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New tank set up.


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#1 Bones221286

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  • Batesville Indiana

Posted 20 February 2017 - 04:45 PM

I'm looking to set up a tank for some rainbow darters. Any help I can get is appreciated. I'm thinking a 20g long it a 33g tank. How many am I looking at stock wise? Also I've read they like gravel but also sand. Can I use sand but put bigger rocks in the tank as well? And pictures of set ups would be great!

#2 MtFallsTodd

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Posted 20 February 2017 - 05:46 PM

I have 4 males and 4 females in a 29high. For substrate I use a mix of Quikrete builders sand and general purpose gravel. Its a little light colored but seems to work fine.Attached File  msg-3304-0-06206700-1445106462.jpg   330.32KB   3 downloads
Deep in the hills of Great North Mountain

#3 Bones221286

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Posted 20 February 2017 - 10:05 PM

Thank you for your answer. For flow rate how fast are you going? Also during the cool down period how do you cool down the tank?

#4 JasonL

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Posted 20 February 2017 - 10:35 PM

Think you could easily put a dozen in a 33 long provided there is enough structure. I have found by keeping them slightly crowded they tend to behave better. In terms of substrate I have tried to mimic their natural environment with my rainbows - lots of driftwood, rocks/gravel of various sizes, ledges etc. much of which I acquired directly from their home creek. I have kept my rainbows at room temperature with no issues and flow, though ideal, is not necessary if there is good aeration and filtration. Not sure by your post if you are attempting to breed them with a cooling period.

Rainbows are a fun species of darter to keep. They are not shy and will readily learn to associate you with food. Mine spend a lot of time out in the open even though I provide them with lots of hiding places. I have found them to be a very personable fish.

#5 Bones221286

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Posted 20 February 2017 - 11:27 PM

Do you have a picture of your set up I could see?

#6 Michael Wolfe

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  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 21 February 2017 - 07:13 AM

Think you could easily put a dozen in a 33 long provided there is enough structure. I have found by keeping them slightly crowded they tend to behave better. In terms of substrate I have tried to mimic their natural environment with my rainbows - lots of driftwood, rocks/gravel of various sizes, ledges etc. much of which I acquired directly from their home creek. I have kept my rainbows at room temperature with no issues and flow, though ideal, is not necessary if there is good aeration and filtration. Not sure by your post if you are attempting to breed them with a cooling period.

Rainbows are a fun species of darter to keep. They are not shy and will readily learn to associate you with food. Mine spend a lot of time out in the open even though I provide them with lots of hiding places. I have found them to be a very personable fish.

I don't have rainbows now, but have in the past. all this is good advise for them and many other darter species.
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#7 MtFallsTodd

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Posted 21 February 2017 - 08:46 AM

For flow I have 2 HOB filters that provide a fair amount of flow. The tank is in my basement, it averages temps in the high 50s in the winter and mid 70s in the summer.


Deep in the hills of Great North Mountain

#8 JasonL

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Posted 21 February 2017 - 12:45 PM

Attached File  image.jpeg   194.69KB   2 downloads

Almost all of my structure was from the actual creek where I netted my fish. Probably have around 15 darters between 5 species but the rainbows are the most gregarious of the bunch. It may seem counterintuitive but I think the more structure you have the less time darters seem to spend in hiding. Probably since they feel more secure. Mine do fine at room temps without issue, in fact this 110 gallon tank is in our family room.

Good luck with your project. Rainbows are a great darter to start with in my opinion.

#9 Josh Blaylock

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Posted 21 February 2017 - 01:11 PM

A 20L is a great riffle tank.  Good luck finding a 33L, I cannot seem to find one.  Look into the River Manifold system with a powerhead, 1 would probably do the trick with a 20L.  With rainbows, you could probably do 10-15 without issues, throw in some Shiners to occupy the upper water column.

 

I'm a HUGE fan of the river manifold system.  

4f7037c89ce4a.jpg

 

I wish I had known of that when I setup my 125, but I did add it to my 75 gal.

IMG_20140629_141446.jpg

 

A mix of sand, gravel, larger rocks, and driftwood works great.

 

Completed+Aquarium+10.jpg

 

Completed+Aquarium+05.jpg


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#10 Bones221286

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Posted 21 February 2017 - 02:21 PM

Right on. Thank you for this. I'll definitely check out that system. I might actually go bigger than a 20l with this system. Thank you for the help.

#11 Bones221286

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 09:22 PM

So here's what I'm thinking about doing. I'm thinking a 40gl. Sump for filtration and flow. Chiller for cool down period. I'm thinking with the sump I can customize the output and position of where it gets drilled at so I can say it up for optimal flow and coverage rate. Any thoughts?

#12 NotCousteau

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 10:37 PM

b4c772ff25fad63965b9763fa7e0c581.jpg

My old 33 long. I miss it. Just some sand, some big rocks, an Eheim 2217 and a big Koralia on one end. I really like this long, low and symmetrical size for a stream tanks.

Here's a 20 long that was set up similarly. It wasn't quite long enough for a darter stream tank, I feel.

2a77a172908b08a3825168dff67383a8.jpg


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#13 Bones221286

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Posted 10 March 2017 - 11:44 PM

Nice. I've been looking for a 33g but they are hard to find. So I'm gonna go with the 40gl

#14 Chasmodes

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Posted 11 March 2017 - 08:48 AM

The 40g sounds like a good plan Bones.  I am in the bigger is better camp, but it all depends on how much house space I can get away with using :)

 

NotCousteau, what kind of grass is that in your tank?


Kevin Wilson


#15 Michael Wolfe

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  • North Georgia, Oconee River Drainage

Posted 11 March 2017 - 09:06 AM

Very neat looking tanks... really interesting how you have the power head pointing to the right and the grass is flowing towards the left... must be a nice current pattern set up in there.


Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. - Benjamin Franklin

#16 NotCousteau

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Posted 11 March 2017 - 09:26 AM

The 40g sounds like a good plan Bones.  I am in the bigger is better camp, but it all depends on how much house space I can get away with using :)
 
NotCousteau, what kind of grass is that in your tank?


Some type of Val; I'm not sure which. Very long (up to 5 feet) and flat.


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#17 NotCousteau

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Posted 11 March 2017 - 09:27 AM

Very neat looking tanks... really interesting how you have the power head pointing to the right and the grass is flowing towards the left... must be a nice current pattern set up in there.


Thanks! Yeah, the current shot right at the bottom/middle levels, and bounced back left at the surface.


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#18 Chasmodes

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Posted 11 March 2017 - 09:44 AM

Yeah, I agree, those tanks look great!


Kevin Wilson


#19 Doug_Dame

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Posted 11 March 2017 - 07:05 PM

33L's are a great size for fish that don't need deep water, like most darters. A good LFS may have a few tucked away somewhere, or can get them. But they're not cheap, I think mine were in the $100 range, 10 or 15 years ago.

 

Glass Cages has them for $96, which could be a good option for people within easy range of one of their delivery routes. 

 

You could consider a 55g as a 33g, with an extra 8" of vertical glass to thwart any jumpers. (Of course, a typical HOB filter isn't going to work if it's 8 or 9 inches above the waterline.) A 55g is often cheaper than a 33L which has the same 48"x12" footprint, which I guess must be due to the fact that the 55 is a more or less mass-market product, and the 33L isn't. 

 

It is also worth pointing that Petco's periodic "dollar a gallon" sales usually includes 40g breeder and 55g tanks. In some markets or stores, 75g tanks are also included. In recent years, there's been 4 of these sales per year. I had a link that I recall said that the next sale is coming up in April sometime, but that link has gone dead. Per my understanding, the tanks are usually Aqueons.


Doug Dame

Floridian now back in Florida
 





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