Pacu vat - 350g

[soggydrysuit]

Hi everyone,

I just thought I'd start a new thread about a fish that not many of us should keep. Myself included. About a year ago my wife had a request from a friend to rehome a Red Belly Pacu. I said yes, because of the circumstances:-

These people were someone my wife's contact knew - he'd bought a pair from an lfs and I don't know how but the two Pacu's ended up in a bucket overnight - 'tank maintenance'. One died but all of this is pure heresay. I don't know.

Anyroads, the survivour ended up in a six by two by two foot discus tank which was not exactly ideal, hence the ask for me to take it on. I did with some glee because I knew I could cope with it. Sort of, given my itch for a trop pond.

As you may know, that happened, after a lot of persuasion. Three months worth to be precise.

In the mean time, the fish was housed in a glass tank far too small for it - my 240l. Have you ever experienced pH crashes and ammonia readings so dark they appear black? That happened to me. I lost no fish, the only reason I can give is because of the low pH.

Long and short of all of this is: I'll get my 1000g indoor pond mark 2 before I contemplate anything else huge: lesson learned. This fish needs something that size.

The Pacu - named 'Trevor' after the 'Young Ones' character: "Trevor: My friend who lives in the bin". They didn't know it was a Pacu

Don't ask if you don't know about this bunch of student hooligans

Anyway, some pics of the giant tetra during a water change:-

Trevor.jpg

Pacu wc.jpg

[J-P]

ohh wow.. I like that tub

I could seriously see that ans an amazing indoor pond I know it is a lot of trouble and work, but you seem to have a grip on things Congrats

[soggydrysuit]

Thanks, J-P.

I found my 'dream indoor pond' outside in a garden centre near here. It's about twenty feet long. Ten tons of water, though... Given a koi pnd filter - might be a go for a red tail cat. mark this people: Ye God's

One day, we may move to Florida and I will help rehome 'gators. No joke, I have a soft spot for lizzies rrap

Overgrown bloody terrapins, if you ask me

[soggydrysuit]

BTW, it took me less time to change water in the vat than it did to properly sort out my fancy goldie tank.

[J-P]

I can relate My tank is resting at aprox 7 tonnes with water and glass (2.6 dry weight).

If you go with an indoor, make sure you have that room well ventilated. Or possibly go outdoor with some type of greenhouse enclosure.

The humidity from the evap alone will soften your walls.

[soggydrysuit]

Well, there is mould forming in one corner of the 'fish room' where I keep most of my tanks. That's not so much of a prob because it's my own area of the house. It's also next on the list for redecoration. It was forming before the vat went in due to many other tanks dumping water into the atmosphere.

I should probably put down cat litter trays full of Calcium Chloride.

This is the original part of an old 'police house' so it's built like the proverbial stone outhouse.

The lady wife has seen the damage - the original plan was to have the vat totally enclosed but finances did not permit. I went ahead knowing the would be a lot of condensation but it's less than expected.

I should get a koi pond air blower to use for all of the fw tanks but run most of it into the pond enclosure and knock a hole through the wall in the conservatory to blow the wet out out using a tumble drier hose. That'd work. Positive pressure

More of a prob when you leave the hose running and slightly flood the conservatory because you are typing for the puffer forum. Yes that happened last night

I wondered why it went quiet!

Have removed dive weights because I am paranoid about heavy metal contamination. Soft water can dissolve lead. I'm using rock technology now.