thinking of switching up my tank

gabegarcia00

gabegarcia00

Medium Fish
#1
Apr 27, 2012
63
0
0
Lexington, KY
#1
just looking for some opinions on this one.
im thinking of adding a baby silver aro to my 90 gallon pred tank. now before anybody goes apeshit crazy i know this is not a big enough tank for him full grown, this will just be a grow out tank. Im currently setting up a large pond (maybe 500+ gallons) in my backyard for him and a few others.Im going to let the pond establish through the winter and place him in it come spring.

for now he would be placed in the tank with 2 huejta gar, a pleco, and a ghost knife.

this would be my first aro so anyone with any advice, or warnings would be greatly appreciated
 

O

OrangeCones

Elite Fish
#2
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#2
There are lots of species of fish with the common name of 'Silver Dollar' but all are shoaling fish and should be kept in groups. They are also all tropical. Will the 500 gallon pond be heated? It would be too cold outdoors in KY year-round.
 

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OrangeCones

Elite Fish
#7
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#7
Not sure how a tropical species will do in a pond year round in KY. Do the heaters keep the water set at a tropical temp? Those I've seen have just kept water from freezing, but its been a lot of years and technology has changed a lot recently.

How will you prevent birds/racoons, etc. from catching it in a pond?
 

gabegarcia00

gabegarcia00

Medium Fish
#8
Apr 27, 2012
63
0
0
Lexington, KY
#8
OrangeCones said:
Not sure how a tropical species will do in a pond year round in KY. Do the heaters keep the water set at a tropical temp? Those I've seen have just kept water from freezing, but its been a lot of years and technology has changed a lot recently.

How will you prevent birds/racoons, etc. from catching it in a pond?
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the ones i found say they can keep up to 150 gallons up to 90 degrees a piece.

as for the stray animals i have a privacy fence and havent had any problems with any since ive been here. but you never know. Im going to have some sarassa comets in it during the winter and beginning of spring so I guess that can be my trial period. I'm not too worried about birds since he wont be placed in the pond until hes large enough.
 

KcMopar

KcMopar

Superstar Fish
#10
May 11, 2011
1,854
1
0
Louisiana
www.americanhotrodsolutions.com
#10
I have heard many people say they never had a small animal problem until they installed an outdoor pond with and with of fish. Also note: those heater rating are based on your house being no colder then 65-68 degrees. Most of them are not strong enough to heat from less then room temp.
 

gabegarcia00

gabegarcia00

Medium Fish
#12
Apr 27, 2012
63
0
0
Lexington, KY
#12
KcMopar said:
I have heard many people say they never had a small animal problem until they installed an outdoor pond with and with of fish. Also note: those heater rating are based on your house being no colder then 65-68 degrees. Most of them are not strong enough to heat from less then room temp.
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i hope not to be one of them. hopefully this trial with the comets gives me an idea of what im up against. If worse comes to worse i can get one of the metal pond screens and weigh it down.

And if the heaters cant keep it at a minimum of 72 degrees I can always bring him indoors for the winter.

I eventually plan on upgrading the 90 anyways
 

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OrangeCones

Elite Fish
#13
Feb 27, 2009
4,395
0
36
#13
gabegarcia00 said:
it took out a 2 ft koi? "damn nature you scary!"
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Yup. Carried it off with one foot too. Reminded me of watching those shows on cable where they show a bald eagle hunting salmon!

And FYI, my friend lived in a subdivision (not out 'in the country') and was 4 blocks from a major freeway. Lots of trees that shaded the pond from view overhead, 6ft wood privacy fence, etc.

Scary indeed!

Good catch on the heaters, KcMopar. Would take a heck of a heater to keep an outdoor pond warm enough for tropicals when the air temp is under 60. When I lived up north, we had heaters in ponds for horses/cattle, so that they could have access to water in the wintertime without having to come all the way back near the barn to get to water troughs. They kept the temp just above freezing (chilly ice-cold water to drink!).
 

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gabegarcia00

gabegarcia00

Medium Fish
#14
Apr 27, 2012
63
0
0
Lexington, KY
#14
OrangeCones said:
Yup. Carried it off with one foot too. Reminded me of watching those shows on cable where they show a bald eagle hunting salmon!

And FYI, my friend lived in a subdivision (not out 'in the country') and was 4 blocks from a major freeway. Lots of trees that shaded the pond from view overhead, 6ft wood privacy fence, etc.

Scary indeed!

Good catch on the heaters, KcMopar. Would take a heck of a heater to keep an outdoor pond warm enough for tropicals when the air temp is under 60. When I lived up north, we had heaters in ponds for horses/cattle, so that they could have access to water in the wintertime without having to come all the way back near the barn to get to water troughs. They kept the temp just above freezing (chilly ice-cold water to drink!).
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hell yeah! im not so sure im willing to lose an arowana to any birds of prey. I'd be sick for a week. I may just end up sticking with a boring old cold water pond. eghhh
 

gabegarcia00

gabegarcia00

Medium Fish
#18
Apr 27, 2012
63
0
0
Lexington, KY
#18
OrangeCones said:
I would be careful using too many goldfish as feeders, due to their high thaimase content.

Hole in the Head by Adam Dagna of World Cichlids
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i dont use them often. maybe twice or 3 times tops a month. the rest of the time he gets white fillets and prawns. I really dont like giving them to him period but he wont accept anything smaller than 4 inches so its either spend a ton on full grown fish or give him those $3 comets occasionally
 

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