View Full Version : For those that own Tankbusters...
Ray of Sunhine
12-11-2002, 7:42 PM
I need to temporarily hold pacus(5in) in a 180 acrylic tank for a year or less. I was told that would be just enough time before they are too large. Now I was considering using cork bark covered with thick willow moss(looks like moss carpet) on the entire back and sides.Tank could only be viewed from front. I am wondering if this would help against the occassional thump into the tank(from pacu) and help keep the tank together long enough.
Anton Wernher
12-11-2002, 7:59 PM
You will not have a problem with these fish "busting" the acrylic. Acrylic is considerably stronger than glass.
Out of pure curiosity .... are fish like Pacu .. etc... known to actually Bust a tank ... or is that more of a figurative expression?
Anton Wernher
12-11-2002, 8:04 PM
While not common I have read accounts of large fish (pacu, big cichlids, ect) cracking glass tanks.
Must be one heck of a fish. Most glass on larger tanks is pretty thick.
Honestly, if I came home to a cracked tank (heaven forbid), I'd sooner attribute the busted tank to a pressure point or something like that.
Fortunately I don't keep anything quite that big .... 6-8" is max for me .... ;)
Ray of Sunhine
12-11-2002, 8:28 PM
Unfortunately, I got the fish by accident. Luckily for me they are red belly pacu & not the black they are even bigger. Once I had the true name of the the fish I actually have, I read a lot. I think the best description of the fish is " a dinner plate sized, jumbo neon tetra with a big grin." They are notorious for destroying heaters, filters, etc... Every so often when I hear the loud thump, I say a quick prayer...that tank holds until, I can get the new home. Oh yeah BigOh, Mojo has one named Brutus, it is in a pond take a look at his page.
Tightdog1
12-11-2002, 10:17 PM
unfortunately to tell you guys i have 2 pacus in a 55g, they have broken 1 tank already, it was a 55g also, im trying to get rid of them so if any1 wants them their very welcome to have them, im in the CA bay area, they are about 7" and smash every thing in the tank consistentely, so yes pacus break tanks, and it is very annoying to sleep at night.
JacksontoKobe
12-12-2002, 2:10 AM
Sorry to tell you but glass on a 55 is the same as a 10 when you have bigger than a 55 you generally have thicker tempered glass pacus or most aquarium fish arent breaking it period if you have a tank with any quality.
Tightdog1
12-12-2002, 11:02 AM
JACKSONTOKOBE: you have obviously never owner pacus before cause they will break anything and everything.
SoulkeepeR
12-12-2002, 11:32 AM
O I'm pretty sure a pucu could break a 55 gallon, my oscars alone once broke a really nice heater in two, and they have also knocked the hood WITH LIGHT right off the tank and on to the floor once also.
I only ever had one glass canopy cracked by a large Snakehead that really hit it hard. He was outside the tank. It was a real interesting way to be wakened from a nights sleep. The only thing the larger Cichlids have broken were heaters and sponge filters. I did have one Pacu jump out of the pond. I am **** glad I wasn't peering over the edge when that little missle took flight.
SoulkeepeR
12-12-2002, 3:21 PM
lol mojo, I can just imagine a fish shooting out of the pond and smacking you in the face. :D
and that would of been funny if your snakehead escaped and found its way in you local lake :D
Ray of Sunhine
12-12-2002, 4:46 PM
Mojo, I have two of five that are missles in the air when it's time to clean the tank. I tell you it has happened to me twice both were 5inches. Mind you my face was over the tank at the time. I thought both were going to jump straight into the wall. Thankfully they landed back in the tank just as soon as they jumped.
Spencer: The Snakehead did make it under my son's dresser from the tank. Guess he couldn't figure out the door.
Jurupari Man
12-12-2002, 6:38 PM
Below is a photo of part of the glass canopy to one of my 75g's shortly after it was cracked in two by my 8" cyanoguttatum:
http://www.kpdevlin.com/Canopy_Broken_by_Cyanoguttatum.JPG
JacksontoKobe
12-12-2002, 7:28 PM
Sorry tight dog I have to say no on this one canopy could crack because the glass is thinner but most 75gal and above tanks have 1/2 inch thick tempered glass I would like somebody to show me photos of this.
I did have a new 75, under 1 year perfect tank, crack on me. I had a snakehead and large catfish in it. both a little over a foot. Don't know who did it but when I came down one morning water was coming out of it. Cracked in the lower left corner in the back that ran to almost the top right corner. It can happen.
Slappy*McFish
12-12-2002, 8:51 PM
Originally posted by SoulkeepeR
lol mojo, I can just imagine a fish shooting out of the pond and smacking you in the face. :D
;)
Harry Tolen
12-13-2002, 10:07 AM
Your pacus will be fine in a 180 for a year, and you do not need to pad the sides and back to prevent them from breaking it. Even with a glass tank, the fish itself is unlikely to be able to generate enough pressure at the point of impact to crack the tank (fish are pretty soft and squishy when you get right down to it); most broken tanks are the result of the fish knocking something else harder and sharper (glass heater, rocks, etc.) into the glass creating a lot of pressure on a very small point of impact. And acrylic is even less susceptible to this problem than tempered glass.
But your fish will eventually want a lot of room in order to feel comfortable and less skittish, so the larger tank will eventually be a very good idea, more for the health of the fish than the tank.