Growout tank sizing questions

[landlord]

Hey guys/gals,

Been spending some time gathering ideas for a proper growout system. The wife is "done" with the operation currently in the Living Room. I dropped a bomb on her and explained that I needed a "few" more tanks for growout. Should have went to the jewelry store first :lol: In any case I have decided that there is not going to be an economical way for me to try and construct a system that will meet Living Room quality standards. There are just too many messes to be made. So the larval and growout portions will be moved to the basement. I'll focus on some nice broodstock tanks upstairs, but even that is up in the air.

With that said my questions really start with:

1. Can you take clowns to a marketable size in 10 gallon tanks? If so, please guess-timate the amount of fish that can be housed in each of these tanks? Understanding that this can be species specific, but ballpark it please.

2. Would you have rather done 15's, or even larger? If so, explain

I'm leaning towards a rack with two shelves, 4 tanks per shelf. Trying to get about 12 inches of clearance between the tank tops on the lower shelf to the light fixture on the bottom of the upper shelf. Room underneath for a Rubbmaid tub style sump. Larval tanks (standalone) on a simple table top style rack separate from the main rack, at waist high. I learned my lesson with larval tanks 5 feet off the ground. PITA!

Thanks again for reading and your answers / comments are always appreciated.

Kurt

 

[rkelman]

I use 15's for growout and 10's for larvae. I like the 15's. I think you can get them to saleable size in a 10 for sure but not nearly as many as you can cram in a 15. Mine are 6-9 months before saleable I would say.

 

[landlord]

rkelman - How many 6-9 month old fish are you sustaining in your growout tanks, more than 50, 75, 100

I guess the price difference between the two sizes isn't a big deal but space in the room I've got is always an issue.

Thanks --Kurt

 

[rkelman]

200-400 Kurt. My larger batches aren't at full size yet so I may have to thin them out a bit.

 

[landlord]

Holy Hannah!

I'm also guessing that drilling a 15 is probably a little less sketchy than drilling a 10.

Thanks

 

[rkelman]

Yes for sure it is. I have had a couple cracked tanks.. Now I'm putting a piece of 1/4" glass in the bottom and drilling it as well so the bottom is stronger. What a pita...

 

[Grunt]

I've been thinking about setting up 20 gal black round tubs from the farm store.

I think it depends on how many you plan to keep in each. I know fishboy does quite well with 10gals. Not sure on his numbers though.

What are your opinions on running a UV on growouts?

 

[rkelman]

The black tubs have been used with success. It would be an interesting project. I believe Fishboy's new system is all 15g growouts. I think UV is a great idea. If I ever get off my butt and get a new bulb / sleeve I will be running UV.

 

[Grunt]

Yeah Im not sure, I havent pestered him for information in a long time

I have to figure what I'm going to do also. It also depends on how much the wife will allow

 

[landlord]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15060795#post15060795 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Grunt
It also depends on how much the wife will allow

I whole heartedly concur with the above statement!