Taking Care of a fry tank... - Aquarium Advice

Alshain · 06-22-2006, 10:09 AM

mmkay, so I have my fry tank set up and I have fry in it. Ammonia and Nitrites are starting to climb since I wasn't able to get the tank to cycle before the fry outgrew their breeder chamber. Since Nitrites are showing, thats a positive sign, but I can't let them grow since there are fish in there.

So here is the delima, how do I do a water change in a fry tank without sucking them up into my vac? Any suggestions? As of right now the nitrites are at .5 and the ammonia is at .25. Nothing severe but its gonna get worse I'm sure.

Elmware2000 · 06-22-2006, 03:55 PM

It is tricky to do. Sometimes the odd fella gets sucked up, so I check the pail before dumping it, just in case.

Just try to keep away from them and not let them swim into the gravel vac if you can avoid it. They do get curious when you bring strange objects into the tank so they want to swim into it and check it out.

plecoperson · 06-22-2006, 03:57 PM

If any crud in the tank is smaller than the fry, put a nylon stocking over the end of the vac to trap any curious fishies.

Lonewolfblue · 06-22-2006, 04:27 PM

I find using a turkey baster helpful in cleaning the bottom, then just use a small pitcher to empty some water out and to put back in.

Alshain · 06-22-2006, 04:42 PM

I may just do that, I don't need to clean the bottom really, its not that messy. The biggest problem is that the tank isn't cycled. I might try to put a good amount of gravel from my established tank in a bowl and set it at the bottom of the tank. Maybe that will be enough to get rid of the little bit of ammonia that these small fish create.

Menagerie · 06-22-2006, 05:59 PM

Since you have an established tank, you can easily find a way to cycle the fry tank.

cappieBridget · 06-22-2006, 10:36 PM

That's what I did with my tanks, took a cup of gravels put some in the tank, some in the filter and it cycled in a week flat and with good water changes daily everything went smoothly.

Alshain · 06-23-2006, 10:29 AM

Last night I put a cup of gravel in the bottom of the tank and took the biowheel from my established tank and floated it in the tank for the night. This morning I put the Biowheel back and left the gravel. I'll do a test when I get home.

06-22-2006, 10:09 AM	#1
Alshain Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tyler, TX Posts: 807 Images: 4	Taking Care of a fry tank... mmkay, so I have my fry tank set up and I have fry in it. Ammonia and Nitrites are starting to climb since I wasn't able to get the tank to cycle before the fry outgrew their breeder chamber. Since Nitrites are showing, thats a positive sign, but I can't let them grow since there are fish in there. So here is the delima, how do I do a water change in a fry tank without sucking them up into my vac? Any suggestions? As of right now the nitrites are at .5 and the ammonia is at .25. Nothing severe but its gonna get worse I'm sure.

06-22-2006, 03:57 PM	#3
plecoperson Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Evanston, Illinois Posts: 1,164 Images: 3	If any crud in the tank is smaller than the fry, put a nylon stocking over the end of the vac to trap any curious fishies. __________________ -Lisa Remember that Darwin was mostly right!

06-22-2006, 04:27 PM	#4
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	I find using a turkey baster helpful in cleaning the bottom, then just use a small pitcher to empty some water out and to put back in. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

06-22-2006, 04:42 PM	#5
Alshain Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tyler, TX Posts: 807 Images: 4	I may just do that, I don't need to clean the bottom really, its not that messy. The biggest problem is that the tank isn't cycled. I might try to put a good amount of gravel from my established tank in a bowl and set it at the bottom of the tank. Maybe that will be enough to get rid of the little bit of ammonia that these small fish create. __________________ Remember to vote For AA! 55 Gallon Planted Tank

06-22-2006, 05:59 PM	#6
Menagerie Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 11,266 Images: 77	Since you have an established tank, you can easily find a way to cycle the fry tank. __________________

06-22-2006, 03:55 PM	#2
Elmware2000 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 134	It is tricky to do. Sometimes the odd fella gets sucked up, so I check the pail before dumping it, just in case. Just try to keep away from them and not let them swim into the gravel vac if you can avoid it. They do get curious when you bring strange objects into the tank so they want to swim into it and check it out.

06-22-2006, 10:36 PM	#7
cappieBridget Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 190 Images: 7	That's what I did with my tanks, took a cup of gravels put some in the tank, some in the filter and it cycled in a week flat and with good water changes daily everything went smoothly.

06-23-2006, 10:29 AM	#8
Alshain Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Tyler, TX Posts: 807 Images: 4	Last night I put a cup of gravel in the bottom of the tank and took the biowheel from my established tank and floated it in the tank for the night. This morning I put the Biowheel back and left the gravel. I'll do a test when I get home. __________________ Remember to vote For AA! 55 Gallon Planted Tank

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