Buying first LARGE tank for 2nd floor apartment would a 150-gallon be safe?

[Damon0306]

AH!! Never been so discouraged as I am now.

Two of the wakins have died, each one showing the same EXACT symptons before dying.

First the fish's eyes were bulging, followed by swollen abdomen then death.

This has happened to two of the 10 fish..

Fed nothing but the best Dainichi Goldfish, and once, twice a week San Francisco Bay Brand Frozen Goldfish/KOI diet, always did a vacuum on the bare bottom tank after frozen food, and turned filters off during the feeding, as to not pollute the filters.

The fish were exhibiting classic signs of dropsy, but why? I did water changes every day, made sure water change temp was the same temps, used PRIME during the changes, I am just so disgusted right now...

No other fish are showing signs, but for how long??

 

[ITHURTZ]

Is your tank fully cycled for sure? Maybe your not using enough prime, causing mini cycles through the entire time.

 

[Loubard]

I think the gold fish are just super poor quality by breeding, breeding and more breeding. Try to get some quality bloodline, you've spend so much money on the set-up, why settle for $5,- goldfish?

 

[Damon0306]

Think your right, I think I'm done with goldfish. Spent a little over $3000 on this setup, and stocked it with inbred goldies. AH!

 

[maccus]

It depends on the construction of your building. What is the construction?

 

[ITHURTZ]

I think the gold fish are just super poor quality by breeding, breeding and more breeding. Try to get some quality bloodline, you've spend so much money on the set-up, why settle for $5,- goldfish?

opposed to buying a few hundred in fish and have them end up the same way? You start cheap and go expensive.

 

[SteveR]

Long time since I updated the thread for anyone following it..

Tried out 3 NICE KOI and like a lot of people said, it didnt work out well at all.

I picked up 3 Kohaku Koi that were in the 7-8 inch range..

The fish were so stressed I guess from never being in a aquarium they constantly scraped themselves on the aquarium powerheads, filter intakes, just ripped the crap out of themselves..

Finrot set in on one, one stopped feeding, the 3rd also had finrot.

Treated with PimaFix, Melafix combo, but I knew after about 1 week these fish were very unhappy..

Did lots of water changes tried everthing, but finally in the end I knew I was out $560.00 for the 3 fish.

I begged the Garden Center to take them into there hospital tank room, keep them treat them, and I dont want my money back..

Yes I was sick that I was out the $, but I knew there was no way these KOI already 7-8 inch were going to adapt to aquarium life, nor was I going to save any of them in my 150G tank no matter how much water I changed.

They just acted so wild and were stressed big time.

ROUND 2!! Picked up some baby Wakin Goldfish that are colored just like larger Kohaku koi. They call them the "poor man's KOI in Japan"

Very popular and cheap in Japan, there like Japan's version of the common red/white pond comets we have here in the US.

They seem to be doing quite well so far, but it has only been 2-days.

Checking water parameters like every 5 hours but I just can't stand to have anything go wrong with these cute little guys..

Could not get pictures because they swim so fast and all the pics come out crappy, but I did shoot 2, 30-sec videos of them, both videos are on youtube here are the links if your interested.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fBL2QEgqXQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohj0T9hHZMA

My god man! That's why it went wrong. Like the knowledgable chap in this thread said, Koi will be a temp home for a year and a half max - I've done it myself in a 200Gal tank, I love koi, and then they went to a pond.
But why in gods name did you start with koi 7-8 inch?! The only way you can do this is get them an inch long and grow them up in the tank. Nice tank tho.

 

[SteveR]

AH!! Never been so discouraged as I am now.

Two of the wakins have died, each one showing the same EXACT symptons before dying.

First the fish's eyes were bulging, followed by swollen abdomen then death.

This has happened to two of the 10 fish..

Fed nothing but the best Dainichi Goldfish, and once, twice a week San Francisco Bay Brand Frozen Goldfish/KOI diet, always did a vacuum on the bare bottom tank after frozen food, and turned filters off during the feeding, as to not pollute the filters.

The fish were exhibiting classic signs of dropsy, but why? I did water changes every day, made sure water change temp was the same temps, used PRIME during the changes, I am just so disgusted right now...

No other fish are showing signs, but for how long??

They will have most likely died because you added 10 at once. That needs to be very gradual, 1 or 2 max for a good few weeks to let the de-nitrifying bacteria build up in the 3 filters.

 

[mattheuw1]

I have a 150 gallon in a second story apartment that was built in the 70s. I have it positioned against the wall, obviously. I have had no issues. The first couple of weeks I only filled it up 3/4 full. Then I got $300,000 renters insurance and topped it off. I noticed that my floor is not very level because the water slopes forward and is about an inch higher in the front then the back. But it is also near a hallway that has accumulated a lot of wear in the last 30 years. When i walk across my living room, I try to be light-footed. When company comes over I still get worried because everyone crowds around my tank. I would suggest getting renters insurance and tell your landlord it is only a 90 gallon...thats what I did...shhhh.

 

[selki]

you're most likely safe. i have my 180 in my ROOM 2nd FLOOR WOODEN HOUSE...thats why ill be selling the tank this week. feel nervous itll break through and land on the 1st floro! lol...