I got out of raising native fish when I moved into an apartment with my wife. Now we are finally getting ready to move into a house and can't wait to get a 100gal tank setup for some native fish that I dearly miss raising. Seeing as that was 2 years ago, I need my memory refreshed a bit.
I get confused on the salt issue. Do you all only salt when you suspect an infection or parasite? In other words, you only use it as a medication? Or do you all ALWAYS keep salt in the tank as a prevention measure and in helping keep the fish healthy? Is it a good idea to always keep salt in the tank? I believe I did in the past and the fish seemed to be ok. Though from what I understand madtoms/catfish can't tolerate salt that well. Also, I remember it killing my plants, but again, my fish seemed to be very hardy because of it.
I'm also planning on doing a 5% daily water change, 20% every week, and 50% every month. Does that sound like a good cleaning regimen?
I'm not completely new. I did used to raise them in the past but I've been out for so long I needed some tips from you all again. I hope my tank is a success.
Getting back into the native game...
Started by
Guest_NativeLover_*
, Apr 13 2013 07:26 PM
16 replies to this topic
#2
Guest_jakemyster44_*
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Posted 13 April 2013 - 07:55 PM
I'll let some other, more experienced members adress the more specific questions of yours; however, I think most people would agree that a planted aquarium is your best bet. Forget the salt and constant water changes, most fish seem to be extremely healthy in planted tanks, and these setups can be maintained with moderate ease. In the long run, it seems to me that this is the most ideal way of raising fish in captivity. Just my thoughts.
-Jake
-Jake
#3
Guest_EricaWieser_*
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Posted 13 April 2013 - 09:28 PM
5% daily sounds extremely unrealistic. 20% weekly is what most people do. If you've got a planted tank where ammonia is always 0 ppm and nitrate never accumulates above 20 ppm, 50% monthly would work. An unplanted heavily fed tank would have issues with 50% monthly. Nitrate might rise above 30 ppm.I'm also planning on doing a 5% daily water change, 20% every week, and 50% every month. Does that sound like a good cleaning regimen?
Personally I measure my water and let that determine if it's time for a water change. Ideally, ammonia should be 0 ppm and nitrate should be above 0 ppm but below, eh, 30 ppm (depends on which fish you're keeping). If I were to find during the weekly water test that ammonia was 1 ppm or nitrate was 40 ppm, I'd do a water change. Other than that I do a water change every two months or so, because I have multiple plant species in the tank and the phenolic compounds released by certain species inhibit the growth of others if allowed to accumulate. Also the fish waste builds upon the bottom.
I personally don't add salt to my freshwater tanks, and my fish haven't been sick in years. Clean water (ammonia and nitrite 0 ppm, nitrate under 30 ppm) really goes a long way to keeping them healthy. I see no reason to pay for salt.
I posted a while back on a topic about reasons why plants are good. Here's a link if you want to read it: http://forum.nanfa.o...in-55-gal-tank/
Edited by EricaWieser, 13 April 2013 - 09:35 PM.
#4
Guest_jblaylock_*
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Posted 13 April 2013 - 09:43 PM
Welcome back. I'm the KY rep and I'm here to help if you need anything. If you want to go collecting this spring/summer...let me know.
Also,
http://www.nanfa.org...tion/2013.shtml
Also,
http://www.nanfa.org...tion/2013.shtml
#5
Guest_NativeLover_*
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Posted 13 April 2013 - 10:02 PM
Thanks for the insight folks. I realize plants may be a good idea but I'm nervous about it because I've never had them live for a while. And this was before I tried salt. I'll have to look into planting my tanks.
And jblaylock if I get everything set up by the summer, I would definitely be interested in going out hunting. I used to raise South Red-bellied Dace and thought they were so beautiful. Would love to find some more.
And jblaylock if I get everything set up by the summer, I would definitely be interested in going out hunting. I used to raise South Red-bellied Dace and thought they were so beautiful. Would love to find some more.
#6
Michael Wolfe
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- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 13 April 2013 - 10:18 PM
If you don't want plants, that's up to you, but if you are afraid of plants, don't be... they are much easier than you think. You need a soil substrate capped with some sand/gravel. It also does take a little bit more light, but that is usually not hard to provide either. And the plants (and the soil) do an excellent job of keeping your tanks clean and healthy.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#7
Guest_EricaWieser_*
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Posted 13 April 2013 - 10:57 PM
Yeah, plants are easy. 100 lumens per gallon of full spectrum light, any nutritious substrate, and voila! less nitrate 
Here is a video of my 55 gallon aquarium, which has guppies and heterandria formosa. The substrate is kitty litter (pure clay, no clumping chemicals or fragrances added)
Here is a video of my 55 gallon aquarium, which has guppies and heterandria formosa. The substrate is kitty litter (pure clay, no clumping chemicals or fragrances added)
#8
Guest_NativeLover_*
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Posted 14 April 2013 - 01:26 PM
So the clay litter provides nutrients for the plants? What if I set my tank up with plants and didn't get fish for a while? Would the plants be ok without the fish for a while? Thanks. I guess I'm gonna give plants a try. I remember finding hornwort in the streams I used to seine in. What are some other recommendations for plants? Thanks for your responses.
#9
Guest_Yeahson421_*
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Posted 14 April 2013 - 03:34 PM
Just for fair warning, I have had many, many problems with kitty litter clouding up my tanks, and I now use exclusively dirt capped with a deep sand bed.
#10
Guest_NativeLover_*
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Posted 14 April 2013 - 04:09 PM
When you say dirt you mean store bought soil or actually dug some up? Could I use pea gravel as a cap instead? Doesnt the dirt cloud the tank? Does the dirt have to be replaced once the plants deplete the "nutrients"? Thanks!
#11
Guest_Yeahson421_*
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Posted 14 April 2013 - 04:21 PM
You can use either. I personally use a local flower stores mix that's free of any ferts and it works great. A lot of people use Miracle Gro Organic Choice Potting Soil, but I know that some people have had bad luck with that, but for the most part it seems to work out great. Another popular option, but it takes a while, is making mineralized top soil. You could use gravel, but I personally would recommend sand. And it takes quite a while, and, if you set up your tank properly and occasionally dose it, the dirt's nutrients can, to some degree, be replenished. I would recommend reading this article: http://www.pvas.com/...e_fish_tank.pdf
#12
Michael Wolfe
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- Board of Directors
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- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 14 April 2013 - 04:38 PM
Different people will answer you differently, but here in Georgia, the regular soil has a lot of clay in it and I use the dirt just dug up form a place in my back yard that I know has not been treated by chemicals. Yes, the water is cloudy for a couple of days, but clears nicely after that (run a sponge filter and clean it every day for two or three days). A sand cap works much better than stones, it will actually help with the cloudiness.
And no, you will never really deplete the soil, you are adding fish waste and decomposing leftover food to it all the time.
And no, you will never really deplete the soil, you are adding fish waste and decomposing leftover food to it all the time.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#13
Guest_NativeLover_*
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Posted 14 April 2013 - 05:01 PM
Will bags of sand from a home improvement store work? Thanks again for all your answers. I'm still probably a few months from being able to set up my tank but I want to have knowledge at the ready!
#14
Michael Wolfe
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- North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage
Posted 14 April 2013 - 05:14 PM
yes, that is what I use... play sand... 3 bucks for a big bag... I rinse it a little before adding it, but that is just to get rid of the dust.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin
#15
Guest_EricaWieser_*
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Posted 14 April 2013 - 08:59 PM
You can feed the tank every day with fish flakes as if there were fish in it.What if I set my tank up with plants and didn't get fish for a while? Would the plants be ok without the fish for a while?
Yeahson421, can you post a picture of your capped soil substrate tank so NativeLover can see what it looks like?
#16
Guest_NativeLover_*
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Posted 15 April 2013 - 09:06 PM
Thanks for everyone's help. This is mostly going to be a shiner/dace tank with maybe a couple madtoms thrown in. What kind of lighting should I use that's strong enough? Any particular recommendations? Thanks again!
#17
Guest_EricaWieser_*
Guest_EricaWieser_*
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Posted 16 April 2013 - 06:26 PM
I like 100 lumens per gallon or so for about eight hours a day. More than that and algae grows very quickly.Thanks for everyone's help. This is mostly going to be a shiner/dace tank with maybe a couple madtoms thrown in. What kind of lighting should I use that's strong enough? Any particular recommendations? Thanks again!
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