Raising Fry

[debbie888]

Hi all.

Well a couple of questions, I invested in a new tank for my fry as there was way too many for the box I had in my other tank, I used water from the tank to fill new tank...hope that was the correct thing to do?

Also have not added a filter to new tank as yet, was a bit worried it might suck some of the babies up? Should I add the filter? How often should I change the water?

Sorry feel like a pain, am always asking questions...lol.

Debbie

 

[rabbut]

A fry tank needs a very good filter at all times, as you will be feeding heavily to the point where you are almost overfeeding, but not quite, to get good growth rates. This will produce more ammonia, as the high-protien foods you should be feeding caurse the fish to produce more than adverage ammonia while digesting it. Without a filter, the fry will quickly be poisoned to death, especialy cince they are sencitive to poor water quality not good

I run all fry tanks of air driven sopnge filters. These are highly efficient, and produce low current. That makes them ideal for fry tanks, as the intake flow is slow enough for fry to escape. They are hard to "clone" from mature tanks though This means a fish-in cycle may be required, as you don't have time to fishless cycle on short notice Not ideal

To start with, I'd do daily waterchanges, arroung the 20-50% mark for the first 2 weeks or so, then cut back to 2 30% changes a week for the next month or two. After this, you can treat the tank like any other, with weekly 20-30% waterchanges.

These are just my ways of doing things. There is not fixed way to raise fry, and hardier spicies may not require as many waterchanges at the start. Large regular waterchanges though will reduce the time needed to get them to sellable size, thus reducing costs, making them more profitable. If money is not an issue here, then cutting back a little, to say 50% weekly for the first 2 months with hardy species.

HTH
Rabbut

 

[BigC]

I run all fry tanks of air driven sopnge filters.

Ditto
Varied diet, regular small waterchanges (I personally perform them 3 times a week) and above all cleanliness.
Best tool for cleaning fry tanks...A Meat/Turkey baster.
Regards
BigC

 

[AngelOfDeath]

I run all fry tanks of air driven sopnge filters.

Ditto
Varied diet, regular small waterchanges (I personally perform them 3 times a week) and above all cleanliness.
Best tool for cleaning fry tanks...A Meat/Turkey baster.
Regards
BigC

Can anyone tell me how sponge filters work, i am confused

I have a 6 gall fry tank and put a fluval 2 in, should i switch to a sponge then, how much do they cost?

 

[BigC]

Sponge filters are very cheap but you will need an air-pump.
Air is pumped down the tube and the bubbles make their way back up to the outlet (see pic, the sponge fits on the elbow at the bottom of the filter))
http/www.planetcatfish.com/images/full/_...tm/filter/1.jpg
thus forming the suction which draws free floating particles and detrius into the sponge. Always rinse the sponge in used aquarium water when you perform your waterchanges and not under the tap.

 

[debbie888]

Sponge filters are very cheap but you will need an air-pump.
Air is pumped down the tube and the bubbles make their way back up to the outlet (see pic, the sponge fits on the elbow at the bottom of the filter))
[URL="http/www.planetcatfish.com/images/full/_...tm/filter/1.jpg"]http/www.planetcatfish.com/images/full/_...tm/filter/1.jpg[/URL]
thus forming the suction which draws free floating particles and detrius into the sponge. Always rinse the sponge in used aquarium water when you perform your waterchanges and not under the tap.

Ok thanks for the information...I shall get a filter in straight away, blimey this hobby is costing me a fortune, but have to say very worthwhile.

Debbie

 

[Tolak]

There are two ways of cloning sponge filters, the first is to run one in a mature tank for a couple of weeks along with your normal filtration. This filter can then be used in fry or other tanks.

The second way is if you are caught in a pinch with no mature sponge filter and fry. Take a handful of gravel from a mature tank, and place it on top of the sponge. The water will flow through the gravel enough to process the ammonia & nitrite, and will cycle the sponge in a couple of weeks.

The Hydro sponges are more commonly used in larger tanks, the small Jungle Labs are used in smaller fry tanks. The Jungle filters are easy to put some gravel on, this is the option I would take in your situation.

Here's a page with some different sponge filters & prices;
http/www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl36...ewType=Category

 

[debbie888]

How long does it usually take for them to get to a sellable size? Molly fry that is? Obviously with good care and feeding?

Debbie

 

[5teady_2012]

How long does it usually take for them to get to a sellable size? Molly fry that is? Obviously with good care and feeding?

Debbie

My mollies usua;;y are at sellable sized around 12-15 weeks of age, thats with feeding them a great diet.. plenty of high protien foods and lots of live foods, also flake.

 

[debbie888]

Ok...thanks for the info....have lost quite a few already, but suppose that is to be expected, not that I expect them all to survive, but lost the first 2 that were born 2 weeks ago...