Fry tank

[glolite]

Set up a fry tank for my baby guppies about a week ago. It's about 9 gallons and has a heater and filter but no lighting yet. It is a plastic tank and I wonder if it's safe to use heating and light. May sound like a dumb question but it is quite a nice little tank for this purpose. )

 

[sylvia]

It's safe; just monitor the temp.

 

[glolite]

Thanks Sylvia
Fry up an' away!!! (If I can catch them)

 

[Angry_Platy]

Yeah...fry don't need light. They may feel more secure with it.

 

[Ava_Banana]

I needed a light in my 15L tank, but didn't want to go out and buy anything.

So I made my own out of a few bits I had around in the garage.

I connected three 12 v bulbs (from the instrument panel of an old car I used to have) in parallel, and fixed them inside an old "nightlight" case that I stripped the insides out of.

Then I connected a "transformer" (power supply off an old modem running at 9V) to it and wired a switch that hangs just outside the lid of the tank.

Hey presto!

I screwed the light housing onto the underneath of the clearseal lid of my tiny tank.

The light isn't too bright, but gives a nice glow. There are places where tiny fry can hide in the shadows, but bright places too.

 

[sylvia]

Cool! I can't do DIY Lights in a fry tank don't just offer security or heat though (well I think darkness offers more security to fish...), it also helps them see where their food is But it isn't necessary

 

[guppymonkey]

Lighting is essential for proper growth in most fish. The fry will eat more if the light is on. If the light is on constantly they will eat all the time (not that they won't eat without the light on though!)

 

[sylvia]

Well you obviously can't keep them in the dark but IME ordinary house lights are all you need.

 

[glolite]

Well folks, I went to the LFS and got a small fluorescent tube and starter unit, seemed safest. Trouble is, while looking round there was a lucky dip tank, 10 baby fish for a pound. Toooo much temptation. So my fry tank has a little selection of what looks like baby dalmation mollies/platies, baby guppy male with a pretty red tail, a couple of neon tetras with red bellies and a couple of tiny fish which I can't identify yet. They're such babies that they won't eat the fry and might give some company. Oh heck, now I need another tank. Where will this end

 

[newfishies]

i've never heard of a lucky dip tank!! that's a kinda cool idea

 

[glolite]

Yeah! Good fun I think they might be hybrids that the LFS can't sell at the regular price. They are quite unusual colours.