Update on cory fry

[Helena21]

Nice!
Yeah water doesnt contain bacteria...its things like ornaments, plants, gravel that have all the bacteria on it. So if your gonna use the same gravel you could get the gravel from one of your other tanks and fill up the 6.6gal then go out and get some more gravel from the tank you took the gravel from and top it back up. (lol does that make sense?)

Anyway if you used gravel from your other tanks you may not even get much of a cycle.

 

[Kissyboots]

Well, since this is the "breeder tank for the cories" I wasn't planning on using gravel. I got this ugly looking cave thing with the tank. Should I throw it in the one of the other tanks so it gets bacteria and then move it into the 6.6g? Or does it not go that fast? Ugh, I soooo don't want to cycle. But I should...this will be the first tank I ever cycled! Haha! Anyway, thanks for the input, I'll keep you updated.

 

[iapetus]

Kissyboots, I have no idea how long it would take the ugly cave () to pick up enough bacteria.

Is there any way you can switch out filters for a while? If you can put the filter from your cycled tank into the new tank, or even some media from that filter into the new tank's filter, you'll get a lot of the benefit. Fortunately, the cory fry are small; I think it'll take them a long time to start building up dangerous levels of ammonia and ammonia by-products.

 

[Kissyboots]

Is there any way you can switch out filters for a while? If you can put the filter from your cycled tank into the new tank, or even some media from that filter into the new tank's filter, you'll get a lot of the benefit. Fortunately, the cory fry are small; I think it'll take them a long time to start building up dangerous levels of ammonia and ammonia by-products.

Unfortunately, all three tanks use different filters...so, no, I can't switch filters.

What do you mean by "media?"

Also, I put the swordtail fry () into an uncycled 5g and they survived that. (But died way later from unknown reasons.) Does that mean it would be ok to put the little guys in a little earlier? Tell me if I'm wrong cuz I really don't want any more dead fry...

 

[iapetus]

When I say "media" I'm really just suggesting that you throw anything from a cycled filter into the new one. What kind of filters do you have on your tanks? For example, I could take the old, used filter bag from my Whisper 10 and literally put that in the Bio-Wheel 330 filter on my cycling 29G (in fact, I don't know why I haven't already done this!). That's another way to transfer helpful bacteria from a cycled tank into a new tank.

On the one hand, the fry are small and won't be producing terribly much ammonia and ammonia by-products. That should help. On the other hand, as you know, they're pretty sensitive to water conditions so you'll have to remain on top of that.

 

[Kissyboots]

20g uses Rite-size penguin filter cartridge B

5g uses Rite-size penguin filter cartridge Z (which Petco and Aquariumguys doesn't carry, where else can I get them?)

6.6g uses whatever this is...(can't find the instructions right now )

 

[iapetus]

20g uses Rite-size penguin filter cartridge B

5g uses Rite-size penguin filter cartridge Z (which Petco and Aquariumguys doesn't carry, where else can I get them?)

6.6g uses whatever this is...(can't find the instructions right now )

OK. Looks like you're using Penguin Bio-Wheel filters (which I happen to like ). Unfortunately, it's not as straightforward to do what I suggested. But, unless someone suggests otherwise, what I would do is to rip some of that blue backing off a used filter from one of your other tanks and put that behind the filter you've got in the 6.6G (obviously, just use as much as will fit, but don't overstuff it).

Have you looked for more Penguin Size Z cartridges on-line at ThatFishPlace or Doctors Foster and Smith? ... Hmmm ... I just looked myself and can't find 'em. Are you sure it's a Penguin Cartridge Size Z? What is the model number on that filter?

 

[Kissyboots]

Thanks for all the help. Here's what it looks like now...I got an extention cord for the light to go to the timer with the other tanks, attached the background, and put in the filter. Oh yeah, since I don't have water in it or anything else, I stuck my little "ugly plastic fish on a string" in there. So, yeah, here it is...

 

[Kissyboots]

Ooooooo! I just had an idea. Couldn't I tank the "bio-wheel" (think that's what it's called) from the 5g and put it in the filter? It's small enough to fit. Shouldn't that have plenty of good stuff on it???

 

[jen0910]

Switching the bio-wheel is probably a good plan to get the bacteria started.

 

[iapetus]

I concur. Switch out the bio-wheel; collecting beneficial nitrifying bacteria is its stated purpose. It should help.

(D'oh!!! Why didn't I think to tell you that!? )

 

[Kissyboots]

Ok. Here it is, filled with water. I couldn't fit the wheel in the back so I just let it float in the tank itself. I also threw in the one from the 20g. The ugly cave thing is in there as well, although I doubt it has any bacteria on it, given it was only in the 20g for a day. Is that a good plan?

 

[iapetus]

Hmmm ... I have no idea if that'll work well. The bio-wheels are designed to be spinning in the water flow. Will the small one really not fit in the filter either? Darn.

Have you considered buying a small decoration or piece of driftwood from inside a tank at the LFS?

As I mentioned earlier, because the fry are small I don't think you'll have a huge cycle.

And (now I don't want to make your paranoid!), do you have a sponge filter or something to cover the intake of the one you do have? You want to make sure the fry don't get caught up in it.

 

[Kissyboots]

do you have a sponge filter or something to cover the intake of the one you do have? You want to make sure the fry don't get caught up in it.

Yup. Already thought of that. I used the top of a reptile cage (the mesh stuff) for the 5g when I had the sword fry in there which I now took off. Luckily, this filter is small enough already so they won't get sucked in. I also put it way far up, not down on the floor of the tank, so they don't get near it. They tend to stay below...

With the bio-wheels, what else am I supposed to do? They don't fit in the filter so the next best thing (I thought) would be to just let them float.

I could go to Petco and ask if they sell the decor in the tanks. I've never seen anyone do it and I doubt they will, being a large chain store. But, nevertheless, I will ask.

Thanks for all the help! And of course I'm always open for more solutions...

 

[iapetus]

Yup. Already thought of that. I used the top of a reptile cage (the mesh stuff) for the 5g when I had the sword fry in there which I now took off.

Ah, good idea. I'll be looking for a solution like this when I get the swordtail fry I'm anticipating (once I get two more swordtails).

With the bio-wheels, what else am I supposed to do? They don't fit in the filter so the next best thing (I thought) would be to just let them float.

My concern, aside from their not putting enough bacteria into the tank quickly enough, is that, by floating, they won't be as effective as they should be when you return them to the tanks from which you took them.

I could go to Petco and ask if they sell the decor in the tanks.

I don't know about the decor, but my local Petco sells the driftwood out of their tanks!

Thanks for all the help! And of course I'm always open for more solutions...

Well, I don't know how much help I'm providing, but I'm happy to serve as a sounding board for ideas!

 

[MissFishy]

Take some gravel from a cycled tank and put it in a pantyhose (washed and thoroughly rinsed of course) and plop that in the tank for a few weeks then watch your parameters.

If the ornament was only in your other tank for a day, it probably has nothing on it. The bio wheels supposedly have bacteria on them...but I would be sure with the gravel from the cycled tank. Hope that helps!

 

[Kissyboots]

One died this morning. I don't know why cuz the others are all still swimming around...

The eggs seem to be fertilyzed, which is good!

I put some gravel in the 6.6g yesterday.

I also found some bacteria starter in the box of random things I got from the used 20g. Should I use that? Like, follow the directions and stuff?

 

[Kissyboots]

Number 2 is dead.

I don't know if the cycle is working but this is what I have in there: A net full of "cycled" gravel and the ugly cave thing that's probably useless. I didn't have time to go to Petco, but I might today. I don't really want to buy anything right now, but is there a way to speed things up? Do you think it would be ok to let the new guys hatch in there, cuz then that water is all they would know?

 

[Kissyboots]

I just tested the water in the 6.6. That's all I tested for:

Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0
pH: 7.6

Does that mean anything? (good?)

 

[iapetus]

The cory fry are still pretty small, right? I think it just means that they're not putting out enough ammonia to cause a significant rise in the levels just yet. Since they're so small, it'll take time. It also means that you're not letting a lot of food sit at the bottom to rot.

Given those numbers, I'd suggest that you allow the eggs to hatch in the 6.6G. You don't have a safer place to let them hatch, do you (i.e. there's someone in your other two tanks that will eat the fry and/or the eggs, right?)? I would just keep a very close eye on your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels and be extra good about your water changes.

Oh! And, most importantly, I would post lots of pictures here so that we can all see how they're doing!