I have kept fish for twenty years, but only went into tropical this year. Alway had goldfish and cold water before, but when I bought my third tank it came with heater and everything, so that's when I started on tropical fish.
If there's a secret, let me know, because I have no idea what I'm doing right, it's just working! I have always relied on instinct and common sense, I have a keen nose which is more accurate than most test kits and an eye for detail. I thrive on challenges and love to be innovative. Other than that, I am just lucky, I guess!
You could very well be right. Couple that with the design of the tank. The fact that in a normal tank the female has to be taken out for safety makes multiple sporning impossible, but with the water column, the females can swim down into the main tank and the male can guard the flute to stop others getting in, meaning that when they are ready, the females can get back to the male.
I was dubious about whether the column would be suitable for sporning, but it has proved to be much better than I had anticipated and the fact that they are able to continue unhindered is a real bonus.
I shall have to get hold of another male soon though, as this one can't carry on indefinitely. I am planning on getting another couple of females too, so that I can rest the others. I also have plans for more columns on other tanks, to see if the same works for the bettas pearls and other bubblenesters. this is really worth investigating, since it could make breeding of rare and difficult species possible.
The advantage of the filtration is the lack of water changes, giving a more stable environment with fewer temperature variations. The other advantage with the column is that the air at the top of the tank is at a constant temperature, giving the fry a better chance to develop their labarynths with no risk of pneumonia. The water pressure isn't an issue, since they are all staying at the top of the column anyway. the adult is chasing them back to the nest area whenever they stray too far away, and the plants that make the nest site are producing oxygen to keep the air at the top fresh. Win-Win situation, if I ever saw one!
great job on the vid. why didn't i think to do that with the mahachai? lol. i'd love to have one of those big glasses on an extendable arm so i could place it and the video and take pictures through it. it's tough holding the glass in your hand and capturing vid/pics at the same time so i know that wasn't an easy vid to get.
Now the greek tank has fry! More dwarf gouramis have been found in the Greek tank. We put the females in to this tank to rest until the male was added four days ago. A handful of floating plants were thrown in and bingo! Here we go again! Although it's not a column, they have still managed to breed, even with the air filtration moving the water surface. I put a plastic container lid over the plants to stabilise them and to stop the air filters from breaking up any nest they might build, but I didn't expect them to breed so soon after the other four batches!
Numbers haven't been determined yet, but I think this is another multiple brood, since they were seen on several occasions over the last three days embracing. This time I am not going to remove any of the fish, as the females still have enough room to escape from the male, and I want to see if the male or females will affect the fry in any way.
I also want to see if the mating continues with the nest holding young already. My feeling is that the young will move or be moved away from the nesting site to allow further mating and more floating plants have been added for protection. (Mind you, it looks like the male could use these to build another nest!) We'll just have to wait and see. Pics will come when they are big enough to see clearly, as will the count!
and the new columns will be working by the end of next week, giving even more opportunity for breeding..... and increasing the gallonage in the tanks without taking up any more room!.... Oh, heaven!
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I am a bit GREEN. I have a theory, it is the space, and low nitrates. Your DIY nitrate filter is making all the difference!
why didn't i think to do that with the mahachai? lol. i'd love to have one of those big glasses on an extendable arm so i could place it and the video and take pictures through it. it's tough holding the glass in your hand and capturing vid/pics at the same time so i know that wasn't an easy vid to get. 
