Hello, Columbian Shark Catfish Questions

T

tedwagner

AC Members
Sep 28, 2009
21
0
0
Hello, I within the last 6 months have rescued two shark catfish from a sure hell. They have became my favorite fish. I have just set them up in a new 90 gallon tank, unfortunately I did NOT wait for the tank to completly cycle. Here is what I have done for them. I moved them from a 45 gallon to a 90 gallon after introducing 20 gallons of gravel vacummed water from their old tank. I have been watching for ammoina spikes and regularly testing the water. I am confused for one on the cycling of the tank. Here are my readings from 9/16
A 2.0

pH 7.6

Nitrite 0 ???? Had a trace last night??? HMMM

Nitrate 5.0

Here are my readings from 9/26
Ammonia .50
Nitrate 10
Nitrite .25
pH 7.6

This tank has been up and running since 9/8 or 9/9/09 I put my two shark catfish in the tank on 9/11 to see if they would survive. They are very healty fish.

DID I MISS THE AMMONIA spikes already since my ammonia is down and the nitrate is up?

ALSO
I am introducing instant ocean in the tank in the morning when I wake up. NOON Central USA time. I have taken two 5 gallon buckets of water out of the tank and shut down the filtation till the morning? I am not sure thats a problem because Its a pro-clear aquatics 75 and still has water in the prefilter area and the bottom of the filtration system where the pad is located. I also moved the poly filter media into the sump of water for the evening. The catfish seemed to be popping their heads out of the water into the airspace after I removed the 10 gallons of water. They have calmed down now back to normal but when I rescued them they were in a 40 gallon tan k with 20 gallons of water in it and I seem to rember them doing the same thing in their old enviroment. They seem happy and content now. I also have been feeding them the yellow minnows for about two weeks now. I started with 6, went down to one, then last weekend I purchase 12 and there are 6 left. I feed them flakes once daily because thats what they were fed since youngsters.

I mixed one half of a box of instant ocean to treat 10 gallons of water into each 5 gallon bucket by stirring and have and air pump running with airators in the buckets until I wake up. Like I said it is a 90 gallon tank so this will be a slow introduction and I plan on doing this again in about four weeks, IF that sounds correct to all you experts.:feedback:

My plan is just to dump the water back into the tank around noon tommorow. It is 4 am now here.

Is this the correct procedure and will my shark catfish be ok. They have been living in fresh water since I got them six months ago and they are geeting large one has to be 7inches and the other is larger maybe 9 inches?

Thanks in advance for any information.

Also I ordered two yellow or red scats from the store, they have not came yet and I know if they are small they will get eaten. Is 2 shark catfish and 2 yellow or red scats a good mix for this 90 gallon beautiful tank I have going on?

Also I added last weekend some JAVA FERN and just read that it is poision to SCATS. Do I just schwoop it out of there and put it in my platty tanks or my tiger barb tank. What kind of plants should I try to purchase to put in with the SCATS and Shark Catfish that is going to survive as I slowly add salt to the tank to make it a brackish estuary tank?
 
Last edited:
Welcome to AC! I would start a thread in our Bottom Dweller or Brackish Forums where more folks will it and be able to respond....provided you are are doing regular water changes, you may not see the spikes.

Are you using a good conditioner like Prime to lock the ammonia up?

What do you have coming out of your tap? Good liquid test kit?
 
city of Chicago water tests at pH 7.6 - no ammonia no nitrates no nitrites. I AM SURE there is chlorine in there. I dont like adding it to my tank when I do a change so I add stress coat when I do a water change. On my smaller tanks my wife usually lets 3 or 4 gallons sit out in containers before adding. I HAVE NOT added any water after the initial set up in the tank for three days or so before I added the fish.
 
I have a good API ??? test kit. I have NOT used any conditioner for locking up the ammonia and if you say so I will get it TOMMOROW! I love these fish and do not want to kill them during this process.
 
How do I find the bottom dweller and brackish forum?? HMM it has to be easy? I found it. My post has not yet been moved there? HMMM.
 
Last edited:
Prime is about the best dechlorinator out there...It will lock up chlorine and chloramine to protect the fish but still leave it available for the bacteria.

Most cities use chloramine to treat their water...it does not gas off.

I would recommend weekly water changes at 30-50% minimum.
 
WOW I will do a water change in the am with PRIME, then read up on the comments I get from the knowlegable brackish people out there. Thanks for the intro. Oh chucks I need two new buckets. Because the salt water are in my water change buckets. So what you are saying is that the water out of the fauce will not gas off the chlorine or chloramine that is delvered with it and I am thinking wrong. So when I do I water change like I have been doing with my other fish they are getting dowsed with chloroamine? OUCH. I guess that the PRIME is a necessity. Is there a simple test kit for that too? I am sure there is and will look for one at the Pet Store in the am. OH so I dont panic I have been using STRESS ZYME AND STRESS COAT when I do Water Changes. I need to research this or your input is greatly aprreciated while I reseach it. :) Ted
 
Last edited:
WILL 10 gallons of premixed marine salt water dumped into my 90 gallon tank tommorow kill off the bacteria in the filter and cause any irreversivble dammage to the fish or tank cycle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom