how do you clean a fry tank?

[sunniesunn]

Hi got a quick question how do I clean my 5 gallon fry tank ? There is some fluffy looking stuff growing on the rocks and the fry are nibbling at it can I vacuum the gravel or do a water change or should I just leave it alone for now. There is also some baby apple snails in there I found in my other tank when I was cleaning it could they be what caused the fluffy stuff ?

 

[Annastasia]

Yes, you should be able to do a water change. It will be better for your fry to have clean water. I always was just really really careful when I cleaned the gravel. What I always did was go to the spot I wanted to clean, and used my hand to kind of move the fry away. It seemed to work too.

As for the Apple snails and the fluffy stuff, I don't know much about Apple snails, but I don't think they could have caused it. Could it be fungus? Or maybe algae?

 

[snowyangel]

Double post

 

[snowyangel]

If you don't have a small syphon to extract water out, just use a turkey baster instead. Also if you feed the fry(not too much) while your doing a water change, all the fry will come to the top leaving you with a bare bottom to easily clean.

Your "fluffy stuff" I'm guessing is algae(is it green?), possibly hair algae. Fry will gladly eat off the algae because small bacteria grows off it thats small enough for fry to eat, but removing it won't be starving your fry either. I think it's better to keep your tank algae free.

 

[sunniesunn]

the fluffy stuff is is a reallt light color it might even be white it is see thru??? and my fry are a week old they haven't came to the top yet they stay on the bottom and really haven't gotten even to the middle of the tank yet? is this normal?

 

[guppy_man]

sunniesunn it was you i was talking to a couple of days ago when your mollie was giving birth wasnt it?

how long have the fry been in the tank ?

 

[sunniesunn]

Hi yea I think we talked the day they were born they are little platy fry that have been in the tank for a week now got any suggestions on what to do? They seem happy regardless of the fluffy stuff..........

 

[guppy_man]

i have fluffy stuff in mine too about a cm long its been there for about 3 days i got rid of sum by just scooping it out and for the fry they will be up by the top of the water soon they just havent got enough strength to keep afloat, ive had my guppy fry in my 5 gal tank for 3 weeks i think the fluffy stuff is algea because my fry tank is opposite my bedroom window and sunlight causes algea but i think it will be fine

how many did she have after the platie mum the last time i spoke to you, you counted 17 i think anymore?

 

[sunniesunn]

she ended up having 21 fry and she died the next morning I think all the stress of moving her around got to her........ I have counted atleast 9 swimming around when I go to feed there might be more but doubtfull..... is it ok that the fry are nibbling at the fluffy stuff it looks like there might be some food caught in it?

 

[guppy_man]

well in the wild they live in streams and lakes and rivers so there is bound to be algea in there so i would of thought that it would be ok for them to nipple on it mine are doing ok with that fluffy stuff in.