All My Fry Dead.

[ccskitten]

On the weekend I bought a little 17 litre marina tank and a 25w heater to home my 4 2week old molly fry in. I added mature media to the filter, let it run overnight and added the fry yesterday evening. This morning all 4 had been half sucked into the filter and had died. I am absolutely gutted. I had been trying for 5 months to rear some fry. These were the first babies I had managed to trap and now they are gone.

What can I do in the future to stop them getting sucked in?

I'm gutted!

 

[Duck and Dive]

I am sorry to hear that Mabye for future use try a small air powerd filter, or undergravel as the fry cannot be sucked in.

 

[nosoup4you]

Sorry to hear about your fry. In the future, wrap a piece of pantyhose around the filter intake and secure it with a rubber band.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

On the weekend I bought a little 17 litre marina tank and a 25w heater to home my 4 2week old molly fry in. I added mature media to the filter, let it run overnight and added the fry yesterday evening. This morning all 4 had been half sucked into the filter and had died. I am absolutely gutted. I had been trying for 5 months to rear some fry. These were the first babies I had managed to trap and now they are gone.

What can I do in the future to stop them getting sucked in?

I'm gutted!

sorry for ur loss

ure better to use sponge filters or box filters in fry tanks

 

[ccskitten]

The filter that came with it is a tiny sponge filter. It is not very powerful at all but I suppose after 2 weeks being cooped up in a breeding trap in my 180l the current was just too much for them.

Thank you for your replies. I will try putting some tights over the filter next time. Fingers crossed it doesn't take another 5 months for my next batch!!!

 

[rocknurworld2006]

The filter that came with it is a tiny sponge filter. It is not very powerful at all but I suppose after 2 weeks being cooped up in a breeding trap in my 180l the current was just too much for them.

Thank you for your replies. I will try putting some tights over the filter next time. Fingers crossed it doesn't take another 5 months for my next batch!!!

use a sponge filter like this

http/www.aquatics-direct.co.uk/images/pr...ts/xtra/219.jpg

 

[shaz-killie]

sorry about the fry but as above use a sponge filter like above and turn the air pressure down so it's letting about one bubble a second out

 

[ccskitten]

Oh right, do you just attach an air pump to it?

 

[rocknurworld2006]

Oh right, do you just attach an air pump to it?

yes

 

[ccskitten]

Excellent, sounds a bit safer. I will add one to my shopping list. Thank you guys for your help. Better luck next time hey!!!

 

[nosoup4you]

I run a large power filter (rated for 60 gallons) on my 20 gallon fry tank using the pantyhose method and have never had a problem. Having said that, sponge filters do work well with fry.

 

[OldMan47]

Sponge filters are nice for fry tanks but I find a correctly sized power filter does not threaten molly fry. Mollies are not weak sisters but are large robust fry. If you grossly over filter like some would recommend, that can get you in trouble with any fry. I have a group of molly fry born in a 10 gallon that is equipped with a filter for a 10 gallon. I don't lose newborn mollies to that filter. See the picture after 10 days.

You can clearly see the unprotected filter in the background. Even at that time they were small enough to slip right through the slots in the filter intake.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I agree with OldMan47, healthy fry should not get sucked into a standard filter. Ccskitten why did you let the filter run over night? With no fish to produce ammonia in the tank over that time, the filter bacteria would have started to starve.

 

[ccskitten]

I ran the tank overnight to check out the heater. I have heard so many horror stories i wanted to make sure it wasn't faulty before adding my fish. I added some flake food to make some amonia for the filter bacteria. I also did a water change before adding the fry.

I think after being stuck in a breeding trap for 2 weeks the fry just weren't strong enough to fight the current. They were fine until I switched the light off and then must have got sucked in whilst resting.

I have a platy that is starting to fatten up now. I'm imagining about 1-2 weeks to go. I'm thinking about moving the platy into the 17l to give birth. I am worried about stressing her as the tank is very small. What are your opinions on this? I'm thinking at least the fry will be born into an environment with a current and will get stronger quicker. If you think it is a good idea, when should I move her?

Thanks for your relpies guys.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I ran the tank overnight to check out the heater. I have heard so many horror stories i wanted to make sure it wasn't faulty before adding my fish. I added some flake food to make some amonia for the filter bacteria. I also did a water change before adding the fry.

Flake food is a really bad way to add ammonia to the tank, as when it starts to rot and produce ammonia it can also harbor some nasty fish diseases too like columnaris. Next time when you add fry to the fry tank, its better to squeeze some muck from your main filter into the fry tank filter and then run the fry tank filter in your main tank alongside its filter for a couple of days before transferring it to the fry tank when you are about to add the fry.
Also when you fill the fry tank up with water (which should be done on the day you are setting it up for the fry when you move them into it), take about 50% or more of the water from your current tank to help ensure the state of the water is as close to the water they have just been living in in the main tank.
You should also be careful when you acclimatise them to the tank- the process should be gradual & gentle. Floating them in a container in the fry tank, letting in a small quantity of its water into the container every 5 minutes or so for about 30mins, before finally gently releasing them in the tank is the best .