Breeding tank filtration?

[plecoman]

I've been using the hydro sponge filters in my breeding tanks. I have two 20 gallon long tanks that the pleco's breed in. The problem I've been having is that the small particle foods that I feed the fry, clogs up the filters. I was having to clean the filters to often. I took the sponge filters out and now I'm using the whisper 20 HOB filters, with a large pore sponge over the intake tube to keep from sucking the fry into the filter. The same situation happens with these filters also. The filters clog on the whisper to often! This gets expensive changing out filters to often. I clean the bottom of the tanks every 2 days but the food still gets into the filters! I even turn the filters off to let as much food as possible drop to the bottom. Does anyone have any ideas that might help solve this problem? Any other type filters that may work better?

[angel]

Seems you're feeding them more than they eat. Try cutting back . Also, we've talked about killing your biological before. Changing filters and changing sponges and cartidges and all also kills your biological. Put the sponge filters back in and do the extra cleanings, cut back on the food, and when you clean them clean them only in tank water you collect in a bucket. Tap water kills all your bacteria.

[plecoman]

I've been cleaning the sponges in water that came out of the tanks during water changes since we talked about it. I vacuum the bottom of the breeding tanks every other day to keep crap and food levels down. Have also cut back on feeding so much, but the fry need to be fed at least twice a day. Some recommend three time per day for young fry. I was wondering about better filters maybe. Maybe larger sponge filters for example, although you can only get so big in a 20 long tank.

[angel]

There's a filter with larger pores. That might help. But I didn't mean cut back on times per day. If they're not eating it all, it's likely too much in the amount.
When you switched filters to the whispers though did you take the sponges out? If so, the whispers didn't have any biological and the sponges now don't either. The biological is an important factor in keeping them alive, and will make the tank way more stable if you're too busy to clean it as often as you do. I'd feel like a real craphead not saying so, and the babies are so cute. You don't want to have anything happen to them.

[angel]

Speaking of cute, I brought the Madagascan wigglers upstairs and better get a light, heat, and air on them. I'll check back in a bit.

[plecoman]

I've thought about trying the Marineland hot mag 250 hangon canister filter on the breeding tanks. It has all 3 levels of filtration which I currently don't have. I'd also be interested in checking out the sponge filters with larger pores, if you know what brand they are or what they are called. That might work. The problem is the small particle foods that I feed the fry. Some of it flows to the filters before the fry can get to it and it just seems to clog the pores in the filter.

[angel]

ree123 knew where to get them. I'll check with him and see if he remembers the contact info. You should just be able to switch the sponge and use the same unit.

[oneyoda]

Fish.com has the Azoo sponge filters. they have larger pores. And havent found them cheaper any where elese. To the door in like 3 days. Using them in my 90 and in my 10 gal guppy fry tank.

[plecoman]

That sounds like a good thread to add to the DIY section! Pictures would be nice also. I've saw a couple on other sites that didn't look to good, but looked like they would do a heck of a job.

plecoman

[angel]

Bunnie u were at Plecoman's house. Were u there on cleaning day? His tanks are clean enough to eat out of. There wouldn't be a morsel of anything left to keep the biological going in his gravel. If you're talking a thick layer of gravel that gets some particles left behind yeah but I challenge anyone to find a particle left in Drew's tank when he's done. Everything becomes like new. Where you're correct in planted tanks with gravel--there's a ton of stuff in the gravel--his is a unique situation. Bordering on sterile.

[angel]

I'm just not going to agree that gravel alone is going to sustain what he needs with that many fish in the tank. But since I've not been in the hobby for most of my life, I'm going to defer to the opinions of SirKnight and some of the others. I always go with their advice anyway, so everyone opine please!

[plecoman]

I think we got a little off track. The tank I was talking about is one of my breeding tanks that I was using 2 hydro sponge filters and the whisper hob filter on. The breeding tanks do not have gravel in them. They are just bare bottom. Anyway, the fry are now big enough to eat the flake food and pleco wafers. The sponge filters and the aquaclear, which I put in place of the whisper 20, are now working fine. I believe the problem with the filters clogging came from the small fry food that I was using. It floated around the tank more causing it to be pulled into the filters easier. Anyway that problem is solved for now. Thanks for the advise as always!

I did have another issue with this tank also. It is also now solved, but I would like your input on that issue if you would check it out. It's under this same section and is titled: Cloudy water in breeding tank. Thanks

plecoman

[angel]

Well I thought we were talking about the barebottom tank but Bunnie was there more recently than me and I don't shout and demand that I'm right or anything. Coz I might not be.