Tank Size Opinions
- Thread starter mattybecks
- Start date
Never kept Tinfoil Barb but have had several small species of Silver Dollars. I personally wouldn't put Silver Dollars in a aquarium less than 72 inches in length which is how long a standard 180 gallon aquarium is. My spotted Silver Dollars when spooked can swim from one side to the other side of my 180 gallon aquarium in less than a minute. Tbh if you can get something longer 8ft or over I would highly recommend that. In a shorter aquarium less than 72 inches Silver Dollars can swim into the sides of the aquarium because of their speed .
Since tin foil barbs easily reach over a ft, " as adults" a 300 gal for 6, would allow what I would consider minimal swimming space at that size.
I'd agree that a 300g is the area you need to be in. Both species are extremely active swimmers and need as much space as possible.
Just a heads up with tinfoil barbs. Don't feed floating pellets unless you are doing so through a small feeding hole, and your canopy is a tight fitting one. In my experience with floating pellets these guys bomb the surface, take the pellets, and then in a flash they turn, causing some serious splashing, especially when they get to a foot or so in length. If you take a lid off to feed be prepared for you and your floor to get wet!
And I'd forget about any future bottom feeders, or plants. Bottom feeders will not get a sniff of food with tinfoils about, they are ravenous, dustbins with fins. Your SD's should be quick enough to compete. Both species like greenery too much for all but the very hardiest of plants to survive.
Good luck, tinfoils are awesome.
Just a heads up with tinfoil barbs. Don't feed floating pellets unless you are doing so through a small feeding hole, and your canopy is a tight fitting one. In my experience with floating pellets these guys bomb the surface, take the pellets, and then in a flash they turn, causing some serious splashing, especially when they get to a foot or so in length. If you take a lid off to feed be prepared for you and your floor to get wet!
And I'd forget about any future bottom feeders, or plants. Bottom feeders will not get a sniff of food with tinfoils about, they are ravenous, dustbins with fins. Your SD's should be quick enough to compete. Both species like greenery too much for all but the very hardiest of plants to survive.
Good luck, tinfoils are awesome.
Thanks guys, this is me day dreaming 
I wasnt going to do this right away, but these are two of my favorite species of freshwater fish i have kept (I just love silver and shiny haha), so in the future I would like to have a system with just these two species in it. The feeding behavior is awesome too watch too.
I concur with tlindsy, I have had SDs in 180cm aquarium, and I would never go less than that in length when talking about SDs. I have seen people keep them in smaller tanks, but they seem to be alot more skittish and panicky in these small spaces. In a 180 they seem calmer and exhibit more natural behavior. You can also keep them in decent sized school. Amazing what having proper space does.
I was also thinking size wise for somewhere between 200 - 250cm Length, and 80 - 90cm wide.
I wasnt going to do this right away, but these are two of my favorite species of freshwater fish i have kept (I just love silver and shiny haha), so in the future I would like to have a system with just these two species in it. The feeding behavior is awesome too watch too. I concur with tlindsy, I have had SDs in 180cm aquarium, and I would never go less than that in length when talking about SDs. I have seen people keep them in smaller tanks, but they seem to be alot more skittish and panicky in these small spaces. In a 180 they seem calmer and exhibit more natural behavior. You can also keep them in decent sized school. Amazing what having proper space does.
I was also thinking size wise for somewhere between 200 - 250cm Length, and 80 - 90cm wide.
I think the fish mentioned would love a bigger footprint tank.... My opinion would be at min. a standard 540 (8x3x3). Maybe add a larger peaceful fish to get the fish to school tighter.
I can not speak of tinfoil barbs, as I have never kept them (I have not had tanks large enough...)
Regarding Silver Dollars I completely agree with the idea that the longer the tank the better. However, there are important modifiers to that concept -
- Type of Silver Dollars (speaking about things like wide bars SDs versus say Metynnis species is completely different!, and almost can't be mentioned in the same sentence! - and this is just an example). Bottom line, SD's are not all the same.
- Aquarium conditions - No plants and too much light --> almost certainly skittish silver dollars scurrying to hide and darting about (regardless of aquarium size)
- Number of SD's and sex ratio within the group - a critical element often not considered. Too few --> skittish. Too many or unfavorable gender ratio --> skittish or too much fighting leading to undue stress.
In the picture, a relatively harmonious group of 8 Metynnis (3 species) in a standard 75gal tank. After 3 years, I ended up separating 3 males out into another planted 75g, because of too much sexual tension (not because of skittishness!). The group will soon reunite (hopefully with a couple of additional females) in a 6-foot planted tank, currently being setup.
Regarding Silver Dollars I completely agree with the idea that the longer the tank the better. However, there are important modifiers to that concept -
- Type of Silver Dollars (speaking about things like wide bars SDs versus say Metynnis species is completely different!, and almost can't be mentioned in the same sentence! - and this is just an example). Bottom line, SD's are not all the same.
- Aquarium conditions - No plants and too much light --> almost certainly skittish silver dollars scurrying to hide and darting about (regardless of aquarium size)
- Number of SD's and sex ratio within the group - a critical element often not considered. Too few --> skittish. Too many or unfavorable gender ratio --> skittish or too much fighting leading to undue stress.
In the picture, a relatively harmonious group of 8 Metynnis (3 species) in a standard 75gal tank. After 3 years, I ended up separating 3 males out into another planted 75g, because of too much sexual tension (not because of skittishness!). The group will soon reunite (hopefully with a couple of additional females) in a 6-foot planted tank, currently being setup.
I should have mentioned - My experience is only with species of the genus Metynnis.
Nice looking setup.. I am surprised the SD didn't mess with the live plants. I used to have a big school of Tiger striped Silver Dollars (M. fasciatus)
which to date are my favorite SD due to their relatively peaceful nature and their willingness to school tightly together.
which to date are my favorite SD due to their relatively peaceful nature and their willingness to school tightly together.