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Zoom
20-07-2009, 14:58
Hi y'all,

I've succombed to MTS. My Guppies and Swordtails are giving birth constantly, and although I am perfectly happy with the fry being eaten as live food by the rest of the tank mates, my mate will not stand for it, and insists I put the fry into a seperate breeding net/container. I ended up with 2 seperate breeding nets in my tank.. one for 6week old fry, 1 for 2day old fry. (couldn't mix, because the 6week fry would eat the 2 day!)

I can't stand the mess that the nets leave visually in my tank, so I bought a small 12litre tank with hood this weekend.

The LPS recommended the because it was for fry, there was no real need for anything special on the filtering side, and that a simple undergravel filter would suffice. I put this in, with a small piece of filter wool from my original tank to speed up the bacteria growth. The undergravel filter also meant that I could run this off my current air pump (i.e no extra electricity costs on filtering.) The only extra I am really paying for is for the small 50w heater (which is WAY overkill.. but the best I can do.)

I have a few questions:

I will eventually use this tank as a quarantine tank (when necessary). I would assume there is no way of removing medication from the water other than simply changing 100% of the water after the fish is better.

I am currently using silca sand as the gravil... is this suitable on top of the undergravel filter, or should I rather change the filter for one of those small air-pump driven side filters?

I am wanting to put some lighting into the tank, but I am seriously struggling to find a light that will fit on the hood. The total length of the area I can put the light in is 250mm. The smallest florescent fitting it too big, and the undercounter types that you get for under kitchen counters are also too long. Anyone have any other suggestions?

I know lighting is not essential... but I'd like to leave the tank set up permanently, even when not in use for fry or quarantine, and making it look asthetically pleasing is still important to me... hence the lighting. I'd also look into putting a few small plants in there.

Anyone got some idea?
neilh
20-07-2009, 15:04
Daylight CFL :blink1:

Much cheaper to setup for a small tank like that
Zoom
20-07-2009, 15:17
Daylight CFL :blink1:

Much cheaper to setup for a small tank like that

This is the route I want to go... my concern is (1) I cannot find any wholesaler in JHB that sells the PL9 holder. (This is the 2 pin flat globe.) It's the only globe that will fit in that hood. My only option is to buy a light fitting that uses a PL9 globe and strip the light fitting to get the holder.
Donny
20-07-2009, 15:22
i would change the sand to gravel so the filter would work correctly or change the filter to a sponge one that has a tube running through it,,, used this before and the fry use to eat on the algae http://media.uxcell.com/i/09b/ux_a09041800ux0084_ux_g03.jpg ,,,, as far as the light is concerned you will struggle ,, in the past i used a normal naked light ,, but from heat the canopy buckled so found a small forescent light used for reading in a bedroom and that worked well
veegal
20-07-2009, 15:57
Zoom I would also suggest changing from the undergravel filter to a sponge filter. There is a large amount of gunk that accumulates under the undergravel filter which can cause problems over time. You can keep the tank much cleaner by using a sponge filter and if you have some substrate you will be able to clean it much more effectively. Also with alot of medication, you have to adjust the dosage if you have an undergravel filter which can make it a little more complicated.

Also, as Donny said, the fry will often eat off of the sponge as well which then gives it a dual purpose.
Zoom
20-07-2009, 20:14
Okee Dokee... when the fry are all growed up and big boys and girls... I will put them into the big tank and change over to the sponge filter.

Sorted out with a light. LPS sorted me out with a nice fitting that sits in perfectly. LPS also said that they wouldn't recommend running an undergravel with Silica sand, and should rather change to LPS gravel.
wito-zn
20-07-2009, 21:19
why dont you get a desk lamp like in the pic but thats only if you dont have plants in the tank. i use an alcheapo one and fake plants for my guppy breeding tank. I breed guppies for my oscars they love the chase every now and again. It keeps them fit lol.
Kuhli Loach
21-07-2009, 06:13
You would not have to do a 100% water change to get rid of medication in the tank if you use a filter that has some activated carbon in it.
neilh
21-07-2009, 09:13
Okee Dokee... when the fry are all growed up and big boys and girls... I will put them into the big tank and change over to the sponge filter.

Sorted out with a light. LPS sorted me out with a nice fitting that sits in perfectly. LPS also said that they wouldn't recommend running an undergravel with Silica sand, and should rather change to LPS gravel.

They would say that, LPS/LFS make huge amounts of money on "aquarium" gravel. Sponge filter + bare bottom tank is what you want for QT or grow out. Less mess and hassle
f-fish
29-07-2009, 20:33
+1 for sponge and bare bottom

I've even done bare bottom for one of my guppy tanks - just planted all the plants in terracotta pots. No more find the guppy in the back-yard after doing a gravel clean ;-)