bmxer4ever: You did a great job getting this thread started and just as important, you kept it going by asking numerous questions valuable to us monster keepers. Thank you.bmxer4ever;777970; said:
Arapaima Gigas
- Thread starter bmxer4ever
- Start date
I'll back John's endorsement of the Hayward products. I use their products in a lot of my plumbing appilcations - and have no issues what so ever.
Also might want to consider a large sand filter to clear up a majority of the particulates in the water. The fine micron cartridges work well for really polishing it up, but a sand filter will take a lot of the added cleaning work out of the picture for you.
Side note: I hope to move mine out in the next week or so. We've been too busy to move it, and I don't want to cut corners.
Also might want to consider a large sand filter to clear up a majority of the particulates in the water. The fine micron cartridges work well for really polishing it up, but a sand filter will take a lot of the added cleaning work out of the picture for you.
Side note: I hope to move mine out in the next week or so. We've been too busy to move it, and I don't want to cut corners.
Zoodiver: Great information and yes I have been thinking about a sand filter. Aquatic Eco systems suggest I not go there as they clog very quickly with fish waste and are more suitable for swimming pools. Sand filters require a heavy-duty pump (translate, large horsepower pumps cost a lot to operate). I can manage frequent back washing but is that sufficient or must I replace the sand every few months when it reaches the point where backwashing will no longer purge the organic waste buildup?
I have used six of the 40 sq ft, 25-micron Ocean Clear cartridge filters in parallel with some success but they were constantly in need of cleaning. The flow rate started at 1500 GPH but it dropped daily as the cartridges clogged with fish waste. The big Hayward cartridge filter has 500 square feet of surface area and a starting water flow rate of 150 GPM. This might be the answer for me if I can get the 12-foot clarity I want, and the cartridges are easy to swap out with clean ones.
I feed my big fish (about 400 pounds total) every 2-3 days about 10 pounds of trout food and or hot dogs, beef heart, liver, rats and lettuce (for the Pacu). I switched from a 350-gallon sump with 16 square feet of fiber mats, which needed cleaning every other day to a 4.4 cubic foot bead filter. This is ever so much easier to maintain and it alone keeps the Ammonia at or near zero PPM; however I do not have the water clarity I am seeking. The rate of water flow through the bead filter is 5,200 GPH on my present 3,500-gallon aquarium.
I am now constructing a 16 foot long by 12 foot wide by 6 foot deep, 8,000-gallon outdoor aquarium that will require much more filtration. I am trying to keep the initial cost of the aquarium and filter equipment to a minimum. The ongoing operating cost of the pumps and heaters is another big consideration.
Please comment on any of these filtration issues and I will try to get back with answers to your questions as well. In the past month, I have taken in another eight "orphaned" Pacu, which are in a 600-gallon holding tank getting ready to swim with the big fish in the 8,000-gallon tank when it is finished.
I run sand filters on all of my big stuff. I'd suggest them for anything over 2,000 gallons. If you backwash regularly, built up in not an issue. I know a lot of places/people who have channeling problems with sand filters. 99% of the time it's because they do not backwash long enough to fluidize the sandbed in the filter. If you run it long enough, you will not run into these issues. I'd replace the sand maybe once ever two years or so.
One trick I've learned is to have it plumbed in so you can backwash with tank water (for waterchanges) as well as running a city line (or other outside water source) for just basic filter cleaning. I'd run backwashes for 10 minutes or so on 6-9 cubic foot filters.
As for powering them, I'd run a 3 to 5 hp pool pump - depending on how much water you really want to move. The pool pumps are an up front expense, but if well maintained, they last a LONG time.
I'll take some pics of some of my set ups and post them here for you. I think there are others posted on random threads on here, but I'll make sure to get some up on this one as well.
One trick I've learned is to have it plumbed in so you can backwash with tank water (for waterchanges) as well as running a city line (or other outside water source) for just basic filter cleaning. I'd run backwashes for 10 minutes or so on 6-9 cubic foot filters.
As for powering them, I'd run a 3 to 5 hp pool pump - depending on how much water you really want to move. The pool pumps are an up front expense, but if well maintained, they last a LONG time.
I'll take some pics of some of my set ups and post them here for you. I think there are others posted on random threads on here, but I'll make sure to get some up on this one as well.
It is obvious that your aquatic creatures are very people aware. Do you allow hand feeding? Great looking Arapaima, is it a male or female. What is the length of the gigas?
Our's is 48" (almost exactly that). It hand feeds very well. I'm trying to get it to the point where it will ONLY take food from my hand - or at least associate me with food so it doesn't mow down the rest of the exhibit.
He is very aware of people, and even who is who. He likes me very much, but he hates our curator for some reason. We see him repeatedly fast his tail and move away when the boss comes down to see him.
As for sexing, the males build the nest....easiest way to tell. Males will also secrete a milk from glads in their heads to nurish the fry. But again, it takes a mated pair to see this type of behavior.
He is very aware of people, and even who is who. He likes me very much, but he hates our curator for some reason. We see him repeatedly fast his tail and move away when the boss comes down to see him.
As for sexing, the males build the nest....easiest way to tell. Males will also secrete a milk from glads in their heads to nurish the fry. But again, it takes a mated pair to see this type of behavior.
I didn't realize that you had posted these. I just posted on the other thread. I don't know about the whole converting me thing. I am still a saltwater keeper. I do love the arapaima though. He loves me too, as you can see from the pic. He didn't like it when I tried kissing him though 
He is so cool. John, you need to hurry and get yours grown up so that he outgrows your tank and we can take him off of your hands
He is so cool. John, you need to hurry and get yours grown up so that he outgrows your tank and we can take him off of your hands 
