New Fry Tank Cycle

B

beebow

AC Members
Jul 16, 2008
24
0
0
Conroe, Texas
I have an established 45g tank. I wanted a fry tank so I bought a small
1 1/2gal tank, complete except I had to buy a heater. I set it up with rocks on the bottom. I filled the small tank with the water from the 45g. tank. I put the pregnant Molly in the small tank and she gave birth that evening. There were 12 fry to begin witth. I check the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels twice a day. By afternoon the nitrite level is getting up to 0.5/1.0 so I do a complete water change. I dip water out of the large established tank. The levels in the 45g tank are ammonia 0, ntirite 0, nitrAte level 20. I was told this is a good way to establish the cycle in the fry tank. The fry are eating well approx. 4 times a day and growing very quickly. Is this a good way to establesh the fry tank? I didn't want to see the fish in the big tank make a quick meal of the fry so I thought I would chance it. Is there something more I should or could be doing?
 
There isn't that much bacteria in your water column so adding water from your other tank won't help that much. Adding gravel and some of your other tanks filter pad will help because that is where the bacteria actually lives.
 
Thank you....I thought they were in the water and so would be transferred to the smaller tank. I will put some gravel and a filter cartridge over to that tank.
 
When i set up the qt tank i fill it half way with water from another tank and the rest of the way with tap. The filter media has the most of the BB. I take 2 filter cartridges out and put them in the qt filter, QT tank is bare bottom with a few rocks........:)
 
what other fish are in the big tank?

the more often you feed the fry (and the more often you do water changes to remove toxins and uneaten food) the faster they will grow. try to do 50% changes daily, more if the tests show ammonia/nitrite. once the cycle is over you should still do large water changes to keep them growing properly.

if saving the babies is going to become a habit, then by all means please get a larger tank. the babies will grow faster, be healthier, and it will make life easier for you.
 
I have lots of plants in the main tank and just leave the fry in with the adults from birth... they are fast little guys and 90% survive just fine as long as they have a place to hide.
 
I have Sailfin Mollies, Platy, Swordtail, Angel fish and a Pleco. The fry are Molly fry and they are growing very fast. I do a 60% water change every day and feed them 2-3 times a day. How many fry can you have in a 10g tank at one time? By the way, thank you for the help.
 
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