Breeder Tanks

[Liquid_Pyro]

Hey, I am looking to set up 4 new tanks as breeding tanks.

I am going to make a stand to hold all four tanks, my current idea is to have a 40 gallon breeder tank on the bottom of the stand and three, 10 gallon tanks on the top forming a "U" shape. (the end two tanks will be turned sideways on the stand)

At the current time all tanks will be bare, with sponge filters for ease of cleaning and I would like to make my own sponge filters.

My question is how large should the sponges be for each of the tanks and how many should I have per tank?

Also how big of an air pump would I need to power all the sponges needed for this type of setup?

I currently have a Whisper 60 I believe, would that be enough?
http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/ctl3664/cp17334/si1316088/cl0/tetrawhisper60airpump

[WeedCali]

the pump you have might do it. emphasis on the word might. ive never had one buti do the the 20 model and i can power 2 sponges off of it so you might be able to. is the 40 breeder going to have a sponge or a power filter of some sort?

also, what will you be breeding?

[WeedCali]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Aquarium-Filter-Fish-Tank-Air-Pump-w-Double-Sponge-New_W0QQitemZ170468070503QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item27b0b05467">
This Could work in a ten gallon

(http://cgi.ebay.com/Aquarium-Filter-Fish-Tank-Air-Pump-w-Double-Sponge-New_W0QQitemZ170468070503QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item27b0b05467)

[Liquid_Pyro]

I haven't looked into power heads for the sponge filters, but I might add 2 power heads to the sponge filters in the 40 gal breeder if I have too. But I will stress only if I have too!

I saw the e-bay sponge filter and I was thinking it might be a bit small...thats why I was thinking of making my own sponge filters, but haven't looked into where to buy any sponge material from yet. I need to know how big the sponges should be.

As to what I will be breeding, an array of things: Convicts, Electric Blue Haps, Yellow Labs, other cichlids, Cory Cats, Livebearers, Danio's...whatever I happen to own I will attempt to breed, I would like to try my hand at breeding some pleco's as well.

Is it possible to find the right sponges at a hardware store or Wallmart or something?

[Lowryder]

That air pump might work. What I have seen some breeders do is use a marine air pump. The kind that go on boats to pump air for the livewells.

[WeedCali]

the ebay sponges are so cheap you could probably buy two for each ten gallon cheaper than it would be to make them. and if your breeding smaller fish like guppies, i would recommend using poret foam to make a tank divider for the ten gallon that goes in the middle. this divider will also be the filter for the tank. it will house one prego mother on each side until she has her drop. the fry can live in the divided section of the tank until their ready to be sexed. thats when you separate them into the two other ten gallons for a grow out tank... lol i just totally told you how to run your own project. im not telling you what you have to do, im just suggesting what i would do if i was in your position.

you can find the foam im talking about here: http://www.swisstropicals.com/Poret%20Filter%20Foam.html

just scroll down and youll see the tank divider filter im talking about. a 13x13" 2" thick square of the foam is 13 dollars.

[Liquid_Pyro]

Yes I have seen those foam dividers used before, I just prefer not to order stuff online...so I will have to hunt through department stores to find something similar.

Would the marine pump be cheaper than buying a pump from a pet store? Is that the reasoning for buying one? Is is basically just a large air pump?

[mellowvision]

I run 3 15 gallon breeders, a 5.5g and a bbs hatchery from a single wisper 60. just sayin

also, the swiss tropicals mat filters are awesome. I have poret in 2 tanks, 3 soon.

[Liquid_Pyro]

So can you only get this material from that website only? is there no other similar product around?

I have dividers in one of the three 10 gallon tanks already, I dont mind having a big square of sponge sitting on the bottom of my tank. I just wanted to know how much sponge I should have and if their is a benefit to having larger or smaller pores.

I will see if I can make up a sketch of what I am thinking for this breeding setup for tomorow.

[RodInCALIFORNIA]

some things you just have to get online because its not available locally.

[mjordan29]

you could also always do something like this. these are the small ones but they make some pretty big ones out there.

sorry for them being labled but these were some pics i took the other day for the thread listed in my sig and i figured they might help. these are floss filters so you load them with floss and carbon and they work just like a sponge filter. there about a 1/3 of the cost as a sponge filter.

these are rated at about 5-10g while the triangles in the last pics backround are rated at 20g. drfosters and smith and petsolution have these al the way up to about 75g.

there just a little more pricey than what these are http://www.petsolutions.com/Triple-Flow-Corner-Filters+I10813405+C19.aspx

[Liquid_Pyro]

Hey thanks Mjordan, I have seen filters like those before, but I had forgotten about them, they are a possibility and something to look into for sure.

I plan on touring some stores this coming weekend to see what kind of sponges and pieces of foam might be out there at discount prices.

My Goal is to make these breeder tanks semi nice too look while only spending what I have made selling off a few extra fish and supplies.

[WeedCali]

These are also a good option. free shipping in the US.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Aquarium-Efficient-Economy-Corner-In-Tank-Filters_W0QQitemZ290413227996QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH _DefaultDomain_0?hash=item439dfa2fdc

[Liquid_Pyro]

Well that would be alright if I lived in the U.S.

[WeedCali]

Yeah they ship international too :)

[Liquid_Pyro]

fair enough, but I am still not the bigest fan of buying online...I will attempt my DIY sponge filter project,

Any more help or guidance would be great if anyone else has done this

[mjordan29]

thers also alway the option (i know you said you dont like ordering online) of going on kensfish.com.... this is what i do when i run out of big floss filters.... http://kensfish.com/aitreplacementsponges.html

replacement sponge #5.... there big and can be cut in half for two filters... only two though.... they can also be used as one as there so cheap... there less than 3 bucks and you get sponges which then you can "diy" a rigid lift tube up thw whole with drilled holes in the tube.... you will have to cap the bottom and use your own airstone though....

still an option i guess.... i love them.. hope i dint confuse anyone :rofl: