Fry Tank

[t.ropical_m.istx3]

i'm setting up my fry tank tonight and i was wondering if it would cycle quicker if i used some water and gravel from the main tank. i've had two of my female's for over a month and the one's HUGE. the other two i've had about two weeks and they're both huge. i just want to get the fry tank cycled just in case. i do have a breeder trap i can put them in for a few days until it's cycled if it comes to that. but would that mak it cycle quicker? and should i get some dainos to throw in there to cycle it or do a fishless cycle?

the middle pic in my sig is one of my guppies and two of them are much larger than she is.

 

[Tolak]

What size is the main tank, what size is the fry tank, how many of what fry do you plan on putting in the fry tank?

 

[t.ropical_m.istx3]

main's 10 gallons, i'm not sure of the size of the fry tank but its under 5 gallons and how every many fry live to be put in there once they out grow the breeder trap. i've never had pregnant guppies before so i've never had to set this up. i'll probably just take a few fry from each female to throw in the fry tank.

 

[Tolak]

Get a sponge filter, and pile a handful of mature gravel on the top. The flow of the sponge filter will pull enough water through the mature gravel to act as a bio filter. Use half tank water & half fresh water in the fry tank, set up the filter, and add the fry.

When the fry tank is not in use put the sponge filter in the main tank to keep it cycled.

 

[t.ropical_m.istx3]

it has a regular filter in there now. i was going to take it and cut one of my smaller nets and place the netting over the filter.

 

[Tolak]

Take some mature media from the cycled filter & add it to the fry filter. Sponge works better for a pre-filter. Sponge filters are best for fry tanks, less turbulance, and they grow infusoria which the fry can nibble through the day.

 

[t.ropical_m.istx3]

well the reason we used this tank was so we only had to buy a new wheel and filter...but the wheel doesn't fit so we're going to the store tomorrow to return the wheel and get another.

 

[Tolak]

Sponge filters are only a few dollars. They are air driven, and are cheaper than any bio wheel.

 

[t.ropical_m.istx3]

mk i'll think about it. when the babies aren't in it i may throw my glowlights in it just so i don't have to re-set it up every time my females get pregnant. or in other words, so it doesn't look empty when we're waiting for the fry.

 

[theotheragentm]

As long as you put some of the substrate from a mature tank into the fry tank, you should be okay. The more, the better. Fry don't make nearly as much waste as adult fish, so given time the bacteria will grow to keep up with waste the fry are making.