger barbs.

Swifterz

i'm not good at photography, but here's a couple pictures i took today.

the bala sharks hanging out



my rainbow shark and one of the tiger barbs

aquarist48

Beautiful fish and nice photos as well

Swifterz

thank you. the ID sharks are getting removed today, as are the platys. i am also considering giving away the white tetras. this is going to clear up a lot of space.

after today the tank will have 3 bala sharks, 1 rainbow shark and 6 tiger barbs. i have been thinking about a pair of kissing gouramis. yay or nay?