Want to try my hand at breeding

I am looking for some advice on setting up a small breeding stand for some Corydoras and Ancistrus, consisting of 4 x 1.5 foot tanks and one 3 foot tank.
Breeding would take place in the 1.5 foot tanks, and the breeding stock would be housed in the 3 foot tank when they have to be moved out of the breeding tanks.
What is the minimum tank size that I should use for breeding? The standard 1.5 foot tank will only hold about 30 liters of water. Would that be big enough?
On filtration side, would sponge filters running off an air pump be sufficient, or would it be advisable to use a small internal power filter or HOB that does about 120 to 150 liters per hour.
Any suggestions will be welcome on tanks size, filtration and even types of fish.

 

I find that most of my fish breed very well, and very regularly in tanks that only have sponge filtration. All the tanks with little power filters don't have nearly as good a success rate. I fear that the fry get pulled into the power filters.

I'd also possibly go with 2 foot tanks. (you'd be surprised at how much difference 10 - 15l makes.)

 

If you use hang on filters you can always cut up a piece of aquarium sponge and put it over the inlet pipe. Just be careful though, I recently found a few dead angels which got stuck between the sponge I'd added and the glass of the tank....not a pretty sight :sick: So make sure there is sufficient space between the glass and the sponge.

 

I'd really prefer to switch off the power filters. I breed Dwarf Cichlids, so the fry really are tiny in the beginning stages of their lives. But the sponge would probably work. Must try that.

My main breeding pair of Sunburst Cockatoos spawn every 2 weeks and the fry are gone a couple of days later. I must either move them, or put a sponge filter in. Maybe both.

 

Slagter – when you talk about success rate, are you referring to actual spawning taking place, or just the fry hatching? My idea was to switch off the small power filters when they fry hatch, so that they do not get sucked into the filter.

 

I'm talking about the fry actually reaching adulthood. That probably would work, but you would still need to keep the sponge filter running at all times.

 

Slagter – I know that I would have to keep some sort of filtration going while the fry are in the tank – do you have an air stone running as well?

 

Nope, just the sponge filter. It doesn't use an air stone, but it does make bubbles, so that's cool. I just use sponge filters in most of my tanks. They are cheap and they even supply the fry with food. The fry eat the tiny organisms off the filter.

 

I agree with Slagter on the usage of sponge filters! I wouldnt dream of using a power filter or anything.