20 Gallon Tank Fry in water change bucket. What to do?

Alright so I found molly fry in my 5.5 gallon bucket a day after I did my water change. The thing is there really isn't that much water in the bucket, maybe 1.5 gallons give or take. The water is extremely clean (I do a 40% change on Fridays followed by a small 10% on Sunday). Anyways what should I do as of now? Add more water from my tank into the bucket and wait till my air pump arrives? Put them in a DIY breeder box until my air pump arrives?

Also after my air pump arrives what should I do? I have another 5.5 gallon bucket laying around, how would I get it ready as a temporary fry tank? Something along the lines of 50% old tank water, 50% new tank water + a new sponge filter or something?

Also how do I do water changes with fry without sucking them up into the gravel vac?

Pls help
thanks

 

I would just take any obstructions out of your vacuum so they can flow through and then just scoop them out. I feel myself if you put a nylon or something over the hole the force of the water may crush a tiny fry. Do you not want to put them back in the tank?

 

I would just take any obstructions out of your vacuum so they can flow through and then just scoop them out. I feel myself if you put a nylon or something over the hole the force of the water may crush a tiny fry. Do you not want to put them back in the tank?

So basically right now they're just in a bucket that contains like 1 gallon of old (but clean) tank water but with no filter. I'm planning on putting a sponge filter into the bucket.

How would I increase the water level of the bucket without killing all the fry?

If I were to make a new aquarium using a 5 gallon bucket, how would I go about doing it?
(I assume I could use old water form my tank to Jumpstart the cycle)


I don't want to put them in my main tank since it would ruin the balance?

 

How would I increase the water level of the bucket without killing all the fry?

Ok so you would just put new water in just like you would a tank. Add dechlor and temperature match the new water. The temp is very important.

I'm planning on putting a sponge filter into the bucket.

Is your sponge filter cycled? If not you will have to treat it like a fish in cycle. Fry will be very sensitive to ammonia. Just water will not do very much to "jumpstart" the cycle.

You will also need a heater in the bucket.

 

Ok so you would just put new water in just like you would a tank. Add dechlor and temperature match the new water. The temp is very important.


Is your sponge filter cycled? If not you will have to treat it like a fish in cycle. Fry will be very sensitive to ammonia. Just water will not do very much to "jumpstart" the cycle.

You will also need a heater in the bucket.

Alright so as of now I should just let the fry live in a breeder box until the bucket tank is cycled?

With my 20 gallon tank I do 40% changes on Friday and again on Sunday. Could I do something along the lines of 2.5 gallons old tank water from Sunday's clean, and 2.5 gallons new water to jump start it?

 

Alright so as of now I should just let the fry live in a breeder box until the bucket tank is cycled?

With my 20 gallon tank I do 40% changes on Friday and again on Sunday. Could I do something along the lines of 2.5 gallons old tank water from Sunday's clean, and 2.5 gallons new water to jump start it?

Water wont do much. It will help some but not enough. Can you put some gravel or a decoration in there from a good established tank? You will need fresh water in the bucket just like a normal tank.

You could put them in the breeder box but it will be a month or so for the bucket to cycle just like a normal tank.

 

Water wont do much. It will help some but not enough. Can you put some gravel or a decoration in there from a good established tank? You will need fresh water in the bucket just like a normal tank.

You could put them in the breeder box but it will be a month or so for the bucket to cycle just like a normal tank.

Alright so I could use some of the established tanks water because why not. I could also put one of the filter cartridges in there. Would that be good?

(I have the filter that comes with the bio-wheel which is home to most of the bacteria, and I also have 2 cartridges in there rather than 1).

 

If you can remove the fabric from the cartridge and try to wrap it around the sponge filter that would probably work the best. Maybe with a loose rubber band? Just enough so it doesnt fall off?

that would probably work pretty good as long as they have been in there and are WELL established.

 

If you can remove the fabric from the cartridge and try to wrap it around the sponge filter that would probably work the best. Maybe with a loose rubber band? Just enough so it doesnt fall off?

They fry wont make much ammonia so that would probably work pretty good as long as they have been in there and are WELL established.

Alright so to recap, keep the fry in a breeder box in the main tank for about a month. In the meantime, set up the bucket filter using old water as well as the old cartridge filter fabric wrapped around a sponge filter. After a month let the fry grow in the bucket.

 

Ok I would take your cartridge fabric and wrap it around the new sponge filter. This should be sufficient for a few fry IF IT IS WELL established. (been in there more than a month)

Add a heater.

Leave fry in the bucket and change water every couple days just like a tank. Fry release a lot of growth hormones' that need to be removed very often.

 

Ok I would take your cartridge fabric and wrap it around the new sponge filter. This should be sufficient for a few fry IF IT IS WELL established. (been in there more than a month)

Add a heater.

Leave fry in the bucket and change water every couple days just like a tank. Fry release a lot of growth hormones' that need to be removed very often.

So right now should I leave them in the bucket or put them in a breeder box in the main tank?

 

So right now should I leave them in the bucket or put them in a breeder box in the main tank?

I guess my questions are how long has the cartridge been in your main tank filter? Do you have the sponge filter right now? And a heater?

I would leave them in the breeder box until you have everything to set up the bucket correctly.

 

I guess my questions are how long has the cartridge been in your main tank filter? Do you have the sponge filter right now? And a heater?

I would leave them in the breeder box until you have everything to set up the bucket correctly.

The cartridge has been in in there for the past 3 months acting as a "pre-filter" behind the other cartridge.

I don't have the sponge filter yet but it should come soon, and yes I have an heater. Also would I need a heater if the bucket is near a heating vent?

 

The cartridge has been in in there for the past 3 months acting as a "pre-filter" behind the other cartridge.

I don't have the sponge filter yet, and yes I have an heater. Also would I need a heater if the bucket is near a heating vent?

Oooh the cartridge fabric will be perfect then, When the pump and sponge come wrap it with the fabric and throw it in the bucket. Yes with fry I would use a heater and temp match any water going in the bucket.

 

Oooh the cartridge fabric will be perfect then, When the pump and sponge come wrap it with the fabric and throw it in the bucket. Yes with fry I would use a heater and temp match any water going in the bucket.

Alright and do I need gravel or can I do without?

 

Yes your established cartridge media should be fine.

 

Yes your established cartridge media should be fine.

So no need for gravel, just the sponge filter with the old fabric got it. If I have any questions I'll ask.

So basically:
1. Use establiihsed water
2. Wrap sponge filter with old fabric
3. Let sit for 3 to 4 weeks
4. Put fry in breeder box in the main tank for 3 to 4 weeks before moving them into the bucket tank
5. Let fry grow.

 

So no need for gravel, just the sponge filter with the old fabric got it. If I have any questions I'll ask.

So basically:
1. Use establiihsed water
2. Wrap sponge filter with old fabric
3. Let sit for 3 to 4 weeks
4. Put fry in breeder box in the main tank for 3 to 4 weeks before moving them into the bucket tank
5. Let fry grow.

If you let the filter media sit in an empty bucket the bacteria is going to starve to death. You need to add the fry immediately so they can produce ammonia to feed that filter bacteria.

 

If you let the filter media sit in an empty bucket the bacteria is going to starve to death. You need to add the fry immediately so they can produce ammonia to feed that filter bacteria.

Yes this. The reason for the established fabric is to sort of instantly cycle the bucket. You will still want to test and do water changes if you see ammonia or anything rise.

 

Yes this. The reason for the established fabric is to sort of instantly cycle the bucket. You will still want to test and do water changes if you see ammonia or anything rise.

Alright so basically I wrap the cartridge's fabric around the sponge filter and let it sit for like a week? A couple days? A couple hours? (How long?)

Then I put the fry into the bucket tank.

Also how do I move fry into a new tank/breederbox?

 

Alright so basically I wrap the cartridge's fabric around the sponge filter and let it sit for like a week? A couple days? A couple hours? (How long?)

The old fabric has the bacteria you're hoping to build up. So you instantly add the filter and the fry. Just watch your parameters to ensure the bacteria is keeping up with the bioload.

 

So basically just fill a 5.5 gallon bucket with 50% old tank water 50% declhorinated tap water, wrap the sponge filter with the old cartridge fabric, then in like 30 minutes add the fry into the bucket?

 

So basically just fill a 5.5 gallon bucket with 50% old tank water 50% declhorinated tap water, wrap the sponge filter with the old cartridge fabric, then in like 30 minutes add the fry into the bucket?

With a heater.

 

HUH? I really don't get it. First time I saw this thread just now, don't know how I missed it.

I sucked up tiny angelfish fry daily with my vac, dozens at a time until they all learned the tube slide wasn't an amusement attraction. I do what I can to shoo them away from the side of the tank I'm working on or wag a finger or two towards them to shoo them away from the vac when they get curious.

the ones that did get sucked up to the bucket, net them from the bucket back to the tank, OR, use a piece of long tubing like a straw, and suck them up one at a time and blow them and the water into a cup and then dump them back into the tank they came from. don't suck so much that you get a mouthful of water, but enough to take the fish and the water near it into the hose.
Worst case, dump the whole bucket back in the tank, wait 20 minutes, and then re-vaccuum, this time a little more carefully.
you'll get used to working around fry the more you do it and figure out ways to vacuum without them anywhere near the hose. and yeah, worst case, put them back in the tank they came from.

I mean, if it's temp or acclimation thing from it being the next day, take a glass of water from the tank every 10 minutes and pour it into the bucket until the bucket water doubles in volume, then take the fry out and back into the tank they came from.

 

Alright update:

I've added the fry into a breeder box and they're now chilling in the main tank.

Tomorrow the sponge filter should arrive.

Once it arrives, I simply fill a 5.5 gallon bucket with 50% freshwater and 50% old tank water.

Then I wrap the sponge filter with old cartridge fabric and put the fish in after an hour as well as a heater.

My only questions are:
Am I correct?
How do I add fry to the new bucket tank?
Is the old tank water necessary?

 

Alright update:

I've added the fry into a breeder box and they're now chilling in the main tank.

Tomorrow the sponge filter should arrive.

Once it arrives, I simply fill a 5.5 gallon bucket with 50% freshwater and 50% old tank water.

Then I wrap the sponge filter with old cartridge fabric and put the fish in after an hour as well as a heater.

My only questions are:
Am I correct?
How do I add fry to the new bucket tank?
Is the old tank water necessary?

I would make sure the bucket temp is the same as you tank they are in.

Check your pH and nitrates to make sure they are pretty close if not you will have to acclimate them.

After the initial old tank water is used, you don't need it after that. Just do wc's with fresh water only.

 

I would make sure the bucket temp is the same as you tank they are in.

Check your pH and nitrates to make sure they are pretty close if not you will have to acclimate them.

After the initial old tank water is used, you don't need it after that. Just do wc's with fresh water only.

And how do I acclimate the fry?
And how often (and how much) should I do water changes

 

Put them in something like a bag or something and put them in the bucket so water can't get in. Add a little of the bucket water a small amount at a time for about a half hour or so. Then dump them in. You want them to slowly get used to the new water.

If you test and the water is the same temp and pH you can just directly add them in.

You will need to change about half the water whenever you test ANY ammonia, nitrites etc.

Being fry you will need to change water every few days regardless. This is really important for fries.

 

And how do I acclimate the fry?
And how often (and how much) should I do water changes

I use a Lee’s Specimen Container (can be had on Amazon) and a piece of airline tubing with a flow valve. If you don’t have a flow valve you can simply tie a loose knot in the airline tubing, start the siphon and tighten the knot slowly until you get about 2 drops per second dropping from the tubing then allow the new water to drip into their old water until the amount has doubled. At that point you are ready to net them from the container and put them into their new cycled tank.

Link to container:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002APRLK?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

Ok update:
The fry have been in the bucket tank for about an 4 hours now.




I have 2 quick questions:
What speed should the sponge filter be on. Right now I put it on medium low because when it's on medium high the fry are literally swimming for dear life.

Also when do I remove my old cartridge fabric from the sponge filter?

 

Uhh so everything's going smooth. When should I remove the old cartridge fabric from the sponge filter? Also what should I feed them other than crushed pellets?

 

Leave the fabric for about a month. So not soon.

You can hatch some baby brine shrimp. They are super small for fries.

 

Hey guys,

It's been about a month and things are going smoothly. Should I remove the old filter cartridge fabric from the sponge filter now or should I let it stay.

 

Im sure it is good now. Keep an eye on your parameters for the next week or so.

 

Thanks. Also quick question. Would it be fine if I were to use old carbon that was inside one of my old cartridges alongside gravel as substrate?

 

Thanks. Also quick question. Would it be fine if I were to use old carbon that was inside one of my old cartridges alongside gravel as substrate?

I wouldnt. Carbon takes stuff out of the water. When it gets full it can leech stuff back into the water. Its such a small amount I dont think it would do anything. but I wouldnt.

 

I wouldnt. Carbon takes stuff out of the water. When it gets full it can leech stuff back into the water. Its such a small amount I dont think it would do anything. but I wouldnt.

Oh ok makes sense. What about leaving old filter cartridge fabric in the tank?

What are some other ways to increase the amount of beneficial bacteria? (Rocks, bath loofahs, etc).

(I currently only have the sponge filter, some pothos, and a stick if lucky bamboo attached to the bucket)

 

The fabric wont do much with no flow going through it, but you could leave it for a bit.

Some gravel substrate will help and more plants. Some stones? All will collect BB on them after a bit.

 

The fabric wont do much with no flow going through it, but you could leave it for a bit.

Some gravel substrate will help and more plants. Some stones? All will collect BB on them after a bit.

Wouldn't BB accumulate on the fabric without water running through it?

Also by stones I mean like large pieces of gravel, or random rocks I can find in my backyard

 

Wouldn't BB accumulate on the fabric without water running through it?

Also by stones I mean like large pieces of gravel, or random rocks I can find in my backyard

Yes it will accumulate but not as much. Yes larger stones