[readingbabelfish]

I just got my five inch rhom on thursday. I put him in my 55g tank with my five 3 inch rbp. He must still be getting used to his tank because he has not eaten yet. Its going on four days and all he does is sit in the corner. All the rbp stay away from him or move when he comes around. I am waiting to make sure the rhom will live before I get rid of the rbp. If any of you have rhoms, is this normal? Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

 

[jdk79]

HI... If your rhom lived this long he is gonna do fine. I would get the reds out right away. You don't want them fighting and one getting half ripped apart by the rhom. Then it'll be hard to get rid of that red. Your Rhom should lighten up in a week or so. I got a 3 incher a month ago and the first week or so he was real shy. But now when I throw him something to eat he doesn't let it hit the bottom.
Good luck

 

[Innes]

move the reds!

 

[sccavee]

Yep if you can move the reds or move the Rhom. a 5" Rhom with 3" reds is going to be problems very soon.

 

[Winkyee]

I'd move them, nothing good can come from letting it go any longer.

 

[readingbabelfish]

One of my friends said that the rhoms hate light. i have a whole bunch of live plants in there and cannot turn off the lights. Also I have noticed that my gravel is turning brown like rust almost. I don't know what is going on. Also my nitrites are registering on the scale. No ammonia and plenty of nitrates, I don't know what the heck is going on. I think that the rhom is intimidated by the rbps. I would hate to get rid of the reds and have the rhom die. Also, with the lighting situation, my reds got used to the light. Do you think that the rhom will get used to it also? I wonder if the rbp will try to eat the rhom? Thank you!

 

[readingbabelfish]

Now I am seeing algae blooms. I even have a uv sterilizer! Wtf! This is almost enough to make me give up. I have tried to provide my fish with the best equipment available. Back to this brown crap, it almost looks as though it is bacteria that has died. It is wierd. On my decorations it really looks bad. I don't know what to do. Please Help!

 

[icepick36m]

just curious...what kind of filtratrion do you have.Do you have a powerhead or something to put a little current in your tank.My 4" black rhom stays hidden alot when the light is on,but when the lights go out,he swims all around the tank.I put plants right in the corner and a bunch of them all around the tank,that way he can't stay right in the corner,but has plenty of places to hide in the middle of the tank.Hope this helps.

 

[pcrose]

move the reds!

He is getting use to his new home.

 

[readingbabelfish]

I have a wet/dry filter. Also I have a spray bar that sends the current all along the back of the tank.

 

[Innes]

you don't need to worry, the brown stuff is algea, and it happens in all tanks.
for the nitrites and nitrates do a water change.
as for the Rhom and reds, the reds might eat the rhom, the rhom might eat the reds - either way you will have less fish, so move one.
If you are worried that you might be left with no fish - get another tank for the rhom, it is only 5" and will grow very slowly, you can put it in a smaller tank than 55 gallons, or put up a divider in the 55 gallon between the rhom and the reds.
and as for the light - don't worry about the plants, they are cheap, and can be replaced easily, also they grow well without artificial lights (as proven in my goldfish tank, where plants last longer than any of my other tanks - and no lights!)
and if you have your light on less, you will not get so much algea.

 

[readingbabelfish]

What about putting the rhom into a 20 tall tank? Would that work?

 

[Grosse Gurke]

What about putting the rhom into a 20 tall tank? Would that work?

That is better than leaving him in with the reds. He could last a while in there but a 20 long or a 29 would be better because of the larger foot print.

 

[Innes]

What about putting the rhom into a 20 tall tank? Would that work?

That is better than leaving him in with the reds. He could last a while in there but a 20 long or a 29 would be better because of the larger foot print.

agreed

 

[readingbabelfish]

ok, guys. I just put him in the 20 gallon tall. He just sank to the botttom and is sitting there. I am leaving the light off for a few days so he can get used to the tank. I wrapped electrical tape around the bulb so he will have even less light. There is not much room in there because i put a huge cave for him to go and hide in. I also have fake plants in there. There are a few guppys and a small firemouth cichlid in there. I don' t think these will be any problem. I just hope he survives his 2nd tank change in four days. But there are no nitrites in this tank at all. So maybe he will do better. How long do you think he could stay in there? He is between 4 and 5 inches. I have the temp about 78 degrees right now. I hope he does alright. Thanks for all the help you guys! I really appreciate it.

 

[Grosse Gurke]

I think he will let you know when he needs more room. I would say around 5-6" you may want to get him a 55.

 

[readingbabelfish]

Yay!!! I woke up this morning to find that my bumblebee cichlid was missing his rear half of his body!!! Yay!!! My rhom has eaten his first meal! Also noticed some of the guppies were missing!! I think getting him away from the reds into a less aggressive tank was a key idea. He still just hides in the cave, but that is fine with me. He will get used to the tank after a while and start being more sociable!!! Thank you all so much for the valuable, priceless input!!
Jason

 

[Xenon]

I am glad to see its doing better. What is the footprint on the 20g tall? I think you might want to start exploring a better tank for your fine specimen. How about some pics? Anyways, good work seperating the fish, dont get too down on yourself about the nitrites and algae, it happens to everyone.

 

[RhomZilla]

To tell you the truth, I remember a thread one time (dont know if it was in PFury or PFish) that one guy had his Rhom in a 100+ gal tank with a bunch of reds. The Rhom didnt shoal with the reds but made his own territory in the end of the tank which the RBs wouldnt dare come close to.

May be possible, but I would not dare try because of past histories of casualties involving Rhoms, nor the sense of what RB shoals can do to an outcast.