I want to keep feeders in a 10 g tank. They are dirty as heck so what would be the best way to go about keeping them? Would throwing an aqua clear 500 be enough filtration power and bio power for a 10 g tank with a ton of feeders? I am sick of going to the fish store to buy feeders.
Feeder Tank
- Thread starter iceman3233
- Start date
Not sure on the flow rate of that filter-the main thing would be to have as much as possible without blowing the fish all around the tank. Heavy filtration with frequent water changes is the best way to handle overcrowded tanks.
Don't forget to feed your feeders before using them as food. This way the carnivores get the benefit of the gut load.
Don't forget to feed your feeders before using them as food. This way the carnivores get the benefit of the gut load.
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Well for those of us who keep our Goldfish (or as non-goldfish keepers call them..."feeders"), these Common Goldfish get really big so unless your going to feed them right away, a larger tank is needed. You cannot breed these fish in a 10 gallon, not if its already maxed out in space limit. You'll just end up with unhealthy feeders which equals unhealthy aquarium fish too.
Why do you even bother with feeders anyway? They aren't nutritious at all, as they are composed mostly of fat and cartilage. There are much better foods out there which aren't loaded with "bad things".
Why do you even bother with feeders anyway? They aren't nutritious at all, as they are composed mostly of fat and cartilage. There are much better foods out there which aren't loaded with "bad things".
AFG, makes some good points. If you can train the eater onto prepared foods it will usually be better in the long run. One of the problems with feeders, especially in summer, is that they are in very poor condition-parasites and other infections due to stress. In the store, we used to keep around 250-500 small feeders in a 55 and lose 10-20 a day due to the poor condition. If you keep them yourself for a length of time, you might lose a good portion of your purchase depending on their quality.
500 gph could be too much for that small of a tank. Do you have the filter already? I am not sure how much those throttle down. If you still want to give it a try, monitor water quality. There is no sure answer to your question as there are a lot of different factors.
What are you feeding?
500 gph could be too much for that small of a tank. Do you have the filter already? I am not sure how much those throttle down. If you still want to give it a try, monitor water quality. There is no sure answer to your question as there are a lot of different factors.
What are you feeding?
I have a few fish that take only live foods/feeders. I raise/try to raise guppies for them and hopefully switch to rosies. If you use too high of a filter they will get sucked in and die. Another problem is that from the movement of water the food is moving too fast they won't be able to find it properly. I am currently keeping 50 or so in a 20 long. It has a sponge filter and a hob (rated I think for 20-40 or 5-15 can't remember). I haven't seen any drop only a few 'sucked' into the filter. It's been running for a little while now.
I've tried to keep them in a 10 gallon... doesn't work. They either most def. get sucked into the filter or get sick and die. This is my exp. with guppy feeders, if your talking goldfish... I have no clue... but they prob produce more waste so it would prob be similar or worse.
I've tried to keep them in a 10 gallon... doesn't work. They either most def. get sucked into the filter or get sick and die. This is my exp. with guppy feeders, if your talking goldfish... I have no clue... but they prob produce more waste so it would prob be similar or worse.
I would think that 500 GPH or even 300 GPH would be too much,
If you wnated to use an AC 500, Id go with a sponge (Great big sponge) on the intake to kind of diffuse the water flow, as well as provide massive mechanicle and biological filtration. I would also go with two sponges, or a bunch of bio-media in the media well. Depending on how many feeders you are trying to keep at a time, you may not have enough tank. I keep my breeding stock of guppies in a 20 or 29g and raise the fry in a 10 g, I only keep a couple dozen adults at any one time, but as said before, All of my fish in the past have been more than willing to eat prepared food so the guppies are just a treat. Check your PM's, I just a had a lenghtly thought that might help as well.
If you wnated to use an AC 500, Id go with a sponge (Great big sponge) on the intake to kind of diffuse the water flow, as well as provide massive mechanicle and biological filtration. I would also go with two sponges, or a bunch of bio-media in the media well. Depending on how many feeders you are trying to keep at a time, you may not have enough tank. I keep my breeding stock of guppies in a 20 or 29g and raise the fry in a 10 g, I only keep a couple dozen adults at any one time, but as said before, All of my fish in the past have been more than willing to eat prepared food so the guppies are just a treat. Check your PM's, I just a had a lenghtly thought that might help as well.
I agree that its generally better to try to get your fish trained on prepared foods, rather than live foods.
However, if you must keep feeders, I would suggest something other than feeder goldfish... they just produce far too much waste. Guppies will work. Try gut loading them to make them a more healthy meal.
Have you looked into fluidized bed filters? Though not many people use them, they are designed to support huge bioloads. I believe some people use them in fry rearing tanks, because they are able to accomendate bioload swings. Keeping a prefilter over the intake of the filter should prevent it from gunking up. A word of caution though, if the pump should fail, or there is a power outtage, there is a good chance that the filter can really mess up your tank (ie. oxygen deprivation, etc.).
HTH
-Richer
However, if you must keep feeders, I would suggest something other than feeder goldfish... they just produce far too much waste. Guppies will work. Try gut loading them to make them a more healthy meal.
Have you looked into fluidized bed filters? Though not many people use them, they are designed to support huge bioloads. I believe some people use them in fry rearing tanks, because they are able to accomendate bioload swings. Keeping a prefilter over the intake of the filter should prevent it from gunking up. A word of caution though, if the pump should fail, or there is a power outtage, there is a good chance that the filter can really mess up your tank (ie. oxygen deprivation, etc.).
HTH
-Richer
iceman, Just to add to this thread... I have seen 10 year old Oscars go from live-foods to already prepared foods. It was a gradual change (just like you'd change a cat or dogs food gradually) but nevertheless, it is possible. And yes, it might take a little patience too, but your fish will not starve, do not let them convince you otherwise! 