Am i feeding too much?

[FINWIN]

for goodness sake, get that cutie some substrate, log, plants etc...

 

[4D3]

for goodness sake, get that cutie some substrate, log, plants etc...

Flowerhorn are pretty much always bare tank, they are super aggressive, the move and dig substrate, i have seen videos of flowerhorn spitting sand into the filter inlet to get rid of it!

Also :

There are several reasons why many if not most FH keepers have bare bottom set-ups:
1) FH's eat a lot and produce a lot of waste. When that waste is in full view as it is on a bare bottom, you feel more inclined to take it out right then and there (I like to use battery operated vacuum cleaners for a quick zap of the waste) rather then let it go into your filters or get hidden in substrate or under decor, where it will ramp up your nitrate levels.

2) No/little decor means less chance for your fish to accidentally injure itself (esp. if it has a big hump). Many FH's can be active, aggressive/territorial so it's simply a preventative measure (I also wrap yoga mat around center bracing in case they jump and hit their heads).

3) Also with such tanks the visual focus is on the beautiful fish rather than decorations etc.

All of that said I personally like to ensure my FH's have always had some kind of shelter they can go to relax or sleep in, just make sure whatever you use doesn't have sharp edges or something that could scratch/injure your fish. I also like to put in a few rocks for him to move around and play with for some simulation.

View attachment 1396872

At then end of the day it comes down to personal preference though -- with proper tank size, water maintenance and parameters plus good feeding habits your FH can thrive in either environment.

From here: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/flowerhorn-empty-tank.724298/

Better explaining than me!

Can I ask, do you actually own this type of fish or are you just commenting because you think I am being cruel to my fish?

If the latter, this fish has the most insane unnecessary setup for this fish....consisting of:
-FX2 full of marine pure gems fed with septibac
-500ml carbon
-500ml purigen
-FX-Uvc Clarifier
-8W UV Steriliser
-1000w Hygger Dual Titanium Heater
-Eheim Skim 350
-1000Lph Wave Maker....

He is fed by timer with 3 different foods, XO Humpy Head, Hikari Gold Floaters & Hikari Gold Sinkers (mixed in 1 feed) and finishing the day with Tetta Bits Bug Bites.....

So I am pretty sure this fish is maintained and fed far far better than most fish.

Also bare bottom tanks just make sense, even in my 1000L mixed cichlid tank (20+ 20-30cm American) , to stop in tank violence you don't have substrate or ornaments so the fish can't claim them or claim a patch of sand and they just float around all happy eating well and interacting, i even give them golf balls and ping pong balls to play with and they happily push them around the tank!

Also no detritus, no gravel vaccing, less prone to diseases, if a disease does get in it is far far easier and faster to treat the issue, and i my opinion it looks nicer!

I hope that clarified your concerns.

Regards

4D3

 

[Backfromthedead]

If you're concerned with him moving sand around, how are you not concerned with him "playing" with all that exposed wiring and equipment? My old flowerhorn would have electrocuted himself quickly in there.

 

[4D3]

If you're concerned with him moving sand around, how are you not concerned with him "playing" with all that exposed wiring and equipment? My old flowerhorn would have electrocuted himself quickly in there.

Nah, they are only interesting in things that move..... That they can pick up and bump elsewhere, or things they can push around.

Things that are fixed they pay no interest to.

They are fantastic fish!

 

[FINWIN]

I still believe it can be worked around. some small balls or marbles to play with, some scattered rocks over a skim of sand. Silk vines to drag around. Or you could go zen and have potted type plants. They have the same needs as any other fish...I never understood this approach just for flowerhorns.

As far as aesthetics, it just looks like a holding box. No offense, just my opinion. I'm big on enrichment over convenience. And substrate adds beneficial bacteria along with giving your fish something to dig and have fun with.

 

[Backfromthedead]

Nah, they are only interesting in things that move..... That they can pick up and bump elsewhere, or things they can push around.

Things that are fixed they pay no interest to.

They are fantastic fish!

You're right, and when that FH reaches a certain size he will be able to move every piece of equipment you have in that tank--pretty violently too. Same goes for any large cichlid but maybe you have a very calm one or something.

 

[4D3]

I still believe it can be worked around. some small balls or marbles to play with, some scattered rocks over a skim of sand. Silk vines to drag around. Or you could go zen and have potted type plants. They have the same needs as any other fish...I never understood this approach just for flowerhorns.

As far as aesthetics, it just looks like a holding box. No offense, just my opinion. I'm big on enrichment over convenience. And substrate adds beneficial bacteria along with giving your fish something to dig and have fun with.

So you literally read nothing in the posts above, it is explained is very good detail so why you still don't understand is amazing in itself.....

I really don't care what you feel or your opinion on aesthetics

Caring for a fish is not about your feelings, it is about what is best for the fish.

The very fact that 2 different people can tell you that substrait and decor isn't used because they get aggressive with it and trash the tank, and hurt themselves.. And your response is essentially:

"I don't care, it looks good, forget the fish health, as long as it looks nice"

You just red posts about how we wrap the insides of tanks with yoga mats to stop them cutting their heads....

And you still say:

"screw it put in some sand, marbles, rocks and potted plants"

You sir, either cannot read, or you can read and you really don't care about your fish....

My advice to you is do not ever by a technical fish with requirements that hurt your feelings.... Stick to your average store front fish.

Also if 2 people with decades of experience tell you multiple reasons why it is like this for this type of fish, you can take it as truth, also, considering you have never kept this fish and clearly have zero idea of what you are talking abouy, your "idea" is null and void.

Sorry dude, you are either illiterate, ignorant or just plane nasty and you really don't care about your pets.

 

[4D3]

You're right, and when that FH reaches a certain size he will be able to move every piece of equipment you have in that tank--pretty violently too. Same goes for any large cichlid but maybe you have a very calm one or something.

Oh yeah I know this, which is why I will be changing to a sump when he can do that so all my equipment can go in that instead! Lol

Been keeping FH for a long time and I have seen some agro ones, heater ripped off walls, ornaments thrown out tanks, all sand/substrate thrown all over everything.

Little monsters!

 

[Backfromthedead]

Oh yeah I know this, which is why I will be changing to a sump when he can do that so all my equipment can go in that instead! Lol

Why not just say that before? Could you have just made it up on the spot cause you know you are now WRONG?

I actually lost an FH about half size of yours when it ripped the strainer off my water change pump and bravely waged war on the impeller.

That rude response to FINWIN was completely uncalled for. SHE is a very seasoned and skilled cichlid keeper--keeps very impressive blood parrots atm i believe. Has her own way of doing things but generally just cares about the fish, I'm sure she didn't mean to insult you. A simple "that ain't my style" would've sufficed on your part.

The yoga mat sounds like a cheap solution to a more expensive problem--the tank is too small. I've kept plenty of big cichlids, FH included over the years and seen literally hundreds of beautiful examples here and elsewhere and have personally never seen a yoga mat wrapped around the inside of the tank lol. If your fish is hurting itself on the walls of the tank it needs more swimming room plain and simple, not softer walls to bounce off of...

 

[jjohnwm]

Yeah, anybody who has followed any of FINWIN 's posts about her travails with Brick and some of her other fish is certainly aware that she doesn't care about them in the slightest. She's cold, cold, cold...

Backfromthedead ...we literally just touched upon "poking the bear" in another thread, and now...it seems like another bear is on the loose.