23 replies to this topic

[Neddy]

This tank gets real messy real quick. I've got four female and one male bn. They get fed zucchini, wafers and pumpkin. I'm using a large sponge and quite a large hang on filter and using natural gravel as substrate. Is there better options for filtration? Suggestions please
Cheers

[Bowdy]

Johno uses under gravel filters and his tanks are clean and water perfect.

[Neddy]

yeh right, are they air driven or what?

[Bowdy]

Ye mate they are.

[terboz123]

bowdy i woudlnt say he uses undergravel filters all the time..... some of his tanks are otto internals, and are sumped im pretty sure.

dont bother with any sponge filters unless you have a couple in the tank, i just use to run one and my tank was always dirty

add in a internal power filter (i use otto's, morely aquariums stocks them and you get a one year warranty) that helped me.....

tank water is clear and not dirty

bristlenose are messy fish.....just wait till your fish start fanning and producing fry...it gets real messy!!!! and daily water changes area a must in cases.

im currently breeding Albinos and Common...

trying to get some albino long fins going!!!

good luck

[Bowdy]

I'm prity sure most of his tanks are UGF mate and if that's how the pro does it then it can't be a bad thing.

[terboz123]

my bad im wrong just found the thread i thought it was in

Edited by terboz123, 26 February 2011 - 07:48 PM.

[bigjohnnofish]

I'm prity sure most of his tanks are UGF mate and if that's how the pro does it then it can't be a bad thing.

well it only makes common sense really... majority of catfish are bottom feeders.... thats where the food needs to be... if your running sponges you want to use the flat ones so the food goes there where its in the feeding zone...
u/g filter draws food to the bottom... plus they are good filtration in regarding to holding large colonies of bacteria... and are air driven keeping filtration costs down....

occasionally i will use an otto internal filter as well but not as primary filtration... more for cleaning up any old zucchinni thats broken up in the tank into mush because i havent removed it quick enough
do have some glass bottoms and a sump out back but mainly for snails and hospital/quarantine tank

[Neddy]

Are these available from most lfs?

[Neakit]

Neddy when was the last time you went to a lfs? I dont think i have seen a fresh water lfs with out a ugf for sale.

[Neddy]

Maybe I've never had the need to go looking for one?

[highlucks]

Neddy when was the last time you went to a lfs? I dont think i have seen a fresh water lfs with out a ugf for sale.

Very useful, why not try contributing without a snide comment for once.

Neddy, most LFS and I am sure all sponsors will carry a range of under gravel filters. From the large full tank filters through to the small corner units. Another well known breeder on here also uses UGF filters in an ice cream container of gravel in bare bottom tanks.

[Dr_Pat]

Got a few on special at aquotix atm. Also, 4 females to one male is probably not the best ratio. Generally more males to females or, at least, pairs.

[bigjohnnofish]

pairs are the best combination if your on a budget... but if you can afford more girls than boys - say at a ratio of 2:1 or 3:2 then i think you'll get just as many fry - prob more per adult fish

[Dr_Pat]

But 4:1 is pretty High right? also, guess who's Albinos just spawned. SHIZAM! thanks Johnno

[Neddy]

Would four to one be hindering a spawn?

[bigjohnnofish]

But 4:1 is pretty High right? also, guess who's Albinos just spawned. SHIZAM! thanks Johnno

told ya they were all ready to spawn.....

[bigjohnnofish]

Would four to one be hindering a spawn?

i would prob say no... but if more than one female gets the urge to start laying things can happen.... best of which you get a double spawn.... worst of which you'll end up with a dead female...
they would normally team up if the girls are all sisters and take turns to lay eggs... but if the girls are unrelated usually a jealous factor comes into play and destruction of the other females eggs becomes an issue....

i have had a quad spawn with commons once (4 sisters)... enough eggs to fill 2 golf balls..... you could see a slight colour difference in each batch of eggs..... about 300 fry came of that spawn....

[terboz123]

agreed johnno


my albino and my albino long fins i got off you a couple weeks ago just spawned!! got the wirggles from the albinos and the longfins faning some eggs!

[bigjohnnofish]

agreed johnno


my albino and my albino long fins i got off you a couple weeks ago just spawned!! got the wirggles from the albinos and the longfins faning some eggs!

well done mate!!!! hope you get plenty of fry to raise.....