Tank Setup

[lure_muncher]

G'day guys,

I may be setting up a 3ft 120 litre tank. My uncle may be giving it to me anytime now, I want to set it up for a cod fingerling/s. Could you guys give me some helpful ideas on setting up a natural enviroment (reeds, food etc.) Pictures would be nice.

Cheers

[wilson]

Hey lure-muncher,

In cod you mean murray cod??

If so i have a cousin that kept one and can recommend good food to feed them.

will

[lure_muncher]

Yeah mate, Murray Cod.

I am thinking about getting 2 murray cod fingerlings.

[Gutsy]

You should be careful having 2 cod, becuase like barramundi they are predatory fish and more likely to survive better if single. In your tank you can put in river sand and an old hollow log. Soak this for a few days with the filter on, then test ph levels before adding your fish. Don't just throw your fish in either, if purchased from an aquarium in a plastic bag you should gradually add the tank water to the bag floating in there till the fish becomes accustom to it. Better survival rates that way.

Hope that helps.

Cheers.

[Signor Squidgee]

lure_muncher, I have a Murray Cod in a tank and it certainly is a talking point and visitors love him.

Not sure if a 3ft tank would be suitable. They grow very quickly and will soon outgrow the 3ft tank.... say 12 months !!!

You will also need to consider the thickness of the glass. The good old Murray Cod can be very strong, especially when he is chasing food around the tank.

As far as food is concerned I have found that he will only eat live food.... have never been able to get him to eat pellets but that's probably because I spoil him with live yabbies, scrub worms, meal worms, goldfish, etc.

Keep the tank simple. Putting plants I have found a waste of time. They will never stay long enough in the gravel to enjoy.

If you live in Melbourne, the Rayone Aquarium in Preston has some great artificial landscapes and logs. This prevents the water getting a tannen stain in the water. It also provides good cover.

Gutsy is 100% correct. Forget about having 2 cod in the tank. You will wake one day to find you only have one cod and that one is probably injured also.

Anyway, a Murray Cod is a great specimen fish to have and they are bloody exciting to watch when they smash a yabby.

Enjoy !!!

[lure_muncher]

Cheers guys,

I'll probaly have the 3ft tank for a coupla months until I can afford 6ft tank....does anyone know what price I could be looking at for a 6 footer.

I am only 13 so I don't have alot of $$$

[Signor Squidgee]

Your best bet would be to by a 2nd hand one, say in the Trading Post. Just make sure it has good filtration as they crap a fair bit.

If you are feeding yabbies ensure you take out any uneaten bits....claws, etc as this will only soil the water and increase the acidity in the water.

Also ensure you do your water chages often. At least 30% change every two weeks should help.

It may sound like a bit of work but it's worth it.

I have mine eating out of my hand now and it's great.

[lure_muncher]

Cheers Signor,

[wilson]

lure_muncher,

Yeah i am 15, i saved up and got a 2nd hand 4 footer when i was 13. A 3 foot tank will be fine if you get it as a fingerling, and as long as the cod has somewhere to go when it gets a bit large (ie farm dam)

A free and easy food source is if you live near a river, go down, find a weedbed and scrape a small aquarium net through. You will catch lots of shrimp which are a top food for cod. I feed these to my trout.

You will have heaps of fun feeding it all sorts of live food. And yeah for sure only keep 1, they are happy alone anyways.

will

[lure_muncher]

Thanks Will,

do you reckon they'll eat mosquito fish?

How can I check the ph levels in the tank?

[Conehead]

I used to keep goodoos. Very cool fish. I had a few at around 40mm. Also had a couple of silvers, a golden, cuppla bass and tandans. I fed all my natives shrimp and bloodworm. Fish get so much bigger when they eat livies. The cod try and eat it but when they do, they just regurgitate it for some reason.

Once your cod get bigger there is no point putting vegetation in the aquarium as the cod will just rip them out. Just put some drift wood and large rocks with lots of crevices in them in the tank aswell as gravel mixed 50/50 with some sand. Always makes the tank look nice and natural. Make sure when you get the sand just make sure there is no excess salt in the sand. Drain and sort of seve it first before you put it into the tank.

What sort of filter are you going to be running in your tank? I'd suggest a gravel filter for natives. Your temeperature should probably be around 20 degrees.

Just thought I'd give you a few ideas.

Ryan.

[wilson]

lure-muncher,

When they get a bit bigger they should BELT mosquito fish

For when they are small, mosquito larvae are a good food. And all you need is a bucketful of water left around the house for a while, and net them out.. Too easy.

U can get ph test kits from pet/aquarium shops. They don't cost much.

will

[lure_muncher]

I saw a 4ft tank with a gravel filter for $60 in the trading post...

Hey Ryan
will a golden get along with a cod...if it is bigger?

[wilson]

I will be interested to hear ryans response, but i would think not.

I don't think a cod would get along with much at all, when it grows a bit especially, even if another fish is bigger. Maybe tandans?? as they just kind of mind their own business.

BTW, that tank is a pretty damn good buy, so long as it doesn't have any scratches or anything.

will

[User Removed]

keep your cods tank simple i have one thats about 45cm dont get a unde water gravel filter as the muck stays in the tank get an external filter that keeps all the cr#p out of the tank. my tank is 2,2,6 and i have a very small amount of gravel just say 2cm so it covers the glass and one big terracotta pot. i also have a air line that just keeps the water more airrated. mine dosent like the sun so maybe make shore it isnt in direct sun.
my 2 cents worth