UK freshwater species.

[Andy_1984]

Cory, as requested. the exact dimensions are(in inches):

 

L: 48"

W: 13"

H: 15"

 

= 33 Gallons or 153 litres.

 

the perch are coming on quite well now and witnessed them feeding this morning on fish flakes with the light on and pecking at the rocks and leafs. the roach i hadn't witnessed feeding until this morning too so all good signs so far.

 

one of my little platys may be bullying them a little with pecking at fins but platys will soon gone. it doesn't bother the perch much they just cruise away or turn round sharp and gives it a warning.

[Dales]

I like the idea of the Ruff and Gudgeon and they would make interesting additions to fill that bottom layer of the tank.

 

I know it's a native species tank but have you thought of getting a bullhead or channel catfish for it. Will still eventually grow to a fair size but not as quickly as a Wells.

[chesters1]

a crayfish would make it more realistic

[Andy_1984]

a crayfish would make it more realistic

 

i had been thinking bout a crayfish for ages, i was looking for that 1 really weird creature for the tank but have decided against the crayfish. bullhead i think is on the cards dales.

[chesters1]

my crayfish would beat your bullhead

[corydoras]

Andy I think that you are trying to be too ambitious and might end up over-stocking your tank. 48"*12"=576 square inches. In a cold water aquarium that would give you enough room for about 19" of fish. Fish are usually measured from nose to base of tail fin.

[Renrag39]

With impeccable filtration and a strict water change routine you may get away with 30" of fish I think but stock it slowly (6 months to full stocking density) to let the filtration system adjust to the increasing levels of waste.

Recommend a 20% water change every 2 weeks minimum, also, invest in a water testing kit. Ammonia and nitrite are killers in even tiny amounts. A low level of nitrate is acceptable in a well planted tank but over time, if levels increase, it will weaken and stress the fish leading to disease.

 

One very important note, when changing your water, rinse your filter sponges in the removed water, not tap water. The chlorine will kill all the nitrobacter and nitrosomnas bacteria which absorb and convert the deadly ammonia and nitrite. Those little beasties be your fishes' bestest buddies!

 

Renrag

Edited May 25, 2011 by Renrag39

[corydoras]

And don't forget that hopefully your fish will grow...

[Andy Macfarlane]

We'll keep you posted on it's progress.

[Andy_1984]

haven't been on for a while cause ive just moved office and had no internet. things going great in the tank, however, the perch were being an absolute nuisance so they got dispatched and put in the freezer for pike bait.

 

the original roach that went in has really settled in, eating very well and playing well with the other tank inhabitants. so i got him a friend last week(another roach). he/she is a little larger and took less time to settle in than the first roach did.

 

they both know that if i approach the tank and lift the lid its time to haul arse down to the filter end of the tank where food gets drawn to in the flow they both sit there wizzing and weaving up n down grabbing flakes as they get sucked toward the filter.

 

now put a few maggots in and the larger roach gets excited and starts nudging/shunting the other roach and lion head gold fish to the other end of the tank so it can stuff its greedy face

 

done a 30% water change not so long ago (not that it needed it, clarity was crystal and 0 ammonia) i was surprised how clam the roach were during this process as they frequently came within an inch of my hand and arm as i cleaned the inside to see what the score was.

 

one of the goldfish got whitespot so i started a protozin course last week, the final dose was lastnight, but it had visually gone by the 3rd day.

 

i had to get rid of the platies as 2 had started breeding!!!!! i found a single fry behind the filter about 2mm long. i inspected my filter to find another 2 before the debris filter. fished them out and put them in the seclusion net/fry net but the holes were too large and the eventually got out. was funny watching them swim for dear life when the other fish clapped eye's on them but they all made it back in to the bloody filter never to be seen again. either the impeller has chewed them up or they have been eaten by the Siamese fighter thats took up residence under the filter.

 

the main reason for getting rid of the platies is that the 2 that have been breeding have never stopped being aggressive toward the roach. i put all 3 in the seclusion net as the 3rd was starting to get a little aggressive too but next morning that poor little blighter had taken a hammering from the breeding pair over night so i took him out and let him roam the tank, he spent an entire day sulking on the bottom and hiding but he's alright now.

 

dunno why i never got a tank sooner. im really enjoying fish keeping.

Edited June 10, 2011 by Andy_1984