Thoughts on Macaw in same room as Tank?

[SeaPirate]

I will try to give as much detail as possible and I am wondering if anyone has experience with the situation.

I used to have a 150g Saltwater tank more than 20 years ago. Want to get back into the hobby and I am considering a Red Sea Max S-650 or Reefer S-850. Both have lights that attach to the top rim. I also have an 18 year old Greenwing Macaw. Both the tank and the cage will be in the same room. I also have multiple high grade air filters that keep "bird dust" to a minimum. My Macaw ("Scooter") spends a good bit of time in his large cage. He is NEVER out of the cage unattended and he very seldom even come down from his cage unless he's on my shoulder. I'm not at all worried about him "messing" with the tank. (I don't think he would ever go fishing and it is highly unlikely that he would be able to perch above the tank and leave any "presents" in the tank water).

Nevertheless, I will certainly put a net on top of either tank to prevent any fish from jumping out. I am, however, a little worried about "bird dust" getting into the tank. On one hand, I think any dust may help with bacteria growth and most of it would get filtered out anyway it would be a very very small amount, with the Air Purifiers and I get very little dust in the room), on the other hand I want to make sure I would not have any issues with water quality (in terms of more material that would turn into ammonia, I'm sure the good bacteria would take care of the Nitrogen Cycle, I just don't want to be doing water changes every couple of days should the Nitrates get too high).

I'm just wondering if any reefers here also have at least one large bird in the same room as their tank and if you have seen any problems with filtration on an open tank. putting a glass or acrylic top on the tank would be an option, but it is expensive to have it custom built. I only would want to put a top on the tank if there are any known problems with the configuration I described above.

 

[SaltyT]

Welcome to R2R!

Beautiful bird! I've never had a macaw but I've had a yellow-naped amazon so I know what you mean by bird dust. The dust won't affect water quality, but I guess it could make your skimmer overreact on occasion if the cage is right next to your tank. Your tank will be fine

 

[Soren]

I don't have experience myself with this concern, but I think @Lost in the Sauce has reefs and bird(s), though I'm not sure if they are in the same room.

 

[dvgyfresh]

I would say you are more prepared than necessary. Are they any windows in the room?

 

[X-37B]

In the 90' I had a blue and gold and a 100 gallon reef system for 7 years with no issues. His wings were clipped just enough to break his fall. When I was home he was out and spent most of the time on the top of his cage or with me.

You dont want them anywhere near the tank as you know what they can do with their beak.

I also has a large 8x6x6 outside cage he spent alot of time in during the summer.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have plenty of experience. The dust you mentioned is bird dander and amazons are heavy in dadnder. Larger amazons and Macaw can cover an entire room in under a monh which suggests, the same can or may happen to your tank

 

[SeaPirate]

Welcome to R2R!

Beautiful bird! I've never had a macaw but I've had a yellow-naped amazon so I know what you mean by bird dust. The dust won't affect water quality, but I guess it could make your skimmer overreact on occasion if the cage is right next to your tank. Your tank will be fine

 

[SeaPirate]

Thank you. Now just to make the decision on the Reefer S or Max S. Really looking for are to get back into this hobby.

 

[Tbg299]

I will try to give as much detail as possible and I am wondering if anyone has experience with the situation.

I used to have a 150g Saltwater tank more than 20 years ago. Want to get back into the hobby and I am considering a Red Sea Max S-650 or Reefer S-850. Both have lights that attach to the top rim. I also have an 18 year old Greenwing Macaw. Both the tank and the cage will be in the same room. I also have multiple high grade air filters that keep "bird dust" to a minimum. My Macaw ("Scooter") spends a good bit of time in his large cage. He is NEVER out of the cage unattended and he very seldom even come down from his cage unless he's on my shoulder. I'm not at all worried about him "messing" with the tank. (I don't think he would ever go fishing and it is highly unlikely that he would be able to perch above the tank and leave any "presents" in the tank water).

Nevertheless, I will certainly put a net on top of either tank to prevent any fish from jumping out. I am, however, a little worried about "bird dust" getting into the tank. On one hand, I think any dust may help with bacteria growth and most of it would get filtered out anyway it would be a very very small amount, with the Air Purifiers and I get very little dust in the room), on the other hand I want to make sure I would not have any issues with water quality (in terms of more material that would turn into ammonia, I'm sure the good bacteria would take care of the Nitrogen Cycle, I just don't want to be doing water changes every couple of days should the Nitrates get too high).

I'm just wondering if any reefers here also have at least one large bird in the same room as their tank and if you have seen any problems with filtration on an open tank. putting a glass or acrylic top on the tank would be an option, but it is expensive to have it custom built. I only would want to put a top on the tank if there are any known problems with the configuration I described above.

I have an African Grey, and he gets spooked by the lights if I walk over with him perched on my hand to my aquarium. As long as you don't bring him too close to the tank it shouldn't be an issue.

 

[OrchidMiss]

My 2 conures don't bother my tanks. My sun conure is SUPER curious about the fish though! And she will steal the fish food if you aren't looking.... But I haven't had any issues with them in the same room as my 20g!

 

[Samz]

I will try to give as much detail as possible and I am wondering if anyone has experience with the situation.

I used to have a 150g Saltwater tank more than 20 years ago. Want to get back into the hobby and I am considering a Red Sea Max S-650 or Reefer S-850. Both have lights that attach to the top rim. I also have an 18 year old Greenwing Macaw. Both the tank and the cage will be in the same room. I also have multiple high grade air filters that keep "bird dust" to a minimum. My Macaw ("Scooter") spends a good bit of time in his large cage. He is NEVER out of the cage unattended and he very seldom even come down from his cage unless he's on my shoulder. I'm not at all worried about him "messing" with the tank. (I don't think he would ever go fishing and it is highly unlikely that he would be able to perch above the tank and leave any "presents" in the tank water).

Nevertheless, I will certainly put a net on top of either tank to prevent any fish from jumping out. I am, however, a little worried about "bird dust" getting into the tank. On one hand, I think any dust may help with bacteria growth and most of it would get filtered out anyway it would be a very very small amount, with the Air Purifiers and I get very little dust in the room), on the other hand I want to make sure I would not have any issues with water quality (in terms of more material that would turn into ammonia, I'm sure the good bacteria would take care of the Nitrogen Cycle, I just don't want to be doing water changes every couple of days should the Nitrates get too high).

I'm just wondering if any reefers here also have at least one large bird in the same room as their tank and if you have seen any problems with filtration on an open tank. putting a glass or acrylic top on the tank would be an option, but it is expensive to have it custom built. I only would want to put a top on the tank if there are any known problems with the configuration I described above.

We have a green wing macaw and a triton cockatoo in the same room as my reef tank and a small freshwater shrimp tank and there's no problems. I do have the tank partially covered with glass lids at night but its an all in one so the filtration is always open. I do change water weekly but I don't notice anything strange in the water from bird dander or anything like that.

 

[SeaPirate]

I have plenty of experience. The dust you mentioned is bird dander and amazons are heavy in dadnder. Larger amazons and Macaw can cover an entire room in under a monh which suggests, the same can or may happen to your tank

Yep, that’s my concern. However, my air purification systems really keep the dander down. The entire room is actually a 900+ square foot finished basement man cave. 4 air purifiers each made for 500 square feet keep me from having to dust frequently, I d say the entire room is cleaner that most rooms with or without air purification. If I notice anything, I’ll put a canopy in and post here. I’m actually thinking the evaporation from the tank may help reduce dander due to dry air.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I can assure you - this dander gets into every nook and cranny. I owned a pet store for several years and our amazons spread this chalk like substance everywhere

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I will try to give as much detail as possible and I am wondering if anyone has experience with the situation.

I used to have a 150g Saltwater tank more than 20 years ago. Want to get back into the hobby and I am considering a Red Sea Max S-650 or Reefer S-850. Both have lights that attach to the top rim. I also have an 18 year old Greenwing Macaw. Both the tank and the cage will be in the same room. I also have multiple high grade air filters that keep "bird dust" to a minimum. My Macaw ("Scooter") spends a good bit of time in his large cage. He is NEVER out of the cage unattended and he very seldom even come down from his cage unless he's on my shoulder. I'm not at all worried about him "messing" with the tank. (I don't think he would ever go fishing and it is highly unlikely that he would be able to perch above the tank and leave any "presents" in the tank water).

Nevertheless, I will certainly put a net on top of either tank to prevent any fish from jumping out. I am, however, a little worried about "bird dust" getting into the tank. On one hand, I think any dust may help with bacteria growth and most of it would get filtered out anyway it would be a very very small amount, with the Air Purifiers and I get very little dust in the room), on the other hand I want to make sure I would not have any issues with water quality (in terms of more material that would turn into ammonia, I'm sure the good bacteria would take care of the Nitrogen Cycle, I just don't want to be doing water changes every couple of days should the Nitrates get too high).

I'm just wondering if any reefers here also have at least one large bird in the same room as their tank and if you have seen any problems with filtration on an open tank. putting a glass or acrylic top on the tank would be an option, but it is expensive to have it custom built. I only would want to put a top on the tank if there are any known problems with the configuration I described above.

Bird dust is the only thing I would be you worried about is something that can be easily controlled with filters like you have. Getting that our greater parrots Have extremely sensitive lungs, the clean air we keep for our tanks and equipment rooms would do well for them. Just as we don't like candles in the room with the bird you also don't want the tank.

 

[Brymac1]

The only thing I noticed when I had my umbrella/sulfur crested hybrid cockatoo in the same room as my tank is that my lights suck in a lot of dust because of the internal fans.

 

[Pistondog]

Our golden conure roams the room my tank is in.. He has plenty of other things in the room more interesting than the tank.

 

[OrchidMiss]

Our golden conure roams the room my tank is in.. He has plenty of other things in the room more interesting than the tank.

oooo do you have photos of him??

 

[OrchidMiss]

I will try to give as much detail as possible and I am wondering if anyone has experience with the situation.

I used to have a 150g Saltwater tank more than 20 years ago. Want to get back into the hobby and I am considering a Red Sea Max S-650 or Reefer S-850. Both have lights that attach to the top rim. I also have an 18 year old Greenwing Macaw. Both the tank and the cage will be in the same room. I also have multiple high grade air filters that keep "bird dust" to a minimum. My Macaw ("Scooter") spends a good bit of time in his large cage. He is NEVER out of the cage unattended and he very seldom even come down from his cage unless he's on my shoulder. I'm not at all worried about him "messing" with the tank. (I don't think he would ever go fishing and it is highly unlikely that he would be able to perch above the tank and leave any "presents" in the tank water).

Nevertheless, I will certainly put a net on top of either tank to prevent any fish from jumping out. I am, however, a little worried about "bird dust" getting into the tank. On one hand, I think any dust may help with bacteria growth and most of it would get filtered out anyway it would be a very very small amount, with the Air Purifiers and I get very little dust in the room), on the other hand I want to make sure I would not have any issues with water quality (in terms of more material that would turn into ammonia, I'm sure the good bacteria would take care of the Nitrogen Cycle, I just don't want to be doing water changes every couple of days should the Nitrates get too high).

I'm just wondering if any reefers here also have at least one large bird in the same room as their tank and if you have seen any problems with filtration on an open tank. putting a glass or acrylic top on the tank would be an option, but it is expensive to have it custom built. I only would want to put a top on the tank if there are any known problems with the configuration I described above.

Would love to see your Macaw!

 

[Pistondog]

oooo do you have photos of him??

 

[MaxTremors]

I had a blue fronted Amazon for many years. He was wild caught and at least 15 when I got him (he was assumed to be male by the people I rescued ‘him’ from, turned out to be female, but he was already kind of difficult being wild caught and somewhat neglected, so I didn’t want to change it, so she stayed a ‘he’, lol). He was supposedly unhandleable, but within two days of getting him, he was already stepping up onto my hand and sitting on my shoulder. I had worked for an avian vet all through high high school so I was pretty well versed with handling difficult parrots, he turned out to be a pretty great bird (but did have some problems, he was a neurotic feather picker, and as Amazons are kind of known for, he only liked me (absolutely hated my girlfriend). After having him around 10 years, I decided to give him to a bird sanctuary, I just couldn’t give him the time he deserved. But, man I miss him.

Anyway, long story long, I also had reef tanks during the entire time I had him, and from experience, the thing that would most concern me is having no lid or a flimsy lid and the bird drowning. When I worked at the avian vet there were several clients whose birds drowned in toilets, sinks, and even a couple in fish tanks. The issue isn’t so much that a bird might perch on the edge of the tank, it’s more birds that have clipped wings basically falling in when they attempt to fly. So, I would just be sure that your lid is secure and can hold some weight and withstand an impact.

I’ve been think of getting another bird lately, I have much more time to devote to one these days. I’ve always wanted a Hawkhead, a Goffin’s or Moluccan, a pair of Eclectuses, or the most unlikely a Hyacinth.