Wait a Minute, I have MTS!!!
That Sudden Realization – You Have MTS!
Have you ever walked by an aquarium shop, stood by the show tanks and found yourself gazing in awe at a Flowerhorn, you must add to your collection? Do you find yourself looking for Master Piece Flowerhorns online more than once a month while waiting for your pay check to clear? If your answers are yes oh indeed, then congratulations my fellow hobbyist, you are affected with MTS.
Hobbyists who are new to keeping fish often joke about how they are affected with Multiple Tank Syndrome and how they need just “one” last tank to be happy. Some hobbyists believe they have the needed space to add 1last partition to their tank. MTS is an actuality of the Flowerhorn hobby that makes avid hobbyists go berserk when they see a Flowerhorn that is worth investing in. MTS is actually a good thing, if you can maintain water quality and keep your flowerhorns happy. However, MTS is not the best thing that can happen to your fish, if you only worry about adding flowerhorns and forget about water parameters.
How can we strike a balance between “MTS” and good quality water is a million dollar question indeed as even the best hobbyists might find it tough to strike a balance on some days. The facts mentioned below will give you an insight about overstocking fish tanks, using water testing kits and maintaining prime water conditions, so that you are better prepared to purchase new flowerhorns without having any regrets.
Overstocking Fish Tanks, Spacing Partitions and Water Quality
Imagine this, there is a sale and you have seen yet another magnificent kamfa worth buying and you can manage to add another partition to squeeze just 1 more Flowerhorn in your aquarium. Here are just a few things to consider when you are planning to purchase your next Flowerhorn.
1.Overstocked tanks are similar to time bombs that can go off when you least expect them to. There are various issues that commonly occur in tanks that are partitioned; partitions falling, flowerhorns jumping over the partition, inadequate space for each Flowerhorn and finally water quality deterioration due to inadequate filtration and water changes.
2.The bare minimum a fry needs to be raised into a beautiful and healthy adult is 20 gallons of water. As the fry grows, the space and quantity of water he needs will increase. The bare minimum each Flowerhorn requires when he reaches full size is 75 gallons of water. The tank that houses an adult Flowerhorn should be wide enough not to constrict it when it turns as repeated constricted movements can cause a bent spine. Flowerhorns can grow up to 12 -13 inches depending on the type of built, type of breed and the space they get.
3.Flowerhorns that jump partitions can be mauled to death by other flowerhorns. Similar situations can arise when partitions slip and flowerhorns from different compartments are allowed to interact.
4.An overstocked tank will affect the water quality in more than just 1 way. Each Flowerhorn you add to the tank will increase the ammonia levels of the water, which will in turn increase the chances of diseases if the tank is not cleaned often. The clarity of the water will be affected as well.
5.The number of filters and air pumps that have to be used will increase. Your electricity bill might spike up, if you are using heaters that are switched on for 24 hours, 7 days a week.
Here are just a few suggestions and solutions to help making fish keeping more enjoyable not only for you but also for your prized flowerhorns.
Plan ahead and Stock Your Tanks Wisely
1.Instead of overstocking tanks, adding too many partitions, look for a permanent housing option for each of your Flowerhorn. Raising a fry in a 75 gallons tank might seem like overkill, but it will ensure that in the future you do not have to worry about space issues, filtration issues, water quality and other things that might make keeping fish a sore that you cannot seem to get rid of.
2.A fry in a 75 gallon tank can and will grow faster while being healthy as the fry will have the needed space to grow. He will also have prime water conditions and will be at a reduced risk of illness and injury.
If Partitions Are Your Choice, then Play Safe and Act with Caution
1.If you choose to partition your tanks, then use partitions wisely. Use dividers with suction cups that are strong and durable. If you feel that 2 partitions will hold the glass, then add an additional 2 dividers to ensure that your prized and expensive flowerhorns survive. Keep the water level 3 inches below what you feel is right as flowerhorns jump.
2.Each partition should be well spaced, well filtered and heated. Following the 25-30 gallons per fry rule is a good way to start; however, ensure that the spacing between the partition increases as the Flowerhorn grow in length and width. If possible get partitions with holes drilled into them. The holes should not be too big, too small and too many. Choosing an acrylic partition with 6- 12 holes should suffice.
3.If you are planning to invest in customized filters, then a filter has more capacity than what you feel is needed. Filtering a tad bit more than the norm, is always better than under filtering. You can choose from external canister filters, trickle filters, overhead filters, submersible mini canister filters, sponge filters and 3 step filtration devices. Maybe choose a combination of 2 or more types of filters if you want to give your Flowerhorn, nothing but the best.
4.If possible, choose a filter that allows you to harvest more beneficial bacteria in the tank, choosing a variety of filter media such as bio-foam, bio-balls and dead coral can help. Use carbon filter pads with care, increased exposure to carbon filter pads can eventually strip the tank of the needed trace minerals that are naturally occurring in tank water.
5.Remember to clean your filters periodically. When you clean the filters, you will have to either use aged water or tank water to clean the filter media. Directly using tap water can cause the beneficial bacteria in the tank to decrease significantly. The general norm is that canister filters need to be cleaned less frequently as compared to other types of filters, however, use your judgment while following this norm.
6.Use multiple heaters of lesser wattage, this will ensure that if one heater fails, the other 2 heaters still work. Heater malfunctions are common in cheaper brands. Purchase heaters from a brand that you trust, this is a one-time investment that can save the lives of your prized and expensive flowerhorns.
7.Ammonia is a substance that is released into the tank water when a fish breathes, by taking in water through the gills, removing the needed oxygen from the water and letting out the remaining water that is not needed. Larger amounts of ammonia are released into the water when a fish poops. Uneaten food particles are another source of ammonia. Beneficial bacteria work by converting ammonia which is the most harmful toxin, into nitrites which are dangerous at a lesser degree to finally nitrates which are the least dangerous toxins in the nitrogen cycle.
8.Your tank can complete the nitrogen cycle in 4-8 weeks depending on how many fish you have in it and what method of cycling do you use. Adding bacteria to the fish tank without any fish in it is known as the fishless cycle, it can quicken the process of the nitrogen cycle and is recommended for hobbyists who do not want to stress out their flowerhorns while the tank completes the 3 step cycle. Water changes have to be performed when the aquarium is going through the nitrogen cycle, as water changes will control the amounts of the toxins in the tank as the cycle is progressing from ammonia to just nitrates.
9.Fix a weekly water changes schedule and stick to it, no exceptions. As far as possible, change a minimum of 30% water in your tank twice a week, do not exceed changing more than 50% water in your tank in the same day. Using a test kit will help you understand the levels of the 3 toxin in your tank, and how to lower these levels in a safe and effective way. Twice a week water changes are an excellent idea; however if you are in doubt then buy a test kit today. Test kits are the optimal way to know the level of ammonia, nitrites and nitrate levels in your fish tank. Once you get a hang of things, you can choose if you want to invest in test kits, or wing it, but until you are an advanced fish keeper, stick to using test kits. Test kits are best used before you perform a water change.
10.The amount of water you change will directly affect the health of your Flowerhorn. Small and frequent water changes are better than large water changes that are performed once in a way. Large water changes not only shock your Flowerhorn but also the beneficial bacteria in the tank. Large water changes that are performed once in a blue moon, can also cause your Flowerhorn to fall ill, as by the time the water is changed in the aquarium, the nitrate levels would have built up significantly.
Bottom Line
Fish keeping is indeed a beautiful thing where you can raise some of the finest flowerhorns there are, provided you maintain water parameters. Remember, MTS is not something people will frown upon, provided you have the needed space and can maintain the required water parameters to ensure that your fish thrive in their home.
