Cosmo
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Registered: 29th Mar 01
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Few updates on this tank...
-Got the new filter (Fluval FX5) and installed it all. Amazing filter, is huge but so so quiet.
-Got the fish (5x Serrasalmus Manueli) all around 3-4". Once they are settled they'll get a really bright red colour on their faces which isnt there at the moment due to stress.
-Got the bogwood weighted down.
Still waiting for all my plants to get here, and then I can buy some community fish to liven the tank up a little. May also need to get some extra lights aswell.
Full tank shot. For some reason the polestyrene (sp?) is making it look all lobsided, but its all straight when you look at it. Need to cover that front bit with some wood similar to the rest of the stand still aswell.
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
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They look like some mean mofo's!
Is it ok to put your hand/arm in for maintenance or do they bite?
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Cosmo
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yeah they would just go to the otherside of the tank, if I was stressin them though they would probably bite.
Will look like this when they grow up a little...
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mwg
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Location: South Lakes
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How big will they get?
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Cosmo
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quote: Originally posted by Matty G
How big will they get?
they can grow upto 20"+ but they are very very slow growers. So wouldnt expect more than an inch a year at the most.
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mwg
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Location: South Lakes
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I like the wood. How is that bit on the right balancing? Propped against the glass?
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Cosmo
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its two pieces. One piece is floating, and the two branches coming down are a seperate piece.
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drunkenfool
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Registered: 7th Feb 03
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Looks really nice mate! How much did the tank set you back if you dont mind me asking? I want to get one in the lounge soon
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Cosmo
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The tank is a Juwel Rio 400, they can be had for about £300 second hand, or about £500 new...thats for everything though (stand, tank, built in filter, lighting, etc.).
But mine is totally different from when I bought it though, I have sprayed the tank white and that is a custom stad I built for it. There should be some threads somewhere of how I did it all, and pics of the original tank.
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ssj_kakarot
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Registered: 29th Apr 03
Location: hartlepool
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What do they feed on, pieces of meat ect?
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Cosmo
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any kind of meat really. Ive just fed them some raw chicken but also feed them prawns, white fish meat, anything like that.
You can feed them live feeder fish or mice aswell, but makes a mess of the tank normally!
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ssj_kakarot
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Registered: 29th Apr 03
Location: hartlepool
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lol do they actually get really aggressive like they always depict in films when eating or are they just calm and eat like normal fish.?
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Cosmo
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Can be fairly aggressive, here is a video of a feeding frenzy (not my fish BTW)
Video
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mav
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Registered: 19th Jun 01
Location: Scotland
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Looks good that I would like a nice big tank
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
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Are these the same as yours?
http://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/popup_lg.php?mypic=19116.jpg
[Edited on 15-11-2006 by Matty G]
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Cosmo
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quote: Originally posted by Matty G
Are these the same as yours?
http://www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/popup_lg.php?mypic=19116.jpg
[Edited on 15-11-2006 by Matty G]
No, those are red bellies.
Is that a fairly old ad, as think I know who's they are and he has them in a diff tank now!
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Scotty_B
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Registered: 11th Jun 03
Location: East Kilbride
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Very interested in getting Piranhas myself but I don't know where to start. What size is your tank and can I get a smaller one with less beasts?
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Cosmo
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quote: Originally posted by CorSRi_BT
Very interested in getting Piranhas myself but I don't know where to start. What size is your tank and can I get a smaller one with less beasts?
The main thing you have to decide is if you want a single Piranha (Serrasalmus species) or shoaling Piranha (Pygocentrus species).
If you decide on a single on then you can buy them fairly cheaply (from £30 for a 5-6" fish depending on specific type) and they can be kept in tanks as small as 36" x 15" as dont grow very fast at all. These can be fairly aggressive as they are strictly solitary Piranhas and kill almost anything else in the tank.
The shoaling kind will tend to be more skittish unless kept in larger groups (around 5 or more) but these require larger tanks due to there being more and are fairly fast growing (can go from 2-3" to 8-9" in a approx a year). For 5 you would need around a 48" x 18" tank...general rule of thumb is 20Gal per every fully Piranha will be needed once they are a year old.
If you want to know more specific stuff just ask, or would also suggest reading piranha-fury.com and piranhaforum.co.uk as both have busy forums and some good articles for newbies.
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mav
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Registered: 19th Jun 01
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Looks good...TBH though I couldn't be arsed will it, all the cleaning etc
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Cosmo
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quote: Originally posted by mav
Looks good...TBH though I couldn't be arsed will it, all the cleaning etc
I do one water change a week and vac up all the shit at the same time, takes about 20mins at the most.
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
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How do you syphon the water? Do you use a hose then suck the other end quickly then put it in a bucket?
Or do you use a powerhead and pump it out?
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Cosmo
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quote: Originally posted by Matty G
How do you syphon the water? Do you use a hose then suck the other end quickly then put it in a bucket?
Or do you use a powerhead and pump it out?
I use a powerhead to get the water flowing, then take it off and it keeps going to can pick up the crap. I feed raw chicken sometimes to the fish so not putting that water near my mouth!!
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
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lol dont blame you. I got water from my tank in my mouth once, was bloody rank.
Getting a powerhead asap
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Cosmo
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another way is to totally submerge the piece of hose pipe so it fills up, thumb over each end and then aslong as the piece of hose on the outside of the tank is lower than the inside piece it will start to drain
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mwg
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Registered: 19th Feb 04
Location: South Lakes
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Cheers. I'll give that a go as need to do a water change 2moro night and wont have bought a powerhead by then
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