Fish Story Aquarium and Rescue, Naples, FL; two 4500 gal 13'x13'x4.5'

[thebiggerthebetter]

Two Siamese giant carp, ~12", ~2 years old, in 4500 gal. I obtained them from Raymond Chan of Amazing Fish in the Summer-Fall of 2015 at ~5"-6". This is my second try. The first try was with two 4"-ers from Wes Wong several months earlier. They have done well but I transferred them too soon into the 4500 gal and in several days they got stuck head first in the drain screen that's a pipe with 1" drilled holes. That was devastating and I was so happy when I saw them again on Ray's list.

Ray's fish have done well so far adapting to the tank, tank mates, and my ways of feeding. They still try to get most food from the water column by incessant and stubborn filter feeding but now have learned to go down to the bottom too to get the pellets off the bottom. I try to feed as often as I can.

One of them has a sort of double tail, if you look closely, you will see there is a small remnant of another tail sticking out of the upper portion of the caudal peduncle

Their fins are often tattered a bit, especially the caudal tips and I used to think it was my two banded leporinus or Catla catla or maybe other barbs or silver dollars but recently saw one of the 16" VATF go after the upper caudal lobe tip. Still, they appear to be happy, outgoing fish:

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Smaller pima. Shot same day as its first video. Just another example of Master beggar extraordinare: What are you looking at? Can't you see I am hungry and wanting?

(As a side note, I am starting to think this one is a male and the 2x bigger one in the other 4500 gal is a female based on their growth and behavior.)

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Slightly better short video of Tor progenious, ~2', in 4500 gal, filmed as above on Dec 2016:

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Blue mahseer, aka Neolissochilus stracheyi, ~15" in 4500 gal. Got it from Ivan Aw3s0m3 now it seems like a year ago but this was filmed in Dec 2016. Like all mahseer, it is an incessant eating and prowling machine. Loves current, harassing new tank mates initially, and thawed fish, in the absence of which it is happy to try and get all the pellets it possibly can... and even some that it can't...

 

[Chub_by]

Having read the whole thread now (over several sessions), all I can say is wow! You genuinely are an inspiration not only when it comes to fishkeeping, but also to me personally - talk about making your dreams come true!
I remember when I was new here and you told me about this back when you lived in NY. I had you down as the type who backs their words up with actions but I didn't think you'd make it work this fast!

I have a few questions though;
On one of the first pages (post #57 iirc) I spotted a glimpse of what seems to be a huge tire track eel. Have you still got it and are there any new pics? Spiny eels (and eel-likes in general) happen to be one of my favourite groups of fish.

Also, how many more fish do you intend to stock in the 4.5k tanks?
This is in no way meant as criticism, as your filtration and feeding schedule seem to be more than good enough for the fish, I'm just curious.

Again, thanks for sharing Viktor!

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Two Indo-Pacific tarpon, ~15", ~3 years old, in 4500 gal. I got 5 of them at 2"-3" from John at Aquarium and Reef Center in Cape Coral, FL. When they were small, they displayed a kind of flexibility that I think I have never seen in any other fish. It was as if they had no backbone, extremely agile and flexible and graceful they were in a 1500 gal pond for the first year of their life with me.

Two of them failed to convert to the non-live foods I was offering, despite having tried about 20 different kinds literally. One, by far the biggest, was rehomed into a 4500 gal very early on but then I had problems in there and miscalculated a medication dose. Thus, I am left with just two.

They grow slowly. At this rate, I'll have to live to over 100 years old to see them hit 3' Amazingly they prefer my cheap catfish farm pellets (and other pellets that are offered less frequently like NLS and Hikari) to any kind of thawed fish, etc. In the 3 years I've had them, it was only this week that I saw one briefly chase the other. Until then I only saw them in total harmony with each other and their tank mates.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

C Chub_by

C: ... talk about making your dreams come true! I remember when I was new here and you told me about this back when you lived in NY. I had you down as the type who backs their words up with actions but I didn't think you'd make it work this fast!

V: I appreciate it, Chubs! Fast is relative. I have been working on this as a prospective business since 2009, including having started the actual construction in Jan 2012. And so far this has been but a very expensive hobby I've not finished construction yet and we have not open to public at large yet. I've not made one dollar yet. Only spent a ton. My wife's patience is what should be admired, not my "freelancing". She has been funding this ordeal with her paychecks for 6 years.

C: ... On one of the first pages (post #57 iirc) I spotted a glimpse of what seems to be a huge tire track eel. Have you still got it and are there any new pics? Spiny eels (and eel-likes in general) happen to be one of my favourite groups of fish.

V: I love spiny eels too. So smart and lots of character. (Other f/w eels I've had, true eels though, I've found to be rather primitive and utterly dumb versus the spinies, except Anguilla bengalese or some such name.) No, no new visuals. The fish has been doing well, having reached close to 2' now. I am slowly moving towards filming ~all fish we keep here. So hopefully its turn will come.

C: Also, how many more fish do you intend to stock in the 4.5k tanks? This is in no way meant as criticism, as your filtration and feeding schedule seem to be more than good enough for the fish, I'm just curious.

V: Good question (read IDK the answer ) I go mostly by water tests - ammonia must be zero ppm by a test tube API test and nitrate below ~40 ppm. Yes, the sump is 15,000 gal, so that gives me lots of room for stocking but that also means I need higher and higher water turnover. Last week I had to add another 5000 GPH pumps to each 4500 gal tank so now each tank gets 20,000 GPH and a 12 min turnover. I think I am at the fullest capacity with this stock (and they keep growing!). Any more fish - and I will need to add more pumps and also increase the water change. Right now I am changing 100% water every 3 days, that's 4500 + 4500 + 15,000 = 24,000 gallons every 3 days. And this water needs to be made up from 85% RO water (homemade) and 15% raw well water mixed back in to bring back some hardness and TDS. Because my raw well water contains some tannin, my tank water is a touch yellowish.

V: I always welcome constructive and edifying, helpful criticism. Always. Don't even think twice.

 

[headbanger_jib]

Blue mahseer, aka Neolissochilus stracheyi, ~15" in 4500 gal.

Awesome fish there mate. I am about to get an undescribed species of Neolissochilus from North eastern India, which is considered to be very close to the Stracheyi, enjoyed watching a video of the same fish, what a nice coincidence.

Thanks for sharing

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Some photos to share, all from the same 240 gal (#63):

 

[thebiggerthebetter]