Fry And Cycling Stuff

[HeatherW]

I had 2 batches of fry last night.

One in a trap and the other in the tank.

I have 5 from the trap and 10 I caught in the tank together in the trap now.
There are plastic plants in the trap. The others are still scaring them through the plastic walls.

I'd still like to get them out of there and into the 3 US gallon to grow up more.
Problem: The nitrites are again too high in the fry tank.

It has been fishless with a filter.
I can change water, but that won't guarantee nitrites will stay low, especially if I add the fry.
Last week I added a product called "Cycle" to the fry tank to establish beneficial bacteria.

I should have taken the advice to run the small filter with the large tank.
I will now do that. But, how long will it take?
Also, should I change the media of the small filter before running in large tank.

I need the quickest way to get the water stabilized in the fry tank.

Also, should I wait until they are a few days older to change them to the fry tank?
I plan to acclimate with a ziploc bag (plastic).

Thanks,
Heather

 

[Weaver]

If it was me I would buy a breeding net to give them a bit more room in the main tank.I would move the small filter into the big tank and run it for another week.I wouldnt change any of the filtermedia as it sounds as if the cycle had kicked off and the beneficial bacteria has started to colonise the small filter.The fry will certainly survive a week or 2 in a breeding net.
Alternately you could cut a piece off the media from the filter in your established tank and put it in the cycling one which would speed things up a bit.Either way I wouldnt risk putting the fry into your fry tank yet

 

[HeatherW]

Thanks for the reply.

The breeding trap floats and is bigger than breeding nets are.

The small filter has disposable cartiridges with all the media combined, so I can't add from the main filter.

But I'll run in in the main tank a week and leave the fry for now to get stronger.

Thanks,
Heather

And how will I know when the filter is sufficiently ready?
Just after a week move it back with water from the main tank?

 

[Weaver]

Usually if Im cloning a tank I leave the filters running for 2 weeks.Your fry should be fine in the trap for that length of time.The longer you can leave it the better and if you can leave it the fortnight do.Ive never had any problems if I have left them for this time.
You will end up cleaning and doing water changes more regularly in the fry tank anyway as there is usually a lot of uneaten flake and so will lessen any chances of problems with the water .
Your filter probably could go into the fry tank after a week due to the bacteria having started to grow but if your trap is big enough I would just leave everything in the main tank for the fortnight.
I used about a third water from the main tank and the rest was fresh.I dont think its strictly neccessary to use the main tank water but I read in the forum that is good for the fish to have familiar water.
BTW this is all from my somewhat limited experience and if anyone has any better ideas Im sure they will post them.