Starting A Fry Tank

[Dudfield]

right im going to be starting a fry/birthing tank

i got the tank

i got the substrate

i got plants and i got lights

also got a heater


but what i want to no is that ive got a small filter and was wondering if i add some of my sponge from my 50g to the new filter which would only need a small amount to fill the holding of the spnge, noodles and cotton. would that instantly cycle my tank or would i still need to do the cycle of the tank

cheers guys

 

[Jacko-Ainze]

No that wont instantly cycle it but i'm sure it would speed it up considerably.

 

[Westwood]

For fry a bare bottem tank is the best, as they can suffocate in the substrate, also remember to make your filter "fry safe" by covering any intake with sponge.
Also, i would think adding cycled media to the tank would be a good idea, but the bacteria may die off a bit from the small bioload, but saying this i feel daily water changes are crucial. (i do it for my angel fry, in morning after first feed and on night after third feed). Food is also very important, as live food (baby brine shrimp) is your best option, as it is best for the fish and doesn't make the water go bad quickly. But if it is mollies you are growing out, crushed up flake would do, just growth rates will be slower.

Hope that helped, may have covered somethings you already know.
Westwood

 

[StandbySetting]

Personally I think that adding a little media will cycle the tank instantly, the bacteria present on the sponge should be sufficient to cope with the bio-load a some fry.

 

[fluttermoth]

Personally I think that adding a little media will cycle the tank instantly, the bacteria present on the sponge should be sufficient to cope with the bio-load a some fry.

I agree; as long as the sponge or whatever is kept in the larger tank until there are fish in the fry tank so the bacteria doesn't die off for lack of food it should be fine. I keep sponges for my spare internal filters in my externals so they're already mature if I ever need to set up fry/hospital/quarantine tanks in a hurry.

 

[Dudfield]

ok so no substrate thats a goer, i will cycle the tank to.

it is mollies and will be using the crushed flake way also liqidfry, the tank is only 18ltrs so water changes daily wont be a problem


also the added media would be all the media added to the filter due to the size of the filter (small) and donation media from a large filter ill try and find a pick of small filter