Freshwater Sharks Tank Setup and Care Suggestions

arky

I'm kinda new to all of this, so I'm basically looking for any and all suggestions from any and everyone who can help. I have a 25 gal tank presently (I'm looking to upgrade soon) with 2 of each of the following Sharks: Rainbow, Albino Rainbow, Red Tail, Bala, and Colombian. I also have 1 Chinese Algae Eater, 1 Red Claw Crab, and several Ghost Shrimp. Believe it or not, they all get along great, except for the occasional chase. In the tank I have a couple of rock "caves" one live plant and one plastic plant. I couldn't give you specifics on the water, I haven't had it checked yet, I've had the tank running on three months now, and I know I should. The sharks seem to be doing fine, I add a water conditioner and a nitrate supplement once a week, I feed them only twice a day and I make sure the light is turned on for at least 5 hours a day (I have them sitting in a well lit area so I only turn it on when it is beginning to get dark). Any suggestions as to what I can and should not be doing to further promote their good health and well being? Any added supplements or anything else I can do? Any plant suggestions? I know, that's a lot to asking about in one shot, but I'd like my sharks to last for a long while! Thanks in advance!

 

Welcome to fishlore!
Are all these fish juviniles?
And balas can get LARGE. They need at least a 90 gal. tank.

Bala Shark info:

 

Thanks!
No, I bought them small, about an inch or so at the time, and they've only gained about, I'd say maybe another inch or so. I'm looking at maybe getting a 100 gal tank in the near future to hold everyone.

 

Wow, I'd love to have a 100 gal.
The only worry I would have, would be that when they start to mature, they could get a little more aggressive. It's just something that you would have to watch for.

 

Thanks!

Loved the link, a lot of cool info in there!

Anything else I should know?

 

Your aquarium info says that you don't know about the Nitrogen cycle? Is your tank cycled? Do you know your water parameters?
Also, we would all love to see any pics of your tank that you may have.

 

I'll get some up soon!

As for everything else, the tank is a used one, a friend had it for a couple of years, but no longer wanted it and was going to toss it. She had it just sitting in her garage for at least six months before my wife and I asked about it. We had it it for another couple of months before my wife bought me the sharks. We used the same gravel, washed thoroughly, she had Koi's, so I believe it had already cycled. As for the the parameters, I've never measured it, if that is what you mean.

 

By parameters I mean, ammonia, nitrate & nitrite readings.
If the tank was sitting around for 6 months, then all the beneficial bacteria died.
It would be a good idea to purchase a test kit (the API Masterkit is a great one) and test your water. How often to you perform water changes?

 

Oh! LOL! Can you tell I'm new at this? LOL!

I was told my local pet store, in this case PetSmart, could do that for me. Can they?

I haven't yet, I was also told that by adding the supplement that I could go, in the very least, 6 months before doing so. Would that be a good idea? Also, that I would only need to do like a 50 to 75% water change.

You've been so very helpful, I appreciate all your help very much!

 

You'll see in this forum that large chain stores i.e. Petsmart, Petco, Wal Mart, are not favored. They ususally do not give honest readings, and will tell you that your tank is cycled when it's not.
As for the water changes, a 25 - 40% water change should be done weekly. Especially of your tank is not cycled, the ammonia could build up and kill the fish.
Plus, you have quite a few fish in a 25 gal., the ammonia can build up VERY fast.

 

welcome to fishlore!!!
amanda is giving you great advice...the only few things id like to suggest is that down the line, if not yet, you will have major issues with that many rainbows and red tail sharks..they are super territorial and I'm very surprised they haven't gotten into it majorly yet...were they all from the same tank? usually for a 30 gal, one is all that would be recommended...so deffinately keep a close eye on that...and also, get an apI liquid master test kit if you can,,,relying on pet stores for water readings leads to selling you things you don't need, or selling you fish when a tank isn't ready....I wish you well and you joined a great forum with lots of helpful members

 

You'll see in this forum that large chain stores i.e. Petsmart, Petco, Wal Mart, are not favored. They ususally do not give honest readings, and will tell you that your tank is cycled when it's not.
As for the water changes, a 25 - 40% water change should be done weekly. Especially of your tank is not cycled, the ammonia could build up and kill the fish.
Plus, you have quite a few fish in a 25 gal., the ammonia can build up VERY fast.

Really? Wow, that is good to know!

So by buying this kit, it will let me know when to add what and so on? And, also, the treatments and supplements I've been adding won't keep all of that in check?

Weekly? I'll be sure to start doing that a.s.a.p. if not sooner!

 

What supplements are you adding?
most are un-needed and can cause stress to your fish.

 

welcome to fishlore!!!
amanda is giving you great advice...the only few things id like to suggest is that down the line, if not yet, you will have major issues with that many rainbows and red tail sharks..they are super territorial and I'm very surprised they haven't gotten into it majorly yet...were they all from the same tank? usually for a 30 gal, one is all that would be recommended...so deffinately keep a close eye on that...and also, get an apI liquid master test kit if you can,,,relying on pet stores for water readings leads to selling you things you don't need, or selling you fish when a tank isn't ready....I wish you well and you joined a great forum with lots of helpful members

Yes, I was reading up on that too, but for some unexplainable reason, they seem to get along very well, except, like I mentioned earlier, for the occasional chase. And even that seems to be only about the time I'm about to feed them, after which they all seem to be relatively calm. They pretty much keep to themselves for whatever reasons! I kind of get a kick out of it!

Yes, Amanda has been very helpful with all her wonderful advise! I am very appreciative for it!

What supplements are you adding?
most are un-needed and can cause stress to your fish.

Off the top of my head, I'm at work right now, I couldn't say, but after I bought them I researched them to find out exactly what they could and couldn't do. One is a water conditioner, the other is for the ph balance and a slime coat aid. I'll have to get all that info and check it out again, but that's about it.

 

Those should be added after every water change.
A water conditioner will remove hard metals from water that are harmful to fish.
The slime coat will help the coats of the fish.
The pH balence is usally not recommended. It may fluctuate your pH and stress out the fish.

 

Ok, all this info is really good to know, I was figuring that they we're doing ok so I didn't really need to do much.

So the ph balance should be ok as is? They all seem to be in the same ph range. And their all a rather lively bunch, that's good, isn't it?

 

I wouldn't add any more pH balence.
It's very good that they're active, that's a good sign.
But testing your water & doing a water change would be a very good idea.

 

Like it's been said before I'd be leery about the RTS and the Rainbows. Even in a 100 gal that you say you're planning to get that's only leaving 25 gals of floor space for each of them and Reds get nasty when they get older. However with careful observation and good aquascaping you might be able to pull it off. My advice would be to pick two that you like best and send the rest back. However at this point that might upset the balence in the tank as it is now.
I wish you the best of luck.
If you want to do some more research about you're fish I'll recomend. ... (I think that should be it... let me know if it doesn't work)

 

I wouldn't add any more pH balence.
It's very good that they're active, that's a good sign.
But testing your water & doing a water change would be a very good idea.

I will keep that in mind! I appreciate everything!

Anything else you remember, don't hesitate, let me know!

 

Anything else you remember, don't hesitate, let me know!

Will do!

 

Like it's been said before I'd be leery about the RTS and the Rainbows. Even in a 100 gal that you say you're planning to get that's only leaving 25 gals of floor space for each of them and Reds get nasty when they get older. However with careful observation and good aquascaping you might be able to pull it off. My advice would be to pick two that you like best and send the rest back. However at this point that might upset the balence in the tank as it is now.
I wish you the best of luck.
If you want to do some more research about you're fish I'll recomend. ... (I think that should be it... let me know if it doesn't work)

That's what I was wondering too, but as it is right now, it's like they've all found their own little space to occupy. It's kinda cool how they all have their own little "home" in there. Some one had suggested that I put those "caves" in there for that purpose. But, yeah, I check on them frequently to make sure everyone is behaving!

Thanks for everything, I'll check out that link see what I can find.

Thanks again, and I will!

Ok, now on to my next question! What kind of plants are recommended? Any suggestions?

 

This should help:

 

So pretty much I can put any kind of plant in with the sharks, right? I thought there were shark specific plants, you know, plants especially for sharks.

 

Not really.
They're freshwater fish, and none of them will eat the plants.
Good beginner plants are java fern, java moss, anubias, anacharis & amazon sword.

 

Wow! You really know your stuff! Are you a professional?

So any of these, or a combination there of, are ok? Do they aid with anything as far as the sharks health is concerned?

 

No, far from a pro. Just learned (and still learning) through experience, and through the help of the great people on Fishlore.
A combo of these low-light plants would make a great looking planted tank. They will help your fish out, as they feed on the nitrates/nitrites in the water. They also release
O2 into the water, and remove CO2.

 

the "sharks" you have are actually in the catfish family...they are just called sharks because of their looks...I can't get a plant to grow in a tank other than java moss and I'm not sure if that is a plant or just a blanket per say LOL..dont forget to share pics with us!

 

Oh, I see, much like a plant on the outside does! I guess the plant I have in there now is what's helping out then. Don't ask me what it is, my wife suggested I put it in, and it almost seemed to have cleared the water! It might have been my imagination, but the sharks look like they like it too!

Do they require a lot of manual care?

 

the "sharks" you have are actually in the catfish family...they are just called sharks because of their looks...I can't get a plant to grow in a tank other than java moss and I'm not sure if that is a plant or just a blanket per say LOL..dont forget to share pics with us!

LOL. I killed my java moss! I didn't think it was possible.

Plants flourish when a fertilizer is used, be it root tabs or liquid added after water changes. It depends on the type of plant which one is used.

 

haha...I have some amazing houseplants..but can't grow an aquarium plant to save my life

 

the "sharks" you have are actually in the catfish family...they are just called sharks because of their looks...I can't get a plant to grow in a tank other than java moss and I'm not sure if that is a plant or just a blanket per say LOL..dont forget to share pics with us!

Yeah, I read that too, and was just a little disappointed! LOL! But I like them because of their look. Very sleek! So you recommend the Java Moss? Would I have to do any major re-landscaping?

LOL. I killed my java moss! I didn't think it was possible.

LOL! Really? Please don't tell me that! I'm looking to you as my professional adviser! LOL!

haha...I have some amazing houseplants..but can't grow an aquarium plant to save my life

That's what I'm afraid of, killing off either the plant or my sharks!

 

dieing plants won't kill your shark unless its left in there to raise the nitrates to untolerable levels...there are tons of members who have great sucess in planted tanks..I'm just not one of them lol

 

Ah well, maybe the moss was defective.
As it turned out, I had cheap lights in the hood of my 55 gal. I have since replaced the lights & am going to be planting my tank soon.

 

dieing plants won't kill your shark unless its left in there to raise the nitrates to untolerable levels...there are tons of members who have great sucess in planted tanks..I'm just not one of them lol

Cool, that's a relief!

I mean that the plants are pretty easy to care for, not that you can't! LOL!

So the lighting has a lot to do with it too, huh? Recommendations?

 

Cool, that's a relief!

I mean that the plants are pretty easy to care for, not that you can't! LOL!

trust me ...I can't

 

Do you know how many watts of light you have in your tank?

 

trust Me ...I Cant

Lol!

 

https://www.fishlore.com/theinspiredaquarium.htm that's a great link to help along the way..boys you will be reading forever won't you lol

 

for plants you'll want a florescent bulb.

 

Do you know how many watts of light you have in your tank?

I may be wrong, but I believe it's a 100 watt?!? It's very bright. I must add, this was a tank that was given to us, so I didn't really have much of a selection! LOL!

 

ooops wrong link but that was a good one too LOL
brunette moment..I have them often..heres the lighting link I meant to paste

 

I'd be very surprised if the wattage was that high.
Is it a standard hood? (One single bulb)

 

for plants you'll want a florescent bulb.

Will that be good enough for both fish and plants? I believe it is a florescent.

 

I'd be very surprised if the wattage was that high.
Is it a standard hood? (One single bulb)

Yes.

 

The highest I can find for my 55 gal. is like 15-20 watts.

 

The highest I can find for my 55 gal. is like 15-20 watts.

Like I say, I could be wrong (?) I'll have to check all of this stuff when I get home.

 

lol, it's alright.
You're going to be busy when you get home.
All this new info.

 

I I were you I would take back the bala shark and still buy the larger tank, this would open up a nice big space for other less-territorial fish. I don't care what you do just giving you a suggestion. happy fishing!

 

lol, it's alright.
You're going to be busy when you get home.
All this new info.

It's all good, as long as my sharks benefit! I don't mind! LOL! I just don't want a bunch floating sharks, that's all!

So the lighting wouldn't be that high wattage? What would be recommended then?

 

I I were you I would take back the bala shark and still buy the larger tank, this would open up a nice big space for other less-territorial fish. I don't care what you do just giving you a suggestion. happy fishing!

But like RED1313 said, wouldn't that kinda upset the fish in a sense?

I appreciate all the advice given.