Just Finished My Growing Tanks Options

[PERRY]

SO here is my plan In about a month once green alge starts to bloom I will be stocking these two 65 gallon barrels with many different types of fancys on barrel will be for the stronger swimmers like Ryukins, and Ranchus, orandas the other will be for celestial eyes, bubble eyes, and pearl scales. I might even do a third barrel for koi, dont know yet but I have an air stone hooked up for both of the barrels probably do a 50% water change weekely (if possible). I will also have a large show aquarium in my room which I will use to swap out different fish that look good. Any suggestions thanks ~JP

[Dick Benbow]

MY KNOWLEDGE IS DEEP IN KOI BUT i THOUGHT OF SOMETHING AS I READ YOUR THREAD THAT i WOULD LIKE TO GET THE EXPERTS INPUT ON.....and that is jumping. Koi when moved especially from a larger volumn of water to a smaller one will often jump. so for the koi barrels I would think you would want a soft mesh screen cover. Do goldfish jump? I don't know......

[PERRY]

oh yes deff I will be putting chicken wire over it to keep racoons from getting my fish, and the hawks and birds I live by the mountains so a lot of wild animals.

[lnicky]

Personally I don't like the idea of using barrel to raise goldfish since the surface area is too small and doesn't allow enough exchange of oxygen.

To get green water you may want to put a healthy goldfish that you don't like in the barrels and feed high quality pellets like Hikari lionhead (remove filter). The ammonia will induce green algea to grow and you can cultivate green water which is very good for goldfish

Have a look at the pinned thread on green water cultivation by bro HB.

Once you have successfully cultivate green water you can remove the fish and add other goldfish

[PERRY]

OH yes Inicky I have actually done all 3 I have airstones in the water (running 24/7) no filteration and I have put two Hibunas or common goldfish in there to get the bacteria going and I only feed with Hirki lionhead food. I want to know whats the difference between the Hirki food with the Oranda and the Hirki with the Lionhead on the cover?

[small_ranchu]

Most of us prefer Hikari Lionhead which is a sinking pellet. It will less likely to cause constapilation(SP?) to our goldies. Hikari is a floating pellet which has a problem with air in the food.

[PERRY]

Oh ok cool its that constapilation a major problem? I've never experienced that I feed with floating pellets and spiralina alge flakes. But I am going to get the lionhead pellates as well.

And just to clarify Im using the Hirki Oranda/lionhead pellates not the true sinking Lionhead pellates.

[eros904]

Most of us prefer Hikari Lionhead which is a sinking pellet. It will less likely to cause constapilation(SP?) to our goldies. Hikari is a floating pellet which has a problem with air in the food.

Perry,

Have you thought of cutting your barrels sideways and connecting them somehow? It'll be so hard to see your fish on the bottom and to monitor the parameters. In regards to the food, just soak the pellets that you have and mix their diets w/ live or frozen foods.

BTW, its "Constipation."

This post has been edited by eros904: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 4:46 pm

[lnicky]

Oh ok cool its that constapilation a major problem? I've never experienced that I feed with floating pellets and spiralina alge flakes. But I am going to get the lionhead pellates as well.

And just to clarify Im using the Hirki Oranda/lionhead pellates not the true sinking Lionhead pellates.

Constipation and SBD often occurs with egg-shaped goldfish because their internal organs have evolved beyond common goldfish (more compressed). Sinking pellets are better because they reduce the chance of your goldfish gulping too much air.

I fed my ranchus with Hikari Wheatgems for koi without soaking and soon they start to float with their back exposed. They turned normal after a few days of fasting and a diet of greenpeas (it reduces impaction from pellets)

This post has been edited by lnicky: Mon, 14 Jan 2008 8:45 pm

[PERRY]

Yes I think that would be better to have them sink I'll just pre wet them so they sink better. I lost another one of my fish this time it got stuck to my filter and its internals got sucked out it was my lovely red capped oranda so I had to freeze him to end his suffering. I went and got another one and a red capped Ryukin also 2 beautiful Lionheads one of them calico alomst has the tail of a Ranchu probably a lionchu. HOwever my new red capped is acting weird he is flipping on his side and upside down on the bottom of my 10gal, so I put him in the 5gal Lionhead tank which is 73 degrees and he seems to be ok. I guess we will see in a few days...

[bekko]

I would be afraid to use a sinking food exclusively in such deep tanks. You will not know if the food is eaten or if stuff is building up down there until you go to siphon the bottom.

I don't worry about floating food and never have swim bladder issues. I think the key to avoiding SBD and constipation is to be sure to supplement the pellets with a lot of high-fiber leafy vegetables, seaweed or alfalfa pellets (rabbit food). About one-third supplemental vegetables on a dry weight basis.

-steve

[PERRY]

Sounds good would peas be helpful as well? and what about cooked carrots? I also feed spirlina alge flakes which they seem to love. I will start feeding with koi food once they get bigger and I have more to take care of, Thanks for all your info Steve very helpful.

[Pooky]

Why din't you get some rubbermaid totes for your green water? you can get a 200-300 gallon stock tank from farm supply store for your fish and it will be easier to see them all. I use clear rubbermaid tote for my indoor greenwater and it seems to be ok.

[PERRY]

well ja-ji-ja-jiah-jimmy hahahah...I got these for free as far as seeing my fish I have an almost all black Hibuna in there that I can see fine.. I know everyone thinks its hard to see the fish in black tubs but thats really not an issue. I will be swaping out the best looking fish in my show tank in the house. Im keeping the height of the barrels for more room to be stocked, and to guard against preadators there only about 4 1/2 feet tall.

This post has been edited by PERRY: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 12:08 pm

[bekko]

Here is an alternative way to use plastic barrels for fish tanks. Sorry, I should have cleaned it up a little before taking photo.

-steve