Bringing Down The Nitrites...
- Thread starter sly2kusa
- Start date
Hello all -
Yes you are correct. There is a gaggle of Bluegills all over the pond, as well as for other kinds of forage fish (Shiners, Chubs and various other kinds of minnows). That's all well and good because this is the food source that the biggies have in there to eat, but he also has some Black Crappie in there that along with the Bluegills are just reeking havoc on everything. He also has some grass carp that he would like to use for weed control, but they will be going in prior to the Muskies next year.
The pond is really fantasic. 5 acres big, not too many weeds (but that GP's will keep that under control until they themselves get too big), and it's a great food source that he likes to selectively harvest from during the year.
The main problem is that the fish with the proper genetics for being larger are beginning to become stunted due to all the competition for food. Thus - introducing the Tiger Muskie at the maximum installment for a 5 acre pond (which will not number more than 15/16) is going to help this process out and balance out the ecosystem.
I don't know much about the whole aquarium thing yet, but I have been a fishermen all my life, and I can tell you that the Muskie will take care of this issue with no probems (plus they are just a great game fish, and in small numbers like planned - will do the ecosystem well).
So that is the plan, and I get the honor of doing the raising of them in this 90g. They were between 2.5"-3" when I got them back at the end of June and currently are all about 4 inches at this point. If they outgrow the tank then they will be going in earlier than planned (which will be fine as well). The reason I went this route instead of waiting for November or December to get them from the DNC at 10"-14" was:
1. They were cheaper as fingerlings, and
2. I get to do this project, and document my findings.
When I retire from the nonsense that is my current career - I would love to become a fish farmer and have my own hatcheries. Hope to make that come true one day, and turn this hobby into a dream come true.
Yes you are correct. There is a gaggle of Bluegills all over the pond, as well as for other kinds of forage fish (Shiners, Chubs and various other kinds of minnows). That's all well and good because this is the food source that the biggies have in there to eat, but he also has some Black Crappie in there that along with the Bluegills are just reeking havoc on everything. He also has some grass carp that he would like to use for weed control, but they will be going in prior to the Muskies next year.
The pond is really fantasic. 5 acres big, not too many weeds (but that GP's will keep that under control until they themselves get too big), and it's a great food source that he likes to selectively harvest from during the year.
The main problem is that the fish with the proper genetics for being larger are beginning to become stunted due to all the competition for food. Thus - introducing the Tiger Muskie at the maximum installment for a 5 acre pond (which will not number more than 15/16) is going to help this process out and balance out the ecosystem.
I don't know much about the whole aquarium thing yet, but I have been a fishermen all my life, and I can tell you that the Muskie will take care of this issue with no probems (plus they are just a great game fish, and in small numbers like planned - will do the ecosystem well).
So that is the plan, and I get the honor of doing the raising of them in this 90g. They were between 2.5"-3" when I got them back at the end of June and currently are all about 4 inches at this point. If they outgrow the tank then they will be going in earlier than planned (which will be fine as well). The reason I went this route instead of waiting for November or December to get them from the DNC at 10"-14" was:
1. They were cheaper as fingerlings, and
2. I get to do this project, and document my findings.
When I retire from the nonsense that is my current career - I would love to become a fish farmer and have my own hatcheries. Hope to make that come true one day, and turn this hobby into a dream come true.
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I hope you have good luck sky.
I am a new guy here too. I have to say when reading this thread that I don't think most of the confrontations started over the questions he was asking in the first place. It was more a barrage of related questions that went beyond the water quality question. Naturally that put sky on the defensive. Some of you are WAY to aggressive in your crusade to keep all fish happy. Thats just my opinion but perspective counts. I myself hesitated to ask a couple additional questions here because of the treatment of others in their posts. God forbid I ask something that makes me look like a dummy, or a violator of the ethical treatment of "feeder fish". Lets all try to be helpful. Its a FISH forum for crying out loud! LOL Thats maybe one notch above joining the "chess club" in high school and trying not to get beat up for it
Lighten up.
I am a new guy here too. I have to say when reading this thread that I don't think most of the confrontations started over the questions he was asking in the first place. It was more a barrage of related questions that went beyond the water quality question. Naturally that put sky on the defensive. Some of you are WAY to aggressive in your crusade to keep all fish happy. Thats just my opinion but perspective counts. I myself hesitated to ask a couple additional questions here because of the treatment of others in their posts. God forbid I ask something that makes me look like a dummy, or a violator of the ethical treatment of "feeder fish". Lets all try to be helpful. Its a FISH forum for crying out loud! LOL Thats maybe one notch above joining the "chess club" in high school and trying not to get beat up for it
Lighten up.
BTW, apolgize for use of the word "retarded" since we're back on even ground. I come across a little strong at times (OK I always do, even when I mean well, and when I don't mean well... things really go downhill quickly).
So mea culpa as well for jumping to conclusions.
:huh:
So mea culpa as well for jumping to conclusions.
:huh:
graphicdesign_r said:
No worries - I don't hold grudges, and I apologize to you for having acted that way (so much so that you dished it out). Some people deserve what they get, but hey - I'm just here to learn, and will do so as things move forward.
Thanks though G
I also have a current problem with nitrites. Water changes are enough? Sould I do anything else? Also I have had no problems with ammonia or nitrates, what could cause the nitrite problem wihen the other factors are in line? Lastly, will higher nitrites affect small fish, such as neons, more rapidly?
FriendofAtlas said:
It might be best to start a new post.
Please include tank size, what types and numbers of fish, how long the tank has been up and running, your maintenance schedule (including size and frequency of water changes), your filtration and most recent water test results. And what water additives are you using. Thanks.
