For those that own Tankbusters...

[Ray of Sunhine]

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]

You will not have a problem with these fish "busting" the acrylic. Acrylic is considerably stronger than glass.

 

[BigOh]

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]

While not common I have read accounts of large fish (pacu, big cichlids, ect) cracking glass tanks.

 

[BigOh]

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]

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]

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]

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]

JACKSONTOKOBE: you have obviously never owner pacus before cause they will break anything and everything.

 

[SoulkeepeR]

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.