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The Misers guide to Native fish keeping
by
Robert Rice
A lot of us would like to Native keep fish. We enjoy
watching and learning about our local species but just
don't want to spend the kind of money the folks at the pet
store tell us we need to just for a basic tank. I have a
solution, treat those fish the way they deserve. Treat those
fish the natural way. You can have an inexpensive attractive
tank that is not high maintenance. Contrary to what they
tell you a power filter on the back of a tank is not
necessarily the best way to run a tank on a budget.
Power filters do a good job of pulling wastes and debris out
of the water but do not do a good job of Biological
filtration which is much more important. Think about it ,
how good for a tank can it be to have the water run
through a sponge full of fish wastes all day? So follow my
step by step plan and you will have a clean tank the envy
of the neighborhood.
First off stop buying retail. If you really are on a budget
keep you eyes open for used tanks and hoods at a garage
sale or the local paper. I make it a rule to never spend
more than 1$ a gallon for used setups. A setup must include
a tank and hood with lights. For tank stands I bridge the
tank between cinderblocks covered in sheets, curtains, or
whatever looks nice. Half used chemicals like pH up or
down or whatever go right in the garbage You do not know
the age or usefulness of these chemicals so get rid of them.
Besides we are on a budget and can't afford the extras ,
right? Now comes the placement of this tank. Anywhere is
fine as long as you stay away from windows and heat vents. I
have kept rows of tanks in my basement, garage and carport.
The second thing to do is to decide weather this is a tank
for shiners and darters or a sunfish tank. If it is a darter
/shiner tank you will need a powerhead and a undergravel
filter. The place to buy your undergravel filter and the
gravel is ,surprise, the chain hardware stores (Lowes,
Menards, Home Depot etc.) They have 50 pound bags of river
pea gravel in a variety of colors for about 2 -3
dollars. They intend it for landscaping purposes . However
with a scrubbing with the hose you've got your gravel.
They also sell a variety of plastic grids used for light
covers and what not for about 1-2 dollars. Take one of
those, cut it to fit and punch a hole for the powerhead
intake tube and you are in business. Of course old
undergravel filters and old powerheads are usually
available for a song at garage sales. So keep you eyes
peeled If it's a sunfish tank, all you need is a gravel
bed. Here's the trick you need a thick gravel bed. I like
about 6 inches be it for shiners, darters, or sunfish.
This gravel bed performs a very important purpose and
without it you will have a high maintenance tank. This bed
provides homes for the good guy bacteria that break down
fish wastes. This biological filtration breaks down wastes
and keeps the water fresh and pure. So get that gravel bed
going first.
Next step after you put 6 inches of gravel and the optional
powerhead setup. It's time to get creative. First off, go
ahead fill up your tank you might have to add one chemical
. Nowadays you just cant let water "age" like the old
days. The chemical complexity of chloramine makes water
unsuitable for fish until it is completely removed from
the water. You could call your water company and find out
if they use chloramine. Perhaps they just use chlorine. If
so you can then avoid the chemicals by letting the water
age 72 hours. If not use something that removes,.
chloramine, your choice of brands, but make it
inexpensive. OK you have your garage sale tank setting on
those charming cinder blocks. You placed it away from
windows and heat vents. It's full of water and gravel and
looks pretty good. Congratulations you are a third if the
way there.
It's time to take a look around and find a place tocollect
some plants. EEEK you say collect plants ! Yepwithout
suitable vegetation this whole mix will not work and you
would be forced to purchase (yuk) some more higher tech
equipment. Find some rooted plants that aretolerant of
lower light and grow well in cooler waters. In the
Native category watersprite, cabomba, elodea, and giant
val, come to mind. In the non Native category several types
of swords and Java fern fit the bill. You don't have to
"collect" all of them borrow a few from another tank or
from a friend. You will need 3 plants per gallon
ultimately. However for now 1 per gallon should get you
started. Go ahead and plant them in the tank. With that
thick gravel bed the plants should be easy to bury in the
bottom of the tank, completely covering their roots. It's
getting close to fish time.
Now you have waited a few days, set things up on a budget
and are pretty proud of what you've got going on. If you
have the powerhead option, turn it on. The lights should
stay on at least 10 hours a day. Biology should start
kicking in and things are starting to cook. Find the
healthiest tank you can find and beg , borrow or steal a
handful of gravel. Take the gravel and put it in your tank.
The old gravel will "seed" the tank. The good guy bacteria
will have the inside track on things. Now that you have done
the above it is time to add fish. You can add fish but not
many and not to fast. Start with either 1 sunfish or 4
darter/shiners. That's it.
OK you got your tank, your plants and your fish and suddenly
your tank gets cloudy, what's wrong ? Nothing, you are on
the right track. The cloud is caused by a bacteria bloom.
The seeded bacteria has found a new home and has gone to
town. In a few days things will clear up . You have your few
fish, your few plants what next ? Stick by your guns and do
NOT give in to your desire to feed the fishes three squares
a day. This set up is dependent upon a more natural food
schedule . Feed 2 times a week and that is it ! No more, in
nature fish get a large meal once a week or so and spend the
rest of their time nibbling on plants and what not. Simulate
that at home. Besides who wants to pay for all that extra
food anyway ? If all is going well after 2 weeks it is time
to add a few more fish. Remember how many you added a few
weeks back ? Add the same amount this time and continue
every three weeks or so until you reach the 1 sunfish per 3
gallons or the 1 shiner/darter per gallon limit.
Now comes the extremely difficult, time consuming
maintenance of this setup. Twice a month use a gravel vacuum
and remove 20% of the water while vacuuming r of the
gravel. A gravel vacuum for those who don't know is a siphon
with a big end and a small end .The big end gets pushed into
the gravel and the little end goes into the bucket. The
gravel pulls up about halfway up the big end and then falls
back while the dirt heads to the bucket. For a 20 gallon
tank this will take about 10 minutes. Exhausting isn't it?
At some point algae will build up on the tank. Go to the
grocery store pick up one of those plastic brillo pad
looking dish scrubbers. The ones without any soap or
chemicals on them please. When it is necessary, use it to
wipe the glass clean. That's it your tank maintenance is
done.
If the plants prosper and you don't get to crazy with the
food and the fish you are home free. With a little luck your
natives will thrive and perhaps even spawn. This low tech
setup has served me well I have kept and bred a great many
species in them with little expense or problems. I hope it
does the same for you . Until next time good luck and good
fishing!
Robert Rice
Help Preserve our Aquatic Heritage join the NFC
email us at NFC at actwin_com or Sunfishtalk at listbot_com
website http://nativefish.interspeed.net/
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