I stayed home on New Year's Eve and drilled a few tanks. Up untill now I have been scared to death to try to drill a tank. I figured they were only $10 -10g tanks so if I broke one it was no big deal. I now have sumps for my seahorse fry tanks. ( I still have 1 that doesn't "just incase") It should be easier to keep good water quality without the constant water changes. In the sump I have about 30 live feeder shrimp. They will eat any of the BBS that makes it down there. They love it. I also added 50+ amphipods, 1000+ copepods, and a brick of chaeto. There is also 10# of live rock and sand as well. (all from well established tanks) The fry tanks are bare bottomed for easier clean up. I used 1/3 dose of panacur to make sure there are no hydroids or other nasties that will hurt the fry. All of the feeder shrimp made it thru the panacur treatment. I was suprised. There is also a huge HOB filter. It's rated for a 60g tank. Overkill I know, but atleast the water will be clean
In the fry tank there is the 1" PVC pipe covered with a sponge (cover w/ pantyhose for the first week) so the fry don't get sucked down it. A few hitches, and airline, and a hose for the return from the sump. In the sump I have a mini-jet 606 powerhead with the hose attached to it. The hose is held onto the top fry tank with a U tube made out of a small lenght of PVC and 2 elbows. It just hooks over the side, with the hose fed thru it. Works great. Not too much flow, but enough to get the job done.
I have a male that is due to have fry tomorrow so I guess I will see how well the new system works. He is huge so I hope he has big babies.
I don't have a light on the fry tank, just on the sump. Since the main fry tank is bare bottomed, the light from the sump lights up the bottom of the top tank and that is where all of the BBS will gather. Since all of the BBS will be at the bottom of the tank.....so will the fry. Hopefully this will stop the fry from trying to get to the surface and snicking air. Once they get over inflated swim bladders most of them die. In theory this is supposed to work. I'll let ya all know. This will be the first batch of fry I"m not using a kreisel tank on. There is a kreisel effect in the tank with the OF and airline on one end of the tank and the return on the other. I hope it's enough. I do still have the old fry tank set up with older fry and kreisels in it just incase I have to use a kreisel. I'm ready no matter what Bring on the fry!!! :seahorse:
Angie