Breeding With

[dcarmor927]

is there a filter system that i should be using while trying to breed either Tiger Barbs or Kribensis Chichlids? I would be using a ten gallon tank, right now i have a cheap external filter on it now, but heard that sponge filters are better because of the water flow...I put a piece of plastic over the water output to divert the strength...its pretty calm but was wondering if a sponge filter is recommended? Thanks for any help!

 

[helterskelter]

Sponge filters are best for breeding as the fry will find microscopic foods on the sponge and this is an ideal first food for the fry.

Kribensis though dose not matter so much the fry are much larger and almost able to eat flake foods crushed by the parents.

If you want to breed fish then you should also read up on hatching your own brine shrimp as this is a perfect food for larger fry.

 

[dcarmor927]

does the sponge filter cycle like a standard HOB filter? Thanks for the reply?

 

[helterskelter]

Well with a breeding tank you don't have any décor or gravel anyway so their is very little surface area and with a bioload on almost 0 all you need is the sponge filter in a breeding tank.

What most breeders do is keep a tank running with several sponge filter running all the time, then once the tank is cleaned use carbon filtered tank water to fill the tank, add the already matured sponge filter and spawning media and add the fish.


With kribs just run the tank with sponge filters all the time, having 1 or 2 filters running or have a large discus sponge filter to add the extra surface area.

 

[dcarmor927]

Alright, thanks for the info!

 

[dcarmor927]

This is the sponge filter i got, it is rated for up to a 25 gallon tank...it doesnt seem like it really has an affect...the air just goes down then right back up...is that all its supposed to do??? thanks!

 

[Tolak]

That's all it's supposed to do. Sponge filters are mainly bio filters, as you can see with the low flow there is no place for fry to get stuck.

As the air rises it moves water from the bottom to the top. The water has to enter the bottom of the tube from somewhere. It flows through the sponge to get to the bottom of the tube, using the sponge as bio media in the process.

I run sponge filters in everything from 2.5 gallon tanks to 150 gallon tubs.

 

[dcarmor927]

Sweet! thats what i thought was happening, it just seemed so low flow that nothing was really going on...thanks for the info...I'm running it in my 55 gallon for a few days so that it can get matured, Thanks for the reply!

 

[Tolak]

I keep spares running in larger tanks all the time, pop them in breeding or fry tanks as needed.

 

[dcarmor927]

I'll keep it in my 55 when im not using it, Thanks!

 

[helterskelter]

Yep that the thing you want for breeding, Good luck with it all will be interesting to see what results u get.

 

[dcarmor927]

thanks alot! im thinking about doing a journal just so i can get any pointers...