Journal - First Pair with fry

[Second Hand Pat]

Hi Josh, besides shape and size I would include feeding vigor, lack of defects and perhaps even eye color if any has appeared.

[bonginator]

Do you clean the foam divider regularly? Just curious since it didn't say in your description of your regimen.

[Harry Marsh]

Agree with you. I am having a hard time picking 8
I think I'm just going to select the 8 largest

[joshvito]

Do you clean the foam divider regularly? Just curious since it didn't say in your description of your regimen.

Depends on what you deem "regular".
Poret foam distributor recommends 6mo to 1 year between cleanings. I haven't cleaned it since I placed it in the tank.

Caution, my opinion below.
I understand that lower nitrates and regular water changes are needed to keep the fry's growth rate up and keep them healthy. However, I dont believe that sterile, extremely clean tanks with no algae are good for fish. I don't have any specific tests to back up my theory yet. (sounds like a good experiment). However, if we keep our developing fish in a extremely clean tank, what happens when we sell them to other hobbyists who only perform weekly changes, or overstock their tanks. Fish from tanks who never had to swim in water with a "dirty" sponge filter, may not have the correct immune response to deal with possible pathogens they encounter. Sorry for the long rant, I'm not arguing against clean, regularly hanged water. But just questioning that maybe thee is a too clean point in our tanks.


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[joshvito]

Agree with you. I am having a hard time picking 8
I think I'm just going to select the 8 largest

Probably what I will do. I'll select the PB type with the least peppering too.


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[joshvito]

Day 38
Just a few photos after while doing a 90% water change.
Photos for progress. (I really need to get some reference in there)





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[joshvito]

Day 41 free swimming
My grow out tank is a 55 gal. Since I will be keeping my 8 contest fish separated from the rest of the spawn (until nov. fish auction) in the same tank, I decided to upgrade my water changing gear.

So I used 2 18gallon totes to hold my sponge filters and fish. While the fish were out of the tank, I tore it down and carried it outside for deep cleaning.

This also presented the opportunity for me to drill for bulkheads. I drilled 1" and a 3/4".


The smaller bulkhead is just plugged at the moment with a plug and a closed ball valve. I hope to eventually hook this with a vinyl adaptor that hooks into my new water.

The 1" drains into my sump. Hopefully the interior pipe will allow me to drain 85% of the tank water. I copied what I saw in some other fish rooms, just haven't tested the drain yet. Will do tonight.






Anyone know if this drain will work?

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[joshvito]

Day 42 - free swimming

Sorry for my shaky camera skills, but I have some size reference in the first video, and the fish feeding in the second.

[joshvito]

Day 49 free swimming

Here is a video of the fry while I drain the water for the daily 50% water change.


I'm still feeding 3-4 times per day. Earthworm flakes and bbs. With the occasional frozen bloodworms or mysis shrimp.



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[rdiscus]

They look great ...

[joshvito]

@rdiscus , Thank you.

I pulled the canister filter off the tank this weekend. It's been leaking along the edge of the rim/top.

I placed all the bio-media in the tank, which consists of 1L Seachem Matrix and some ceramic cylinders. I also ran an extra airline near the bio-media to increase the water movement. I'm not sure at this point if I will replace/repair the canister, because the air driven sponge filters are so much easier to maintain. I especially like the fact that I don't have to unplug them for water changes.

[nc0gnet0]

How many are in there?

rick

[Second Hand Pat]

Most likely time to reduce the number to 30.

[joshvito]

I've counted a few times without netting. I always get ~38-40, but I am sure I am counting doubles. Might be that I need to net them out and count.

How do the rest of you count? Can you give me the step by step?

[nc0gnet0]

Take a picture of the whole tank and then count them in the picture. it was my understanding that it was only to be 30 fry at dime size, then 8.