Need to build a tank for 3 foot Monster Pacu.

[deezdrama05]

Hello everyone this is my first post. I joined a forum to get advice from someone with much more knowledge of keeping fish than I have. Right now i have a pacu in a 20 gallon tank. He is only around 6 inches long but growing quickly. I just seen another pacu at a local aquarium store that was 2 feet long and bigger than my one year old daughter!!!!! He was in a 260 gallon tank and was told that he was outgrowing it!!!!!!! So heres my problem, instead of every 6 months having to buy a new bigger tank for my ever growing pacu I decided to build a 300 gallon plywood/epoxy/glass tank. I have found several tutorials on this tank and building it will not be a problem. Does anyone have any experiences with a tank like this or have any suggestions? What kind of filtration system should I need/use. And any other info would be appreciated as i never have kept a huge tank like this before.

 

[Toirtis]

Try again...you are going to need to at least triple that tank size for an adult pacu......personally, I would go no less than 1500 gallons. If you wish, I can put in in contact with someone who has built one (3300 gallons, in their case) specifically for their adult pacu.

 

[mr86mister]

take a look at it this way, 300 gallons is ALOT of tank, but with his maximum size potential, its probably the equivalent to us living our whole life in a small room, if you love it enough and anything like me...you'll do whatever you need to keep the fish happy, i agree with toirtis...an insanely large aquarium is needed for this boisturous fish

 

[Toirtis]

take a look at it this way, 300 gallons is ALOT of tank, but with his maximum size potential, its probably the equivalent to us living our whole life in a small room,

More like in a smallish closet......we are talking about a fish that resembles a large manhole cover....and a fish that likes room to swim about.....and too small of a tank will have him bashing into the ends, damaging himself or the glass.

Here is what you want to aim for....a 3300 gallon tank built specifically for a pacu by an acquaintance of mine:

 

[ace1uno_00]

OMG i never realized Pacus could grow to such a giant size. Those are nice fish but i dont think i could ever have a tank that big.

 

[RoK]

How the heck do you maintain a tank that big?

 

[Guest]

my question is, why do they sell pacu's at a fish store if they have to have a tank that big? I have seen pacu's for sale at walmart where they have 5 or 6 in a tank that can't be more than 10 gallons.

 

[Toirtis]

my question is, why do they sell pacu's at a fish store if they have to have a tank that big?

Because they can profit from doing so....sadly, most shops are 100% about profit, not ethics.

 

[black udder]

Here's a link to some really big fish (pacu is first). Explains why you'll want some space.

http://s9.invisionfree.com/Canadian_Aquatics/index.php?showtopic=31

This guy has grabbed some photos of fish that are sold which no doubt shouldn't be.