Wednesday, September 14, 2011

How should i set up my piranha tank?

im going to get a 125 for at least five red bellies piranhas what like filters power heads substrate should i use?How should i set up my piranha tank?
You need to look for a top end filtration system as that tank will need it. I recommend you get the best canister filter you can afford rated for a much larger tank and have a couple of HOB filters to support/backup the messy biosurge you will get at feeding time. If you can, try to get a bigger tank.



You can use gravel or sand as a substrate, it's not essential and can have downsides as well as advantages.The downside is that with messy eaters like piranha lots of food will get trapped in the substrate making it harder to remove. The upside is beneficial bacteria will live in there. Either way I recommend you get a gravel vac that works using an air pump or a battery operated one to clean the floor after feeding when you don't want to do a water change.



Do a full fishless cycle or use quality feeder fish to cycle the tank. Do not cycle the tank with the Piranha. I know I will get a thumbs down from some about cycling with feeders, but they will be food when you add your piranha. (if you get juveniles they will nip at fins and scales, not rip the fish to a skeleton)



Piranha hunt by ambush at dusk and dawn, they spend their day hiding in the shadows. They are not the killing machines legend would have us believe, they are shy fish that don't like bright light. Have floating plants like water chestnut.



Edit for additional question about lighting -



As stated above they hide in the shadows, they prefer darker water. So if you can site your tank away from direct sunlight but in a place where you can actually see your fish with the rooms lighting . You will need some sort of cover to prevent the fish accidentally jumping out. A transparent cover with full spectrum (daylight) lights above the tank instead of on the top of the tank to give the floating plants enough light is best. You could do away with lighting in a normal lit room if you used artificial floating plants.

Your fish will be most active when the room isn't brightly lit up and the aquarium light its off